John 2:1-11
We are now moving in to John Chapter 2 here on God’s Daytimer.
John 2:1-11 (NIV)
1 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” 4 “Dear woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. 8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, 9 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 10 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.” 11 This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.
Jesus first miracle (John used the word “signs” to point to their significance,the miracles were a sign that Jesus was the Messiah) was very private, only the disciples who had already been called (it is possible that Matthew was not there which would explain why this miracle was not recorded in the Synoptic gospels; Matthew, Mark and Luke), Jesus mother, and some servants knew. It was enough for the disciples who were present to put their faith in Him.
As we read these first verses of Chapter Two we find ourselves at a wedding feast. Wedding feasts often lasted seven days. They took place after the groom had returned for the bride and taken her back to his home or his father’s house. At some point during this celebration, the wine runs out, Mary looks to Jesus to see if there is anything He can do. Because verse 11 tells us that this is Jesus first miracle, it is unlikely that Mary was expecting one.
If the master of the banquet had seen that the water that had been used came from the purification jars (water which was used for the ceremonial cleansing before and after meals) he, or any other Religious Jew would never have drank from it. This is a contrast between the old religious way of doing things (rules and regulations) and how Jesus would come and do things.
The fact that this wine was the best (normally the best wine was served first and then the wine that wasn’t so good) is another picture of the message that Jesus was bringing about the Kingdom of God was an advance over the rules and regulations of the Pharisees. God had kept the best until NOW.
John refers to this miracle as a revealing of His glory. In the Old Testament Moses had turned water into blood which was a picture of judgment. Here, at the beginning of Christ’s ministry, water is turned to wine, a picture of the joy He provides by the Spirit.
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