John 2, Part 1

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First Miracle Performed

John 2:1–11 ESV
1 On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. 3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6 Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. 9 When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” 11 This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.
Third Day
Cana in Galilee - Deeper Study # 2
(2:1) Cana: a small, remote, obscure country village. It is thought to have been in the highlands of Galilee, for a person traveled from Cana down to Capernaum. It was close to Nazareth, and according to the early church father Jerome, the city could be seen from Nazareth. Little else is known about the village. Two miracles took place in Cana: this event of creative power where the water was turned into wine (Jn. 2:1–11), and the healing of the nobleman’s son (Jn. 4:46–54). Cana is mentioned only one other time in Scripture (Jn. 21:2), three times altogether, and only by John in his gospel.
Mary was there (Note that Joseph was not mentioned. It is thought by most commentators that he was already dead)
Jesus and disciples invited
Jesus and His disciples attended the wedding. Marriage was a joyful, happy time—a festive occasion; and it was one of the largest social events in a community.
Jesus was a sociable person: He liked people and people liked Him. He enjoyed the company of people; He was not anti-social; He was people centered. His ministry was focused upon people, being with and helping them all He could.
Jesus honored marriage. He demonstrated His approval and honor in two ways: by attending the marriage feast and by meeting the urgent need of the bridegroom.
Deeper Study # 1
(2:1) Wedding—Marriage, Jewish Ceremony: a Jewish wedding ceremony included three major events. (See Deeper Study #1—Mt. 25:1–13 for more discussion.)
1. There was a marriage feast and ceremony, which were held on the same evening.
2. There was the escort of the couple through the streets to their home. The procession usually took place at night. Flaming torches were used and the longest route to the home was taken to attract more attention and to allow the community to share in the joyful event.
3. There was the open house which lasted for a week. A Jewish wedding ceremony involved a large and long celebration. There was a happy, festive spirit that swept through the community and surrounded the couple. All week long the couple wore their wedding garments (gown and robe) and entertained guests. The whole community was expected to participate and celebrate with the couple in their new found happiness.
While we do not know who this marriage was for, everything points toward Mary as having a key part in the wedding. There was a steward overseeing the household affairs (v.9), but Mary was apparently helping in some manner. Note three things.
a. Mary’s social concern. The need that arose was extremely serious, for the wine was already gone and the celebration had just begun. There was a whole week of celebration yet to go. The couple was to have open house and to provide the wine and refreshments for the week. What were they to do? The importance of wine in the Middle East must always be remembered. Good, germ free water was scarce, and it was used only when necessary. Wine was used as a drinking substitute. There was a critical need, a predicament that was going to affect everyone involved.
⇒ The joyful spirit of the guests was to be dampened.
⇒ The couple was to be shamed and humiliated, becoming the object of jokes among some.
⇒ Mary, the mother of Jesus, probably one of the hostesses, was to be embarrassed.
Mary, naturally, was concerned about the matter, but note the point. Mary’s concern was a social concern, a concern for seeing that the needs of a social group were met. She did what any mother would do. She brought the problem to her Son: “They have no wine.”
b. Jesus’ deeper concern: to meet man’s spiritual need for regeneration. In Mary’s concern, Jesus saw a unique opportunity to begin familiarizing His mother with the truth of who He was: the Son of God who had entered the world for a particular hour (the cross). Mary nor anyone else understood Jesus’ Person, true mission, or Messiahship—not yet (see note—Mk. 3:31–32). Therefore, at the very beginning of His ministry, Jesus began to teach everyone, and in particular the person who was so dear to His heart, His mother. He wanted to do all He could to prepare her and the others for the terrible pain that was to come during His hour. He was truly the Son of God; He had been born of God. He—His Person and mission—had to do with God and the things of the Spirit, not with Mary and her social and fleshly needs. He had nothing in common with her and the flesh. He was of God and of the Spirit. She must begin to understand and see this. The more she could hear the truth, the more she would see and understand, especially after His hour had come. Therefore, Jesus used every opportunity possible to familiarize all His loved ones with the phrase “My hour.” His hour was to become a constant symbol of His death (see Jn. 7:6, 8, 30; 8:20; 12:23–24, 27, 33; 13:1; 17:1; Mt. 26:18, 45; Mk. 14:41).
The point Jesus made was that His hour had not yet come …
• the hour when He could really meet man’s needs.
• the hour when He must die for man’s regeneration.
Mary’s confidence in her Son. It was night and wine could not be bought. It was unthinkable that Mary was asking Jesus to perform a miracle. So far as we know, He had performed no miracles yet. What she was doing was seeking His help, asking Him to take care of the matter. Of course, He could attempt to get a merchant to reopen his shop and meet the need, or He could try to secure wine from some neighbors. Mary had utter confidence in Him. But, again, that is not the point. Jesus saw the opportunity to demonstrate His creative power, the kind of power needed to meet man’s need for regeneration.
The six waterpots were used both for drinking water and for the purifying and cleansing of the Jews, that is, the ceremonial and religious cleansing of the hands and utensils. When a Jew saw the waterpots, he knew they were there both for satisfying his thirst and for his religious cleansing. Jesus used the waterpots to show that He had the power to purify, cleanse, and satisfy men; to create and produce whatever was necessary to cleanse and satisfy men;
Jesus had a deeper concern than just meeting the social need of the host. He had come to meet man’s need for spiritual purification and inner cleansing, and He was to do it through His hour (the cross). Therefore, He seized the opportunity to reveal His creative power, His power to create man new just as he had created wine new. Note another significant point: Jesus simply instructed that preparations be made, and when He was obeyed, everyone experienced His creative power and was fully satisfied.
The results were threefold.
a. The bridegroom’s need was met. What he needed was provided.
b. Christ’s glory was revealed. His power to create anew was demonstrated.
c. The faith of the disciples was strengthened. They “believed on Him” even more. He had given evidence that He was the Messiah.
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