John 2:1-5
1 And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:
2 And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.
3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.
4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.
5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it
In the Old and New Testament worlds, weddings were happy, festive occasions just as they are today. However,the marriage ceremony was considerably longer, and a full time of feasting and celebration.
Leon Morris supplies us with some additional background from the Jewish writings:
The wedding would take place on a Wednesday if the bride was a virgin and on a Thursday if she was a widow. The bridegroom and his friends made their way in procession to the bride’s house. This was often done at night, when there could be a spectacular torchlight procession. There were doubtless speeches and expressions of goodwill before the bride and groom went in procession to the groom’s house, where the wedding banquet was held. It is probable that there was a religious ceremony, but we have no details. The processions and the feast are the principal items of which we have knowledge. The feast was prolonged, and might last as long as a week.
Mary, the mother of Jesus, is at the wedding, although her role seems to be more than that of a guest. One gets the impression that the couple being married are either friends, or possibly related to Mary, and that she is helping with the arrangements, especially the serving of the food and wine. Whatever the case may be, Mary seems to be one of the first to know that the wine is running out. She instructs the servants to do whatever Jesus tells them to do, and they appear willing to follow her instructions.
Jesus and His disciples are also at the wedding as invited guests. Andrew, Simon Peter, Philip, Nathanael, and John. The fact that Mary, Jesus and His disciples are all invited to this wedding suggests that this wedding is that of someone known to all of them, perhaps a friend or a relative. Some writers have suggested that the wedding is that of Nathanael’s. It could be that it is Nathanael's wedding being that he was from Cana, but this is simply a guess. Well into the festivities, Jesus’ mother becomes aware of a most embarrassing situation—the wine has run out, and there appears to be no solution.
Either no more wine is available, or there is no money to buy more wine. However, the guests seem unaware of what is happening.
Jesus’ mother steps in and takes charge when she says to Jesus, “They have no wine left.” Mary may have considered this crisis providential. Perhaps she thinks it is time for Jesus to present Himself to the world as the Messiah. John the Baptist has already designated Him as Messiah, and He already has a following of disciples.
Jesus knows that His mother expects a response of some kind, and He gives her a response, though it is hardly what she expects. Yet, it is not an unkind response—it simply serves to set the record straight by redefining His relationship to Mary, His earthly mother. Jesus asks Mary the question, “Why are you saying this to Me?”. Or maybe "What does this have to do with me?"
As His mother, Mary might think she has some parental authority over Him. As her sovereign God, she has no authority over Him at all!
I want to point out that Jesus was indeed submissive to his parents. In his Gospel, Luke makes the point clear.
Luke 2:51
51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
I feel the rebuke has to do with Mary crossing over from the Jesus the man to Jesus the Son of God. So it is now time for our Lord to indicate to His mother that there will be a change. Not only is He a grown man about to set out on His own, He is the Messiah. Mary, nor any other person could not stop him from doing His Father's will.
Catholics and Protestants strongly disagree on this matter. Catholic scholars, consistent with their exaggerated view of Mary’s importance, are convinced that she uses her influence on Jesus to get Him to do what He would not otherwise have done. The text seems to tell us just the opposite. Jesus reminds her that she is just a woman, and that He, as God, cannot comply with her wishes if and when they are not in “His time.”
Mary certainly is not offended, nor is she entirely put off by Jesus’ words. She simply turns to the servants and instructs them, “Whatever He tells you, do it.”
John 2:6-11
6 And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.
7 Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.
8 And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.
9 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,
10 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.
11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
A devoutly Jewish wedding ceremony might have required many ceremonial cleansings. To facilitate these washings, a substantial amount of water was kept on hand. Each pot has a capacity of between 20 and 30 gallons of water, a total of around 150 gallons. Jesus instructs the servants to fill each of the six waterpots to the brim with water.
Up to this point I doubt that either the servants or Mary, or our Lord’s newly-acquired disciples have a clue as to what Jesus is about to do. When the six stone pots are filled, Jesus instructs the servants to draw out some of the “water” from one of the pots and to serve it to the master of the feast. Not one of them could have ever imagined what Jesus would say next: “Now draw some out and take it to the governor.” In absolute unbelief they must have thought, “I know Mary said to do whatever Jesus said, but surely He can’t be serious! We are to serve this “cleasning water” to the governor? When he finds out it is only water, and not wine, he’ll have our jobs.
No one knows what has just happened. Jesus does not wave his arms over the waterpots, commanding the water to become wine. It appears that He never even touched the water or the pots. Jesus does not even tell them that the water has become wine, or that it is about to do so. As far as they know, Jesus is instructing them to serve water, ceremonial cleansing water, to the governor! This is horrifying!
Yet, As far as we know, the servants immediately obey our Lord. We read of no hesitation, no words of protest. The governor sniffs the cup, and then sips. He then calls for the bridegroom—what is he about to say?
With a smile, and perhaps a pat on the bridegroom’s back, the governor proclaims this wine to be great—the best yet.
A miracle had taken place.
Applications..
I want to look at a few lines in this passage and make application.
Please notice in verse 3….They have no wine.
Just as the provisions in the wilderness were low and Jesus was given opportunity to supply the needs of a multitude, and just as it was permitted that a man should be born blind, “that the works of God should be manifest in him” so is the short supply of wine in this passage. God's grace is shown here in supplying not just needs, but luxury. They had water they could have drunk. God gave them more than they needed.
1) God lets man want.
It is a paradox, but it is a truth, that it is for our good to suffer need of many kinds.
a) It helps teach us how limited our resources are and that they can be exhausted.
b) It causes us to look beyond ourselves, to look above for satisfaction of needs and desires.
c) It causes us to not only see Him as the giver of all blessings, but also it causes us to long for his intervention into our life. We look for it and we welcome it.
Therefore, prayer only belongs to the spirit of someone that believes God can overpower all things including the will of man.
2) God supplies man's wants and desires.
a) He does this at the right moment.
b) He does this in His own power that the glory may be His.
c) He does this in a gracious way which is both sympathetic and with authority.
Notice the line in verse 4.. Mine hour is not yet come.
God has His own times for all his works. Jesus waited 30 years before he began his public ministry. We also see him withdrawing from the public a few times.
1) The hour for His advent was His hour of choosing.
This, by many, may seem late in history. But it was in “the fullness of the time” or the fullness of His time.
2) There was a time or a season for him to enter the public ministry.
A delay on the part of Christ is not fully understood by us, but the right moment was known to the Eternal God.
3) There was also a time to manifest his glory in miracles.
We see the Jews, His disciples, even Satan himself urge Christ to use His divine powers. He was called to heal and yet waited. He displayed His glory in the divine power that He had, in His own time. It was He that was in charge and no other.
4) There was a time for him to give himself over to death.
He said… "father the hour has come.” Until that moment, no one could have taken His life. It was time for Him to die and die He did.
5) There is a time..an hour set aside and known only to Him for his second coming.
“God has appointed a day,” “of that day and hour knoweth no man.” We will not dictate His coming. His hour has not come or He would be here. "He that cometh will come and will not tarry.” His delay gives understanding to the full church of the elect. Once that last member believes the church is full and He will come. What day that is, and who that last person is, we do not know.
Notice next verse 5 ..“whatsoever he saith unto you, do it."
It is the duty of the church to repeat this statement made by Mary to the world. “whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.” Why, because His authority is absolute.
1) The authority of Christ is unique and absolute.
All leaders…even great world leaders have limits. It is wise to yield to the divine Lord of all. Again we may ask why?
a) His authority is divine in it's nature. He that honoureth the Son, honoureth the Father who sent him.
b) He is not only the Law giver, but also the Law.
The authority is to be acted upon under the power and authority of love.“If you love me…..keep my commandments”
2) The authority of Christ is universal in its range.
His people are told to.."Call no man master”
He says…Ye call me master and lord, and ye say well, for so I am”
It is binding to all of mankind. He is Lord of all.
He says to all come unto me,
learn of me,
follow me.
The church then adds to this.."Whatsoever then he saith unto you, do it".
Verse 10 ..“thou has kept the good wine until last.”
God works in a progressive revelation.
Whom we knew as God the Creator, we now know as God's Son. Pictures such as this in the Old Testament we could not fully understand until Christ was revealed. God gave us a promise of a Christ. He gave us the Law to understand who He is and to understand ourselves.
Like the best wine, God saved the best for last. Christ is the fullness of God. But the blessings and spiritual delight of eternity (Heaven) we can then say…”thou hast kept the best for last."
Verse 11.."This beginning of miracles. ” (signs)
A man's works and actions can be seen as a picture of his character and aim in life. This is the first of many signs. What was the meaning of these signs? What was Christ's aim? What was the message He wished for us to know?
First, what the signs were in themselves.
1 ) They were works by the worker, that set him apart from ordinary man.
2 ) They were wonders to awaken the beholder.
3 ) They were deeds that overpowered the laws of nature.
This places Christ over the laws of Nature.
Second.. Who were the signs for?
I want you to notice this. It was not primarily for the skeptic.
This canbe seen in other passages that deal with the signs, but it is pretty clear. There may have been some at the wedding that were not believers, but we are not told. But the display of the sign was not open. The governor did not know of the sign. Most likely only a few knew of this sign.
Jesus did not go out looking for public places to perform and amaze a bunch of people. The signs were proofs to the believers that he was God. Do you see how much value is placed on faith? His disciples believed on him that much more after a sign. I have a friend that does not believe the Bible. Hefeels like it is just a bunch of old wives tales. Yet he fears the predictions of Nostradamus. This despite the fact that Nostradamus writings are so broad they could mean anything and the Bible gives eye witness accounts in detail. Signs only help the faith of those that believe.
So it is with us. Before salvation, the Bible had no understanding to us. Anselm of Canterbury said it this way, "I believe in order to understand." After salvation we desire to know more, and God gives more and more understanding.
Verse 11.. "Manifested forth his glory”
1) Glory was manifested in Christ's command over nature.
2) Glory was shown forth in the revelation of Christ's love and grace upon supplying more than just needs
4) Glory was revealed to the believer
Verse 11…"His disciples believed on him"
There is a beauty in this statement found at the end of this text.
1) Who believed?
Not strangers, but his disciples
3) What was the result of this belief?
This made their faith stronger. They had peace about their faith and could rest in the one who claims to be God. It brought them real joy.