John 2

Wed. Night Bible Study

Before we read about Jesus’ first miracle, let’s make sure we keep in mind why John wrote this entire Gospel.......John 20:31 “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His Name.”

Three days after the encounter with Philip and Nathaniel, Jesus and His disciples, along with His mother, went to Cana for a wedding. “The marriage” as it is called in the KJV. It is a wedding celebration. The betrothal process goes on about a year, the groom goes on to prepare a place for his bride and when he has finished, he comes to his bride and then a week long or more celebration begins. Then the marriage is consummated.

This particular wedding to place in Cana of Galilee. Galilee is a region, like a state. Cana would of been a lot like Pollard of Alabama. Not a very big town, nobody is really certain as to the exact location of Cana, but it was near Nazareth. Some say about 9 miles from Nazareth (Jesus’ hometown).

So it would be like the difference between Flomaton and Brewton.

It is believed that this could of been a family member or a very close friend, because of the proximity of the two towns.

Scripture says that they were called to the wedding. Called meaning invited.

The financial responsibility laid with the groom. It seems that the relationship of Mary was with the groom side, because she come to Jesus with the problem, that they had no wine!

Running out of wine at a wedding party, would be worse than if we advertised our Wed. Night Supper and everybody came but there was no food.

It would be a social disaster and embarrassment for the groom and his family.

This would have been a mark on this family.

Seems harsh maybe to us, but in that culture and in that small of a town, it would have been bad.

So, Mary approaches her Son with the matter. “They have no wine”. It is speculated that Joseph is dead at this point. Nothing really can substantiate that, but that fact that there is no mention of Joseph after they lose Him and find Him in the temple at the age of 12, seems to be a good indicator.

Another indicator is that Mary went to Jesus with this problem. There is some debate about whether or not Mary was wanting Jesus to perform a miracle.

On one hand, Jesus’ response to her, it seems that Jesus perceived that that is exactly what she was wanting.

On the other hand after Jesus rebuked her, she told the servants to do whatever He said. Which seems to point out that she trusted Jesus and may have been relying on Him to be the man of the house for a while.

It seems right because Jesus most definitely would be a good decision maker! If He was without sin, that means He was without sin before His ministry and in His early years.

So, it must be that He was a master at making the right decision! It would only be right to go to Jesus with all the family problems, because He never made bad decisions.

Well, anyway it is a good antidote, if nothing else!

Ok, let’s deal with His response to her. He first off calls her “Woman”. It seems disrespectful, but in that culture not so much. Some commentators actually think it could be used as we would say ma’am.

Jesus uses the same word in John 19:26 “When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!”

It seems that calling her “woman” was not harsh but not super sweet either. It seems that this is where Jesus is distancing Himself from His mother, moving now towards His Father’s will!

Jesus’ response has created difficulty for some, but it seems that Jesus is stating in the form of a question, that Mary had to begin to recognize Jesus not as a son but the Messiah, the Son of God! Which is His actual earthly mission.

The question can be better translated: “What does your concern have to do with Me? Mine hour is not yet come.”

The reason Jesus gives for the distance he maintains between his mother and himself must be viewed in the light of the cross. My time has not yet come, he says: the word ‘time’, literally ‘hour’ (hōra), constantly refers to his death on the cross and the exaltation bound up with it....

His tone was not disrespectful, but abrupt! Jesus’ mission was the Father’s mission and that is all! Not to make a wedding better!

Matthew 12:46-50 “While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. 47 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. 48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? 49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! 50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.”

Mary just told the servant to do whatever Jesus said. That seems to speak to her faith in Jesus to make a good decision.

Wherever Jesus was standing, was where the pots were. There was six of them, each could hold about 20-30 gallons (2 or 3 firkins) each.

“After the manner of purification”.........These pots were made of stone and the reason for that was that stone was better for the ceremonial washing, the regulations that the Jews had for washing their hands and also washing utensils.

Stone pots were not susceptible to uncleanness. I am sure they wanted anything they drank to be in clean pots.

Jesus tells them to fill the pots up with water, fill it up all the way to the brim (rim).

Now, in those days the water was not very good to drink. To drink straight water to quench your thirst was not safe in some places. Water purification was not that good, so they would mix the water with wine, the wine would help with the purification. It would also keep folks from getting drunk.

At most feasts, as you hear from the governor, they would serve the good wine first and after they got drunk, they would bring out the watered down wine.

So, now Jesus tells them to take the wine to the governor of the feast (the master of ceremonies), he tastes it and is amazed because it seems that they saved the best for last.

He did not know that they were completely out, just moments before.

When did the miracle take place and how did Jesus do it?

Did He put His finger in there?

Did He speak to the water?

Did He shout “WINE”?

Nobody will ever know, it happened between verses 7 and 8.

It is not important what method He used, but only that it was in control of the Son of God!

That brings us to verse 11! The disciples had already seen some amazing things, but now they saw this and it revealed to them the Glory of Jesus Christ and by seeing His Glory it caused them to believe!

I hope that I do not step out of bounds here with some of you, but it sickens me to make this revelation of the glory of Jesus Christ, about whether it is ok to drink or not! Whether or not this wine was fermented or unfermented!!

This miracle was written down by John because of just what he said the reason was: John 20:31 “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name.”

I feel the same about any miracle that Jesus performed, I also believe the same about the apostles and the miracles they performed. The miracles they performed were from God and it proved that they were messengers of the One True God and His Son Jesus Christ!

To monkey and play around with this report makes my stomach and head hurt!

One more thing about this miracle of Jesus, He done it at a wedding! His first miracle was performed at an institution He created. It almost seems that He blesses it!

It sure seems like we do not honor it like we used to!