The Wedding at Cana
[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.
[12] After this he went down to Capernaum, with his mother and his brothers and his disciples, and they stayed there for a few days.
Jesus Cleanses the Temple
[13] The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. [14] In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. [15] And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. [16] And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.” [17] His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”
[18] So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” [19] Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” [20] The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” [21] But he was speaking about the temple of his body. [22] When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.
Jesus Knows What Is in Man
[23] Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. [24] But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people [25] and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.
A couple of times it mentions his disciples remembering words that Jesus said or were written about him in the OT, and v.22 stuck out- “they remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture..” And it made me think about God’s plan, how he spoke so many things about Jesus ahead of time, giving people a chance to remember what he had said and believe. It reminded me of “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”
That’s cool Alicia. It makes me think to how Jesus would tell them He would die and on the third day rise again but the disciples didn’t understand, Luke 18:31-34, but Jesus would open there eyes and they would remember. Mary would also treasure up words that were spoken about Jesus, Luke 2:19. Sometimes God speaks and we don’t understand but we know it’s the Lord so we hold on to it. It’s still a treasure. Then God does something and we get to remember.
When Jesus’ mom points out that there is no wine Jesus protests saying, “My hour has not yet come.” Jesus refers to this “hour” several times in John referring to His crucifixion. Mary is asking for wine and Jesus says it’s not time for my blood to be poured out yet. It’s not time for me to give myself. And even though it wasn’t time for what He ultimately had for them He still gave them good wine. I felt like God was showing me that even though it wasn’t the “hour”, it wasn’t time yet He still blessed them with good things. Even when we are waiting on what God has for us He still has good things for us while we wait.
I read through this chapter with your comment in mind and I realized I have constantly read over v6 where it says that Jesus used water jars meant for purification. That is such a small, but very significant detail that I have apparently missed time and time again. I am still trying to fully wrap my head around the significance of it all, but it is cool to me that Jesus asked them to fill those jars with water as they would when practicing the old covenant, but then changed the water to wine symbolizing the new covenant where His blood is our means of purification.
Amen Brandon, even the seemingly small details God puts there for a reason. That’s the Lord!
Brandon,
That part makes me think “wait, what?” And rabbit trail through the implications.
So then the Master of the Feast served it to everyone who would drink……
Doesn’t God do that now? Offer Christ to everyone who will receive!
It was only the servants who knew how and why- as we serve Him may me know his heart. He has a bigger plan for many more people as the Master of the Feast than we could imagine.
All at the urging of His mother- interesting to me that the Holy Spirit urges us.
Good read!!
Crystal
Heath,
Agreed! And there is so much to unpack here.
In reality, it’s a celebration and not really something any of us might think of as appropriate for a first miracle.
Metaphorically, the wedding is symbolic of God’s plan for redemption. The bride and bridegroom, the wine, the better “new” wine coming in the end. The entire ceremony becomes a picture of salvation fulfilled.
I had never noticed until today that between the first chapter and this chapter it keeps time with “The next day, the next day…On the Third day”. I know His timing is always perfect and so there is always significance in His timing.
I had never noticed that before either Sara. Very cool.
This is cool – I was re-reading chapter 1 and because of your comment I noticed this verse in a deeper way: “Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”
John 1:16-17
He made himself known before, and made himself known again. Also, just like Heath was saying – even when it wasn’t His time, he still made himself known to us.
I was also thinking how significant it is that Jesus’ first miracle would be at a wedding. When He returns it will be a wedding as well.
[Revelation 19:6-8 ESV] “6 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah!
For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. 7 Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; 8 it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.”
This is so good!
Yes!!
I think it is interesting that John 1 starts off reflecting/ referencing Genius 1 and that John is going to record 7 signs as we continue to read through the book. I don’t know if there is a correlation between each sign and each day of creation. That would be interesting to look into! But we do see Jesus reviling himself as Lord of creation by literally changing one element into another. And again this points back to the beginning of John when he says “All things were created through him…”
I also think (even aside from the larger symbolism) it’s interesting that Jesus goes to the wedding. He is not “too busy.” He goes to this celebration with his family and disciples. To me it highlights the importance of relationship to Jesus. He didn’t have “more important things to do.”