Miracle at Cana

Miracle at Cana, John 2:1-12

John 2:1 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; 2 and both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus *said to Him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus *said to her, “Woman, [a]what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother *said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” 6 Now there were six stone waterpots set there for the Jewish custom of purification, containing [b]twenty or thirty gallons each. 7 Jesus *said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” So they filled them up to the brim. 8 And He *said to them, “Draw some out now and take it to the [c]headwaiter.” So they took it to him. 9 When the headwaiter tasted the water which had become wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter *called the bridegroom, 10 and *said to him, “Every man serves the good wine first, and when the people have [d]drunk freely, then he serves the poorer wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.” 11 This beginning of His [e]signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.

12 After this He went down to Capernaum, He and His mother and His brothers and His disciples; and they stayed there a few days.

Footnotes

a. John 2:4 Lit what to Me and to you (a Hebrew idiom)

b. John 2:6 Lit two or three measures

c. John 2:8 Or steward

d. John 2:10 Or have become drunk

e. John 2:11 Or attesting miracles; i.e. one which points to the supernatural power of God in redeeming grace

Commentary

The passage begins with “on the third day”, which, in today’s terms would be two days after the previous passage referenced in John (which was Jesus’ interaction with Nathanael). It is also the seventh day in John’s timeline of Jesus’ ministry thus far, which is significant because of the theme of the number seven throughout the Bible, and John’s gospel in particular. The setting is now Cana, and Jesus’ mother is there, again demonstrating how close this town must have been to Nazareth. In fact, scholars hold that Cana was just about eight miles north of Nazareth (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1300). I’m including a map with some of the prevailing inferences made my most scholars, regarding the position of Bethsaida, Cana, and the other towns that have been mentioned in the early ministry of Jesus.

The five disciples were invited to the wedding, but this is a little challenging to explain, considering how recently they had become acquainted with Jesus. How did they come to be invited to a wedding where Jesus’ mother was attending? There are a couple of possibilities. Either Jesus stopped through Nazareth on his way and accepted the invitation to include the disciples, or else Nathanael, who was from Cana, made the arrangements (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1300).

His mother must have seen Him be extremely wise and resourceful at home because her knee-jerk reaction was to assume He could help. John says (John 20:30) that Jesus performed many other signs and miracles which are not recorded in this book, so I think it’s reasonable to assume that Jesus’ mother had already witnessed the supernatural quality of Jesus’ life. John’s gospel does call this the first sign, but I do wonder if it was just the first public sign.

Culturally, Jesus’ mother felt the extreme awkwardness and angst the situation would have caused the family of the newlyweds. Wine was a symbol of life and abundance, and running out of it at any point during the week-long wedding celebration would not only have abbreviated the feasting, but would have put a stain on the expectation of life and abundance for the new couple (The Word in Life Study Bible pg. 1863). Some scholars even suspect there could have been legal ramifications because of the culture of reciprocity, where the guests would have expected to be treated in a similar fashion to the way they had treated guests at a feast of their own in the past.

How much wine was considered appropriate for a week long feast? Well, possibly more than what this family could afford. The wine would not have originally been held in the stone jars Jesus chose to use; these were meant to hold water for purification rituals. The NASB translation deviates from the traditional “measure” and uses gallon measurements, which is interesting, since other passages still contain references to traditional forms of measurement. I’m not sure why they chose to not only modernize, but Anglicize this particular volume (I would think the metric system is more widely used, globally, but then again, this is the New American Standard Bible). However, various sources believe the pots could have held anywhere from 7 to 30 gallons each, making the total volume between all 6 pots equivalent to approximately 100-180 gallons (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1300). Why did he choose to use the purification jars and why start with water? He could have made wine from nothing and just filled the original wine skins back up. There’s a pretty genius answer to that in this sermon https://christcovenant.org/sermons/water-into-wine/.

Take further note of the cultural differences. Jesus can disagree with His mother, without committing the sin of dishonoring her. Also, the fact that He calls her “woman” is not disrespectful, despite the fact that most of us would never dream of addressing our mothers that way today. However, this does seem to be a turning point in their relationship, where He becomes His own person, not dependent on or beholden to His mother. She has to later ask His disciples if she can see Him, and we don’t hear mention of her again until the crucifixion and the upper room in Acts.

What did Jesus mean when He said His time had not yet come, and why would He not have wanted to draw attention to Himself before His “time”? I have heard in the past that rabbis were not traditionally allowed to complete their apprenticeship and begin fully acting in the capacity of a leader until they reached the age of 30. This could be one reason Jesus said His time had not yet come. However, the more research I have done for this study, the more it seems theologians agree this reference to Jesus’ time was used in a similar manner to other references in John, when Jesus said His time had not come (7:6, 7:8, 7:30, 8:20). The time had not yet come for Jesus to reveal Himself as the Messiah and to suffer for His works and ministry. Also, similarly to when He later tells those He heals to keep it to themselves, He knows massive crowds could inhibit His mobility, making it impossible for Him to effectively reach other people in other geographies.

What is Mary’s response when He reminds her His time has not yet come? Her response could be interpreted as insistence, or of complete faith in Him, but some theologians interpret it as resignation to Jesus’ will by telling the wedding servants to assist, whatever His decision is. Jesus, whatever the case, seems persuaded to change His mind. This speaks to the nature of God, to which Christ Himself refers throughout His ministry: that humans, through persistent prayer and petition, can prevail upon God to intervene, as long as the outcome is not outside the scope of His will and “manifests His glory,” as in verse 11.

By performing this miracle, Jesus also implies it is not against the will of God to celebrate or drink wine; however, in other passages, the Bible does make it clear it is sinful to get drunk, or at the very least that inebriated people make poor choices which lead to sin. Take a look through the scriptures in the reference section below. The more important aspects of this sign are: Jesus showed He cares about things that are emotionally and socially important to us (not just matters of life and death), so we should bring ALL things to Him; His intervention in this case demonstrated grace and mercy and manifested His glory, reinforcing His disciples’ faith, and symbolically, if wine equaled life and abundance, Jesus’ wine was the best, literally and figuratively.

In the last verse, the scene changes again, to Capernaum, the home of James and John. Jesus’ family also goes there with Him. I wondered why they didn’t go home. As you can see from the map, Nazareth was south of Cana, and Capernaum was north. This was not on the way. However, when you consider what they all just witnessed, imagine how they all must have wanted to stay close to Him, either to see what He might do next, or even just to revel in the glory of how amazing it was. Have you ever had an epic night with your friends or family, and you wanted to hang out again the next day because you just didn’t want the fun to end? Jesus’ brothers must all have been slapping Him on the back and retelling the awesome story to each other again and again. We take for granted how crazy that first miracle must have been for everyone, but if you really put yourself in their shoes, you can see how surprising and wonderful it really was.

See the next post here https://onthepath.online/2019/05/31/first-temple-cleansing/

Scripture References

Jn 1:29 The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

Jn 1:35 Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples,

Jn 1:43 The next day He purposed to go into Galilee, and He found Philip. And Jesus said to him, “Follow Me.”

Jn 4:46 Therefore He came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a royal official whose son was sick at Capernaum.

Jn 21:2 Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together.

Mt 12:46 While He was still speaking to the crowds, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him.

Jn 1:40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He found first his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which translated means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John; you shall be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter). 43 The next day He purposed to go into Galilee, and He found Philip. And Jesus said to him, “Follow Me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip*found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 49 Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.”

Jn 2:17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house will consume me.”

Jn 2:22 So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken

Jn 3:22 After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He was spending time with them and baptizing.

Jn 4:2 (although Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were),

Jn 4:8 For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.

Jn 4:27 At this point His disciples came, and they were amazed that He had been speaking with a woman, yet no one said, “What do You seek?” or, “Why do You speak with her?”

Jn 6:8 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him,

Jn 6:12 When they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments so that nothing will be lost.”

Jn 6:16 Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea,

Jn 6:22 The next day the crowd that stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other small boat there, except one, and that Jesus had not entered with His disciples into the boat, but that His disciples had gone away alone.

Jn 6:24 So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they themselves got into the small boats, and came to Capernaum seeking Jesus.

Jn 6:60 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this said, “This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?” 61 But Jesus, conscious that His disciples grumbled at this, said to them, “Does this cause you to stumble?

Jn 6:66 As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore.

Jn 7:3 Therefore His brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go into Judea, so that Your disciples also may see Your works which You are doing.

Jn 8:31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine;

Jn 19:26 When Jesus then saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold, your son!”

Mt 8:29 And they cried out, saying, “What business do we have with each other, Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?”

Jn 7:6 So Jesus said to them, “My time is not yet here, but your time is always opportune.

Jn 7:8 Go up to the feast yourselves; I do not go up to this feast because My time has not yet fully come.”

Jn 7:30 So they were seeking to seize Him; and no man laid his hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come.

Jn 8:20 These words He spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one seized Him, because His hour had not yet come.

Mt 12:46 While He was still speaking to the crowds, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him.

Mk 7:3 (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they carefully wash their hands, thus observing the traditions of the elders; 4 and when they come from the market place, they do not eat unless they cleanse themselves; and there are many other things which they have received in order to observe, such as the washing of cups and pitchers and copper pots.)

Jn 3:25 Therefore there arose a discussion on the part of John’s disciples with a Jew about purification.

Mt 24:49 and begins to beat his fellow slaves and eat and drink with drunkards;

Lk 12:45 But if that slave says in his heart, ‘My master will be a long time in coming,’ and begins to beat the slaves, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk;

Ac 2:15 For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day;

1 Co 11:21 for in your eating each one takes his own supper first; and one is hungry and another is drunk.

Eph 5:18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,

1 Th 5:7 For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night

Rev 17:2 with whom the kings of the earth committed acts of immorality, and those who dwell on the earth were made drunk with the wine of her immorality.”

Rev 17:6 And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus. When I saw her, I wondered greatly.

Jn 2:23 Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, observing His signs which He was doing.

Jn 3:2 this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”

Jn 4:54 This is again a second sign that Jesus performed when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.

Jn 6:2 A large crowd followed Him, because they saw the signs which He was performing on those who were sick.

Jn 6:14 Therefore when the people saw the sign which He had performed, they said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.”

Jn 6:26 Jesus answered them and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.

Jn 6:30 So they said to Him, “What then do You do for a sign, so that we may see, and believe You? What work do You perform?

Jn 7:31 But many of the crowd believed in Him; and they were saying, “When the Christ comes, He will not perform more signs than those which this man has, will He?”

Jn 9:16 Therefore some of the Pharisees were saying, “This man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.” But others were saying, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And there was a division among them.

Jn 10:41 Many came to Him and were saying, “While John performed no sign, yet everything John said about this man was true.”

Jn 11:47 Therefore the chief priests and the Pharisees convened a council, and were saying, “What are we doing? For this man is performing many signs.

Jn 12:18 For this reason also the people went and met Him, because they heard that He had performed this sign.

Jn 12:37 But though He had performed so many signs before them, yet they were not believing in Him.

Jn 20:30 Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;

Jn 1:43 The next day He purposed to go into Galilee, and He found Philip. And Jesus said to him, “Follow Me.”

Jn 1:14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Mt 4:13 and leaving Nazareth, He came and settled in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali.

Mt 12:46 While He was still speaking to the crowds, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him.