Our understanding of the Gospel is reflected in the

degree to which we celebrate.

Drinking to the dregs

dregs (n.) The remnants of a liquid left in a container, together with

any sediment or grounds.

For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup with foaming wine, well

mixed, and he pours out from it, and all the wicked of the earth

shall drain it down to the dregs.

Psalm 75:8

Wake yourself! Wake yourself! Stand up, o Jerusalem, you who have drunk from the hand of the Lord, the cup of His wrath, who

have drunk to the dregs the bowl, the cup of staggering.

Isaiah 51:17

John 2:1-11

If you were inventing a god, would you have written this story

as his first miracle?

We can talk about three different components to this story:

the Hour, the Party, and the Sign.

The Sign

God doesn’t do parlor tricks.

Every miracle of Jesus has a purpose.

The question we must ask of this text is not “what?” but “why?”.

This account, in particular, is not just a miracle. It’s a sign.

Who Jesus is, what He came to do, what He has to offer, and who we

are in light of Him are all here.

The Party

It is not coincidence that this first sign occurs at a feast...

a people celebrating.

This is what we were created to be.

A Jewish Wedding Feast

The wedding feast was to be a large celebration.

The entire city was invited.

At this party, we see servants, disciples, random party-goers,

and Jesus.

If the feast were to run out of wine, the city would leave, ashamed of this supposed

“celebration”.

This wedding party is representative of the Church.

Why People Don’t Follow Jesus

One of the objections to Jesus is “I just want to have fun.”

If that’s a valid excuse, it’s no one’s fault but ours.

The wine Jesus offers is the richest, tastiest, and the most

abundant.

It is indeed “good wine”.

In a very real sense, we are to be intoxicated (filled) with Christ.

There is no such thing as God-abuse.

There are no dregs.

We are to simply drink.

As such, Christians are a different kind of humanity.

But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”

“These people are not drunk, as you suppose.”

Acts 2:13, 15

The Church should laugh heartier, taste richer, party harder, sing

louder, and rejoice greater than any other people on the planet.

We should drink deeply of Jesus.

But “drink deeply of Jesus”, while true, is weird Christian mojo talk.

What does this really mean for us?

The Hour

So they were seeking to arrest Him, but no one laid a

hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come.

John 7:30

These words He spoke in the treasury, as He

taught in the temple; but no one arrested Him, because

His hour had not yet come.

John 8:20

Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father,

glorify Your name.

John 12:27

When Jesus had spoken these words, He lifted up His eyes to heaven, and

said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son that the Son may

glorify you, since you have given Him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given Him.

John 17:1-2

“The Hour” is not the beginning of the

ministry of Jesus.

“The Hour” is the climax of the ministry of Jesus

...and of all human history.

The Hour refers to the Cross.

“My hour has not yet come” is the functional equivalent to “It’s not my time to die yet.”

So...what does the Cross have to do with the lack of wine

at some random party?

The key is the problem at the party…and Jesus’ response to it.

“They have no wine.”

Mary’s comment does not just refer to the wedding feast.

The Jewish system was lacking wine.

It lacked joy.

Mary’s comment not only applies to first century Palestine.

Jesus specifically uses purification jars.

The conscious water saw its God and blushed.

Richard Crashaw

Jesus has come to replace our mundane, joyless religion.

Jesus has come to replace our mundane, joyless rebellion.

He has come to replace and replenish the wine.

But this replacement comes through another substitution.

He went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cup cannot pass

unless I drink it,Your will be done.

Matthew 26:42

Jesus enters into our world, and drinks the cup of wrath

we should have to drink.

As He drinks our cup, He gives us an alternate drink.

And He took a cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them,

saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is My blood, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

Matthew 26:27-28

This week, let us remember the death of Christ.

He drank our cup.

Even the dregs.

Let us also taste the sweetness of Christ.

Our identity & comfort are to come from the Gospel...as we

drink deeply of Him.

QUESTIONS for REFLECTION 1. When was the last time the Gospel led

you to be elated? 2. What things in your life are draining joy

and need to be replaced? 3. Do others look at your life and see joy?

Why or why not?