Christianity and its Message
A Sermon on John 2:1-5
Originally preached Nov. 4, 1956
Scripture
1And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: 2And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. 3And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. 4 …
Sermon Description
Who is Jesus and what has He come to do? This was the question that everyone was asking when Jesus was performing miracles and proclaiming the kingdom of God. Modern humanity is still asking this question. In this sermon on John 2:1–5 titled “Christianity and Its Message”, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones examines the question of who Jesus is and why it matters. Jesus said He came to do the will of the Father; He would not let other people define who He was or His mission. He tells this to the Jewish people, His disciples, and even His own mother. Jesus says He came to die and rise from the grave for sinners. He is not merely a political figure, but He is God in the flesh. The gospel is concerned with humanity’s ultimate reconciliation with the triune God, and not solely on ending war, temporal suffering, and pain. This sermon calls all to repent and believe in Jesus. It calls all to believe that Jesus has been sent from God and that He alone can redeem.
Sermon Breakdown
- Jesus attended a wedding feast in Cana with his mother Mary and his disciples.
- During the feast, the wine ran out. Mary told Jesus about the shortage of wine.
- Mary expected Jesus to solve the problem and provide more wine. She addressed him as her son and expected him to do what she said.
- Jesus corrected Mary and reminded her that while he is her son, he is also the Son of God. He does not take orders from humans but only from God the Father.
- Jesus told Mary that his "hour" or the time for him to act had not yet come. Everything Jesus did was according to God's predetermined plan and timing.
- The "hour" Jesus referred to was his death on the cross to bear the sins of humanity. This was his mission and purpose for coming into the world.
- Jesus did not come to simply solve superficial human problems and make people comfortable. He came to deal with the root cause of human problems which is sin.
- There is another "hour" coming which refers to Jesus' second coming to judge the world, destroy evil, and establish his eternal kingdom of peace and righteousness.
- We do not know when Jesus will return. But we must be ready through repentance and faith in him as the Son of God and savior of the world.
- Like Mary, we must do whatever Jesus tells us to do. We must repent, confess our sins, and believe the gospel.
Sermon Q&A
Questions and Answers from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on the Wedding at Cana
What spiritual lesson does the wedding at Cana teach us about God's timing?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the wedding at Cana teaches us that God has His own timing for everything. When Mary pointed out the lack of wine, Jesus replied, "Woman, what have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not yet come." This reveals that Christ operates according to God's divine timeline, not according to human demands or expectations. Lloyd-Jones explains that "everything he did had been planned by God, even the time. And he never does anything until the right time." This principle applies to our current troubles as well - God has His appointed times for intervention that don't necessarily align with our desired schedule.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones address the common complaint that Christianity hasn't made the world better?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones addresses this complaint by pointing out that people misunderstand Christ's primary mission. He explains that Jesus didn't come to "supply wine" or just fix superficial problems. Rather, Christ came with a specific mission to deal with sin, which is the root cause of all world problems. Lloyd-Jones states: "Men would like him to stop war in order that they can go on sinning in peace, and he won't do it. He's come to deal with sin, the cause of war, and that's the only way to deal with it." Christianity's ultimate goal isn't merely improving this present world but establishing a new kingdom through Christ's return.
What was Mary's mistake at the wedding at Cana according to the sermon?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, Mary's mistake was threefold: First, "she presumes on the fact that he is her son" and speaks to him as though she has authority over him. Second, "she expects him and almost commends him to do what she thinks he ought to be doing." Third, "she expects him and commends him to do it in her time and in the way that she thinks it should be done." Lloyd-Jones uses this as an illustration of how many people today approach God - demanding He act according to their wishes and timetable rather than submitting to His authority and purposes.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones connect the wedding at Cana to Christ's crucifixion?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones connects them through Jesus' reference to "my hour." He explains that when Jesus speaks of "mine hour is not yet come," this ultimately refers to the hour of His death. Throughout John's Gospel, Jesus repeatedly refers to "his hour," which culminates in John 12:23 where Jesus says, "The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified," and in his prayer, "Father, the hour is come." Lloyd-Jones explains that Christ's primary mission was not performing miracles but sacrificing Himself: "He has come to bear the sins of men, he has come to die."
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say is the correct approach to Jesus Christ?
According to Lloyd-Jones, the correct approach to Jesus Christ is one of reverence, worship, and submission - recognizing His divine nature and authority. He states: "You and I have no right to expect anything from Jesus Christ at all until we are absolutely clear about his purpose. If you want to be blessed by him, you must go to him and worship him." We must acknowledge "that he is the lord of glory" and cease "to demand and to insist and to command." The proper approach is to be "humble at his feet" recognizing "who he is," rather than coming with demands or presumptions.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain Christ's statement "Woman, what have I to do with thee?"
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that this statement wasn't harsh but was Jesus teaching Mary about His true identity. By addressing her as "woman" rather than "mother," Jesus was communicating that while He was her son, He was also much more - He was her Lord and Savior. Lloyd-Jones explains: "He is in the relationship of son to mother. Yes, but there's another relationship that she evidently hasn't realized." Jesus was showing Mary that "though she is his physical mother, is nevertheless at the same time a woman amongst all other women... he is her savior, he is her lord."
What future hope does Dr. Lloyd-Jones offer in this sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones offers the hope of Christ's second coming, when He will establish His kingdom of peace. He explains that while Christ's "hour" of crucifixion has passed, there is another "hour" coming - "the day of his judgment." Lloyd-Jones assures that Christ "will return and he will destroy his enemies. And he will reign from pole to pole and from the rising to the setting of the sun. And there shall be peace like a river over the whole world. There shall be a new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness." This is the ultimate hope for Christians amid world troubles.
What final advice does Dr. Lloyd-Jones give his listeners based on Mary's response?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones concludes by highlighting Mary's recovery from her mistake when she tells the servants, "Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it." He commends this response and advises his listeners to follow the same approach: "If you and I want to know his blessing, the sooner the better we listen to what Mary says to us. Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it." Specifically, he says we should repent, acknowledge our sin, "expose your heart to him," and "believe that he is the son of God and that he died for your sin" to reconcile us to God.
The Book of John
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.