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Encounters with Jesus #4
The Wedding Party
Timothy Keller, renowned pastor and New York Times bestselling author, explores life’s biggest questions in The Wedding Party, the fourth installment in his Encounters with Jesus eBook series.
The Gospel of John details the stories of many who met Christ. In his Encounters with Jesus series, Timothy Keller, pastor of New York’s Redeemer Presbyterian Church and New York Times bestselling author of The Reason for God, explores biblical passages to show how these meetings with Jesus still affect us today. By examining the well known passage where Jesus turns water into wine for a wedding party, Keller sheds light on what will put the world right, and what Jesus has done to do so.
The Gospel of John details the stories of many who met Christ. In his Encounters with Jesus series, Timothy Keller, pastor of New York’s Redeemer Presbyterian Church and New York Times bestselling author of The Reason for God, explores biblical passages to show how these meetings with Jesus still affect us today. By examining the well known passage where Jesus turns water into wine for a wedding party, Keller sheds light on what will put the world right, and what Jesus has done to do so.
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 19, 2013
22 people are currently reading
277 people want to read
About the author
Timothy J. Keller
454 books5,867 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Timothy Keller was the founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, which he started in 1989 with his wife, Kathy, and three young sons. For over twenty years he has led a diverse congregation of young professionals that has grown to a weekly attendance of over 5,000.
He was also Chairman of Redeemer City to City, which starts new churches in New York and other global cities, and publishes books and resources for faith in an urban culture. In over ten years they have helped to launch over 250 churches in 48 cities. More recently, Dr. Keller’s books, including the New York Times bestselling The Reason for God and The Prodigal God, have sold over 1 million copies and been translated into 15 languages.
Christianity Today has said, “Fifty years from now, if evangelical Christians are widely known for their love of cities, their commitment to mercy and justice, and their love of their neighbors, Tim Keller will be remembered as a pioneer of the new urban Christians.”
Dr. Keller was born and raised in Pennsylvania, and educated at Bucknell University, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and Westminster Theological Seminary. He previously served as the pastor of West Hopewell Presbyterian Church in Hopewell, Virginia, Associate Professor of Practical Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary, and Director of Mercy Ministries for the Presbyterian Church in America.
Timothy Keller was the founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, which he started in 1989 with his wife, Kathy, and three young sons. For over twenty years he has led a diverse congregation of young professionals that has grown to a weekly attendance of over 5,000.
He was also Chairman of Redeemer City to City, which starts new churches in New York and other global cities, and publishes books and resources for faith in an urban culture. In over ten years they have helped to launch over 250 churches in 48 cities. More recently, Dr. Keller’s books, including the New York Times bestselling The Reason for God and The Prodigal God, have sold over 1 million copies and been translated into 15 languages.
Christianity Today has said, “Fifty years from now, if evangelical Christians are widely known for their love of cities, their commitment to mercy and justice, and their love of their neighbors, Tim Keller will be remembered as a pioneer of the new urban Christians.”
Dr. Keller was born and raised in Pennsylvania, and educated at Bucknell University, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and Westminster Theological Seminary. He previously served as the pastor of West Hopewell Presbyterian Church in Hopewell, Virginia, Associate Professor of Practical Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary, and Director of Mercy Ministries for the Presbyterian Church in America.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 21, 2013
Though I don't agree with Keller on everything he believes (i.e. his stance on Contemplative Spirituality / Mysticism), I do find myself agreeing with him about a lot and I love the way that he is able to clearly present his thoughts no matter what text he is exegeting. The Wedding Party deals with Jesus' first miracle/sign of turning water into wine at the Wedding at Cana (John 2:1-11). Since this is a very short book, I was afraid that Keller was going to struggle to provide enough historical background, context and grammar related information to help the readers understand exactly what Jesus wanted known through this miracle, but Keller did an excellent job of providing an adequate amount of detail to make the readers comfortable that he had thoroughly studied the text. Here is a short exert of the book to wet your appetite:
"Now, the key to understanding this event is the last verse. This was not called merely a miracle but a sign. A sign is a symbol, or signifier, of something else. Jesus did not have to exercise his power in this situation, but he did. And when he chose to do so, it became 'the first of his signs through which he revealed his glory' - his true identity - to others. And the fact that he did it this way [turning water into wine] is full of interest."
I was provided a free copy of this book by Penguin Group - Dutton Publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review of the book.
"Now, the key to understanding this event is the last verse. This was not called merely a miracle but a sign. A sign is a symbol, or signifier, of something else. Jesus did not have to exercise his power in this situation, but he did. And when he chose to do so, it became 'the first of his signs through which he revealed his glory' - his true identity - to others. And the fact that he did it this way [turning water into wine] is full of interest."
I was provided a free copy of this book by Penguin Group - Dutton Publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review of the book.
January 20, 2014
I’ve enjoyed all of The Encounter with Jesus series, but this may have been my favorite because of the rich exposition of John 2. I’ve never heard this passage expounded in this way and connected to the gospel so directly.
Keller first points out Jesus makes himself the Master of the party. He brings joy and life to something on the edge of disaster. He says,
“‘Yes,’ he is saying, ‘I’m going to suffer. Yes, there’s going to be self-denial. Yes, there’s going to be sacrifice--for me first and then for my followers as well. But it’s all a means to an end, which is festival joy! It’s all in order to bring about resurrection and the new heavens and new earth. The end of all evil and death and tears. You know all those Dionysian legends about the forest running with wine, dancing, and music? That’s nothing compared to the eternal feast that is coming at the end of history’” (68 of 646).
This connectedness with the overall mission of Jesus saturates the wedding feast sign. It’s a rich picture that refracts the gospel story in dozen ways. I don’t want to give too much more away. It’s a short read, and I could give three or four more paragraph quotations with rich gospel pictures.
Instead of doing that, go ahead and pick up The Wedding Feast and enjoy Keller’s deft gospel-centered exposition.
Keller first points out Jesus makes himself the Master of the party. He brings joy and life to something on the edge of disaster. He says,
“‘Yes,’ he is saying, ‘I’m going to suffer. Yes, there’s going to be self-denial. Yes, there’s going to be sacrifice--for me first and then for my followers as well. But it’s all a means to an end, which is festival joy! It’s all in order to bring about resurrection and the new heavens and new earth. The end of all evil and death and tears. You know all those Dionysian legends about the forest running with wine, dancing, and music? That’s nothing compared to the eternal feast that is coming at the end of history’” (68 of 646).
This connectedness with the overall mission of Jesus saturates the wedding feast sign. It’s a rich picture that refracts the gospel story in dozen ways. I don’t want to give too much more away. It’s a short read, and I could give three or four more paragraph quotations with rich gospel pictures.
Instead of doing that, go ahead and pick up The Wedding Feast and enjoy Keller’s deft gospel-centered exposition.
October 3, 2013
Volume four was a breath of fresh air.
Keller provides some wonderful insights to the first miracle performed by Jesus in the Gospel of John. I've heard so many stories and sermons on this story; Jesus turns water to wine after the alcohol runs out. I've heard the focus on the cleansing rituals and how Jesus foreshadows the great banquet but Keller provides a little extra here.
One of the major points in this essay was, while everyone else was celebrating the wonderful wedding party, Jesus was thinking about his death. (Woman ... my time has not yet come)
There is so much more to this book. Keller has a way of providing some good meaty study while whetting the appetite for more. If only we could attend his church!
It is an uplifting read. Whether you're married or single, this book (especially the end!) will encourage you to pursue the God who pursues you!
This is another winner of a short e-book from Keller. They provide some great teaching for a mid-week study or a morning jolt of godly praise.
This book was provided for review, at no cost, by Dutton Publishing.
Keller provides some wonderful insights to the first miracle performed by Jesus in the Gospel of John. I've heard so many stories and sermons on this story; Jesus turns water to wine after the alcohol runs out. I've heard the focus on the cleansing rituals and how Jesus foreshadows the great banquet but Keller provides a little extra here.
One of the major points in this essay was, while everyone else was celebrating the wonderful wedding party, Jesus was thinking about his death. (Woman ... my time has not yet come)
There is so much more to this book. Keller has a way of providing some good meaty study while whetting the appetite for more. If only we could attend his church!
It is an uplifting read. Whether you're married or single, this book (especially the end!) will encourage you to pursue the God who pursues you!
This is another winner of a short e-book from Keller. They provide some great teaching for a mid-week study or a morning jolt of godly praise.
This book was provided for review, at no cost, by Dutton Publishing.
April 3, 2014
Joy
is what Jesus gives us. he paid the price for our wretched selves, who are flawed and self-centered. He paid the price for us so that we can and should laugh.
I still don't fully get the bride metaphor because of the embedded sexual connotations. This could simply be my own limited Euclidian thinking but would have liked a more nuanced exposition that addresses that angle of using the bride metaphor...otherwise a solid and important contribution to the body of commentary on the message of the Gospel.
is what Jesus gives us. he paid the price for our wretched selves, who are flawed and self-centered. He paid the price for us so that we can and should laugh.
I still don't fully get the bride metaphor because of the embedded sexual connotations. This could simply be my own limited Euclidian thinking but would have liked a more nuanced exposition that addresses that angle of using the bride metaphor...otherwise a solid and important contribution to the body of commentary on the message of the Gospel.
July 21, 2013
Could chew on some of this sermon for a while. I like the use of classics and how Keller manages to bring together great ideas in a concise way.
April 9, 2015
short and sweet. adopted from Tim keller's sermons
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews