John 2:1-12
1 On the third day a wedding took place in Cana of Galilee. Jesus’s mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples were invited to the wedding as well. 3 When the wine ran out, Jesus’s mother told him, “They don’t have any wine.” 4 “What has this concern of yours to do with me, woman?” Jesus asked. “My hour has not yet come.” 5 “Do whatever he tells you,” his mother told the servants. 6 Now six stone water jars had been set there for Jewish purification. Each contained twenty or thirty gallons. 7 “Fill the jars with water,” Jesus told them. So they filled them to the brim. 8 Then he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the headwaiter.” And they did. 9 When the headwaiter tasted the water (after it had become wine), he did not know where it came from—though the servants who had drawn the water knew. He called the groom 10 and told him, “Everyone sets out the fine wine first, then, after people are drunk, the inferior. But you have kept the fine wine until now.” 11 Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee. He revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him. 12 After this, he went down to Capernaum, together with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples, and they stayed there only a few days.
Jesus has been in Judea. Now the scene shifts from Judea in the south to Galilee in the north, the region where Jesus grew up. Jesus is at a wedding in Cana, with his disciples and his mother. Weddings are a "big deal," with many guests and festivities planned to last for about a week celebrating the new couple.
John selects this event, not found in the other Gospels, to begin to reveal who Jesus is.
The wedding, quickly has a serious problem. They had enough wine to begin the festivities, but before long they ran out of wine!
Mary, who is perhaps especially close to the groom's family, and therefore sensitive to their need, not only mentions it to Jesus, but suggests that He solve their problem.
Mary walks up to Jesus and says, “'There is no more wine.”
“Why is this my problem????” says Jesus
The text doesn't tell us, she probably knows that Jesus can help. But remember she has lived with him for thirty years and knows that He is not only resourceful in practical matters, but probably has seen Him perform miracles prior to today. She is His mother. She knows Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. She specifically mentions the problem to Jesus in a way that leaves him no doubt that she expects him to take care of it.
He responds, “my time has not yet come.”
Jesus tells the servants, “Fill the jars with water to the brim."
It may have taken them several hours to complete Jesus' somewhat weird request.
Had there been no more wine, this could have been tragic for the new couple. This would have been a sign that the man could not provide for his wife and could have ended badly.
They took off the lid and the water was now wine. Jesus performed this miracle and saved the wedding, and the future of this new couple.
Jesus then has the disciples take some wine to the “head waiter.” And he is surprised at the quality of the wine. He says, “who saves the best wine for last?” He doesn't seem to be aware of the wine shortage situation nor the actions of the disciples, so he is able to summon the bridegroom.
Verse 11, Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee. He revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.
John uses the greek word sēmeion for signs, which means, a sign or distinguishing mark whereby something is known, sign, token, indication. For John, these wonders are not just miracles, but signs that point to who Jesus actually is.
According to verse 11 this sign had two functions:
Reveals his glory - The teacher is more than He seems, and every so often the massive Shekinah glory of God shines out.
Inspires faith - It's important to observe that in His disciples, the miracles inspired faith, but in his enemies they inspired only a determination to eliminate him.
Jesus' ministry is now officially underway. The bulk of Jesus' ministry in Galilee is chronicled by the Synoptic Gospels, while John focuses more on Jesus' Judean ministry.
For the children:
What has Jesus done in your life or someone around you that has you in awe?
Who do you need to share a story of Jesus with?
Read and Meditate:
John 2:1-12
Pray
God, I appreciate that I have a backstage pass to the miracles of Jesus as He shows us that He can meet all our needs. Please help me see the needs around me and find a way to meet them.
In Jesus name, Amen.
About the author:
Jose Aguilar Jr. is an Associate Pastor at FBC Weslaco and has served in this capacity for the last 12 years. He and his wife Blanca have served faithfully at FBC Weslaco since 2001. They are the proud grandparents of Lilyana Faythe and Trinidad Esperanza Aguilar.