A. The Changing of Water into Wine

Some of the early days and incidences of Christ’s earthly ministry are recorded in this chapter. John 2 may be divided into three major parts as follows:

A. The Changing of Water into Wine (John 2:1–11)

B. The Cleansing of the Temple (John 2:12–17)

C. The Challenge by the Jews (John 2:18–25)

A. The Changing of Water into Wine

John 2:1–11

A well known miracle performed by Jesus Christ of turning water into wine begins this second chapter of John. This miracle shows the difference between law and grace. Moses, who represents the law, turned water into blood (Exodus 7:20) which spoke of judgment. But Christ, Who represents grace, turned water into wine which spoke of joy, not judgment.

1. The Place of the Miracle (John 2:1, 2, 11)

“And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there; and both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage” (John 2:1, 2). In looking at the place of the miracle, we have in mind more than just the geological place.

• In regards to chronology.

“This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee” (John 2:11). The first miracle recorded in Scripture which Christ worked (John 2:11) is this miracle of changing water into wine at a wedding feast. Not all the miracles of Christ are recorded in Scripture, but the first one is. The fact that this is said to be the first of His miracles debunks all the stories told about Christ working miracles in His childhood and in the years previous to His public ministry.

• In regards to the calendar.

“The third day.” This place on the calendar of Christ for this miracle is “the third day.” This is in reference to the days given in the first chapter of John. In that chapter, the Apostle John gives a brief day-by-day diary of a week in the early days of Christ’s ministry in which He chose some of His first disciples (including Apostle John, the author of this Gospel). The dating notations begin with “the next day” (John 1:29), “again the next day” (John 1:35), “the day following” (John 1:43), and finally “the third day” (John 2:1). This “third day” refers especially to the day after Christ had called Nathanael to be one of His disciples. These dates remind us that the Bible gives plenty of evidence that it is not a hodge podge of material thrown together at random by some illiterate, ignorant men. Rather, it is a Divinely organized book guided in its construction by the Divine Holy Spirit Who working through men created the greatest book known to man.

• In regards to the community.

“Cana of Galilee.” Cana was a small town located a few miles north of Nazareth and about 10 to 15 miles west of the Sea of Galilee. Located in the province of Galilee, it is always reported in the New Testament as “Cana of Galilee” to distinguish from from another Cana (Kanah) spoken of in the Old Testament which was located near the region of Syria (Joshua 19:28). Cana was the home town of Nathanael. Though the town was quite small, yet it, and not other larger and more significant towns was the place of Christ’s first miracle. Christ works His wonders for the lowly and humble while the arrogant and celebrities are ignored because they are so often filled with pride and unbelief.

• In regards to the celebration.

“There was a marriage.” Choosing a marriage celebration at which to work His first miracle shows that Christ gave great honor to marriage. Unfortunately, our society does not give much honor to marriage. They practice divorce without much hesitancy or often ignore marriage and live together without it, or they propose the ludicrous, namely, homosexuals getting married—all of which greatly dishonors the institution of marriage. First,the practice of the celebration. Marriage practices among the Jews in Christ’s day were quite elaborate. A big part of the marriage practice was the marriage feast or celebration. It was not a few hours event but could last as long as a week. Therefore to run out of wine at a marriage feast was no small matter. Second, the people at the celebration. “The mother of Jesus was there. And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage” (John 1:1, 2). The people getting married are not named, but the list of their guests tells us that they were people of character, for they invited some of the finest people on earth to their wedding. It is especially important to have Christ in the marriage. Where Christ is not invited, Christ will not bless. Here He was invited (“called”) to the marriage, and as a result, blessed the married couple by solving a big problem right at the beginning of the marriage.

2. The Problem for the Miracle (John 2:3–5)

That which brought Christ into the scene to work a miracle was the fact of the marriage celebration running out of wine.

• The extent of the problem.

“They have no wine” (John 2:3). They were completely out of wine. This lack of wine was a serious problem. “More than a social embarrassment was involved. The bridegroom and his family may well have become involved in a heavy pecuniary liability” (Morris) as a result of running out of wine. Social traditions in those days obligated the marriage couple to provide adequately for the feast or risk legal action by any of the guests. So this lack of wine was no small problem for the newly married couple.

• The expressing of the problem.

The problem of the lack of wine was reported to Christ by Mary. First,Mary’s report to Christ. “When they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine” (John 2:3). Mary was wise to go to Jesus with this problem. If we would go to Christ with our problems rather than to some psychologists or booze or drugs, we would solve our problems rather than increase them. Second, Mary’s rebuke from Christ. “Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come”(John 2:4). Mary’s request seemed on the surface to be acceptable, but Christ saw a bad spirit in the question. Mary was usurping authority here. She was using her maternal position as authority to tell Jesus Christ what to do. Christ rebuked her speech and in so doing denounced the attitude of the Roman Catholic Church which believes Mary has great influence with Christ—which they say means we should pray to Mary instead of straight to Christ. “Woman” is hardly a term showing the veneration for Mary which the church of Rome would give her. Third, Mary’s rule about Christ. “Whatsoever he said unto you, do it”(John 2:5). Mary issued a command to the servants (which indicates Mary has some status at the wedding feast) about obeying Christ’s orders about solving the wine deficiency. This command is applicable for all time. “Whatsoever” includes everything. If we want Christ to work mightily in our lives and solve problems for us, we will need a “Whatsoever” submission. Christ does not work wonders for the disobedient.

3. The Precepts in the Miracle (John 2:6–9)

The miracle of turning water into wine was prefaced by some Divine precepts.

• The presence of the precepts.

Once again in Scripture we have a Divine command associated with a Divine miracle. When Christ is about to bestow a blessing, He often gives a command. The flesh does not take well to commands, however. It wants to have privileges without responsibilities. It wants benefits of obedience without being obedient. This precept also tells us that Divine commands are for our good. Satan wants us to believe that Divine commands are a great burden that takes away joy and makes life a bore. But Scripture says Divine commands are for our blessing, not our burden.

• The pots in the precepts. “There were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece” (John 2:6). Three firkins of water is between 17 to 25 gallons (Hendriksen). Therefore the six water pots could contain upwards to 150 gallons of water which is a lot of water. The customs of the Jews required many ceremonial washings; therefore it was necessary to have much water on hand as they did not have modern plumbing like we do in our land. Turning this much water into wine meant Christ provided more than an ample supply of wine for the wedding feast. When Christ blesses it is “exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20).

• The people for the precepts.

“Jesus saith unto them [the servants], Fill the waterpots with water.” (John 2:7). The people involved with the precepts teach us some good lessons. First,the enlisted for service. “Jesus saith unto them.” The people involved with the precepts that brought about the miracle were lowly servants. They were not even named. Yet, through obedience they were involved in the first miracle of Christ. Obedience will put you in places of privilege and blessings that you could never get into by human status and maneuvering. Second, the economy of miracles. God does not do what we can do. Christ made the water into wine—which man could not do. But man could fill the water pots with water. The miracles of Christ were never done to make people lazy. Christ’s miracles were not a welfare program for the lazy and sluggards.

• The perspiration in the precepts.

“Fill the waterpots with water” (John 2:7). This precept would require a lot of perspiration. These servants had to go to a well and draw enough water from the well to fill six waterpots which totaled from 100 to 150 gallons of water. God’s precepts are often difficult to do and require much effort. But the effort is worth it.

• The perplexity of the precepts.

“Fill the waterpots with water” (John 2:7). The need was wine, not water. Human reasoning would have been much perplexed by this command. But faith not only believes God has power, but it also believes that God has wisdom. We may not understand the commands of God, but faith will trust the wisdom of God about the perplexing command.

• The performing of the precepts.

“They filled them up to the brim” (John 2:7). This is the report of how the servants responded to the command of Christ. First, the excellence of their obedience. “To the brim.” These servants did not just do enough to get by as so many do, rather they did as much as they could. Brim-full obedience is not easy, for it requires maximum effort. Neither is brim-full obedience extolled, for many folk scorn and criticize such dedication. It is too much to the world and carnal Christians. You will be called a radical or fanatic or some kind of nut if you insist on brim-full obedience. Second, the enablement from their obedience. “Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it” (John 2:8). Obedience enabled them to take the water-made-wine to the governor. Had they not been obedient and filled the water pots with water, they could not have taken new wine to the governor of the feast. Obedience enables for service. Third,the enlightenment from their obedience. “The ruler of the feast … knew not whence it was; but the servants which drew the water knew” (John 2:9). The servants knew how the increase in wine had occurred. But the ruler of the feast did not. Obedience gives enlightenment. Obedience is an vital key to spiritual knowledge and understanding. Disobedience makes spiritual dunces.

4. The Praise for the Miracle (John 2:9, 10)

The new wine which Christ had created through a miracle was taken to the governor of the feast. He was responsible for seeing that the guests were adequately wined and dined and well entertained. So the new wine had to be taken to him so he would know it was available and could approve of it. His response to the new wine was to praise it greatly.

• The tasting of the wine.

“When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine … [he said] thou has kept the good wine unto now”(John 2:9, 10). In tasting the new wine the governor quickly realized that it was better wine than what they had been serving. If you want to evaluate the work of Christ you have to partake of it. We challenge all critics of the Gospel to just try it.

• The talking about the wine.

“The governor of the feast called the bridegroom, and saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse; but thou hast kept the good wine until now” (John 2:9, 10). Again the governor praises the quality of the wine but does so in the form of a rebuke to the bridegroom. The habit at such feast was to serve the best wine first then when people have drunk their fill, serve them wine that is not so tasty so the people will not continue to drink but will be thinking about leaving the feast. So the governor rebukes the bridegroom for serving the best last. Several things need to be noted here from this rebuke.

First, the contrast to the world.

The new wine speaks of Christianity which is such a contrast to the world. The good wine coming last is typical of Christ and Christianity. The habit of the world is to give the best first, then diminish in quality. The character of Christianity is to get better day by day. The more you walk with Christ the better it gets. The more you walk in the world the worse it gets. “The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day”(Proverbs 4:18). For the righteous on earth, the best is yet to come. For the wicked, the best is this earth; eternity will be a horror story.

Second, the character of the wine.

Did Christ by this miracle make wine as we know it today? Does His making water into wine sanction social drinking today? The answer to both of these questions is a firm “No.” Our wines today are far different than the wine made by Christ. Many ingredients are added to the wine of today to make it an entirely different drink than the wine of Christ’s day.

5. The Products of the Miracle (John 2:11)

This miracle produced some good effects. We note two of them.

• The glory from the miracle.

“This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory” (John 2:11). The miracle showed some flashes of the glory of Christ’s Person. “His glory” speaks of His Deity and His Messiahship. Other works of Christ manifested His Person, too; such as the transfiguration which was the greatest manifestation of His Divine glory. There was plenty of evidence for Christ’s identification that made ignorance of Him without excuse.

• The growth from the miracle.

“His disciples believed on him” (John 2:11). This statement must not be construed to say that the disciples had yet to believe in Christ. What this statement says is that the disciples grew in their faith. Faith begets faith. The disciples already believed in Him, but this miracle simply strengthened their faith. When we follow Christ faithfully, we will be strengthened in our faith.