And So It Begins

Introduction

So far, in the gospel of John, we have been introduced to several of the disciples. Andrew was one of the first to follow Jesus.

Andrew brought Simon to Jesus, and Jesus changed his name to Peter.

Next we were introduced to Philip. Jesus called him to follow Jesus.

Philip went out and brought Nathanael to Jesus.

So in case you are keeping score, so far we have: Andrew, Peter, Philip, and Nathanael.

That brings us to our passage today. If you have your Bibles, I want to encourage you to turn with me to John chapter 2.

Jesus’ First Miracle

John 2:1–2 NIV

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding.

John begins with another time marker—on the third day--we presume that this event took place three days after Jesus called Nathanael to follow Him (v. 1a).

Then we have an event taking place. It is a wedding (v. 1b).

Next we have a place marker. The wedding took place in Cana in Galilee (v. 1c)

Mary the mother of Jesus was there (v. 1d).

Jesus and HIs disciples had also been invited to the wedding (v. 2).

John 2:3–4 NIV

When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”

The Problem

During the wedding feast they ran out of wine (v. 3a).

In Jesus’ day, a wedding celebration typically lasted for seven days.

During that time relatives and friends would stay in the home of the bride and groom.

There was the expectation that there would be an abundance of food, wine, song, dance, and all kinds of merriment.

It was the bridegroom’s responsibility to provide for ALL of his guests needs.

Running out of something (especially wine) would have been a source of great embarrassment and potential social disgrace.

Jesus’ mother steps in and tells Jesus about the problem (v. 3b).

Jesus wants to know what she expects Him to do about it. It seems that she wanted him to solve the problem (maybe miraculously) (v. 4a).

It is interesting that Jesus says, “My hour has not yet come.”

John 2:5 NIV

His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

Mary’s Response

It’s simple. She doesn’t argue with Jesus. She doesn’t correct Jesus. She doesn’t plead with Jesus.

She simply looks at the servants and tells them to do whatever Jesus tells them to do.

The Miracle

John 2:6 NIV

Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.

We are told about six stone water jars that were there (v. 6). And we’re given some information about them:

—They were the kind of water jars that the Jews used for ceremonial washing (cf. Mk. 7:3, 4; Jn. 3:25).

—They were pretty good size. Each held 20 to 30 gallons of water (75 to 115 liters).

John 2:7 NIV

Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.

Jesus tells the servants to fill the jars with water (v. 7a).

The servants did what Jesus told them to do, and there’s an emphasis that they filled the pots all the way to the brim—the filled them completely full (v. 7b).

John 2:8 NIV

Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so,

Next, Jesus tells them to draw some of the water out, and take it to the “Master of the banquet”

(the head servant--the one in charge of making sure everything went exactly as planned) (v. 8a).

Again, the servants did what they were told to do (v. 8b).

The Response of the Master of the Banquet

John 2:9 NIV

and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside

When the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned to wine, he was shocked! (v. 9a).

Now, we are told that he had no idea where the servants had gotten this wine (v. 9b)

The master of the banquet pulls the bridegroom aside and begins to question him (v. 9c)

John 2:10 NIV

and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”

The head servant’s observation:

--Normally everyone puts out the best wine first (v. 10a).

--Then when everyone is drunk, they put out the cheap stuff (v. 10b).

--But YOU saved the best until now (v. 10c).

This observation lets us know how incredible the wine of the miracle was.

NOTE: The bridegroom had no idea where the servants found the wine! He plays no part in the miracle at all. In other words, he was just as shocked as the master of the banquet.

John 2:11 NIV

What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

NOTE: What was the purpose of this miracle? Well, let’s look at that.

John tells us it was (1) to reveal his glory.

(2) so his disciples believed in him.

At the same time when we read the Gospel of John, we have to always keep in mind who John’s initial audience was. He was writing were Romans!

Hold that thought, because to understand the significance of this miracle we have to look no farther than to some of the Greek gods.

Now here is an interesting point. The Greek god Dionysus, the son of Zeus and the mortal princess Semele, was credited with discovering wine, and on some occasions he was said to have changed water to wine. Now, not only was he the god of wine, but also of merry-making, and insanity.

These stories about Dionysus were recorded roughly five centuries before John wrote his Gospel. And, scholars have suggested that John’s original readers (Romans) would have known the stories of Dionysus.

So Jesus preforming this miracle made Him at least as great as Dionysus, and possibly even greater! After all this is only the first miracle that John recorded in his Gospel.

John 2:12 NIV

After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.

Jesus Continues on His Way

Jesus left Cana of Galilee and headed down to Capernaum (v. 12a). We use the term “down” because Cana was at a higher elevation than Capernaum.

And Capernaum was about 13 miles northeast of Cana, and along the north shore of the Sea of Galilee.

There was a group that went with Him (v 12b):

—Jesus’ mother traveled with Him.

—His brothers traveled with Him.

—And of course Jesus’ disciples also traveled with Him.

This section concludes by letting us know that they (not sure who all that includes) spent some time (a few days) in Capernaum.

So What?

Can you imagine what it would be like to be an eye witness to the first miracle of Jesus? Really, in some ways this miracle leaves us with more questions that answers.

Did Mary really know that Jesus could actually do something about the wine?

If she did know, how did she know?

Did the disciples see Jesus preform this miracle?

If they did, how much did they see?

At this point in the story, were there more disciples than the four to whom we’ve been introduced?

And if there were only the four when were all the other added? Perhaps in John 4:1

John 4:1 NIV

Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John—

This miracle might seem unimportant, however when we keep his original audience in mind, John lets his readers know from the start that Jesus is divine, He is God!