The
third day, there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there. Jesus also was invited, with his disciples, to the marriage. When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no wine.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does that have to do with you and me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Whatever he says to you, do it.” Now there were six water pots of stone set there after the Jews’ way of purifying, containing two or three metretes apiece. Jesus said to them, “Fill the water pots with water.” They filled them up to the brim. He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the ruler of the feast.” So they took it. When the ruler of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and didn’t know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the ruler of the feast called the bridegroom, and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when the guests have drunk freely, then that which is worse. You have kept the good wine until now!” This beginning of his signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
John 2:1-11
John 1 [50.] Jesus answered him, “Because I told you, ‘I saw you underneath the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these!” He said to him, “Most certainly, I tell you, hereafter you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
John 2 [1.] The third day, there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there. Jesus also was invited, with his disciples, to the marriage. When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no wine.”
John 2 [4.] Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does that have to do with you and me? My hour has not yet come.”
John 2 [5.] His mother said to the servants, “Whatever he says to you, do it.” Now there were six water pots of stone set there after the Jews’ way of purifying, containing two or three metretes apiece. Jesus said to them, “Fill the water pots with water.” They filled them up to the brim. He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the ruler of the feast.” So they took it. When the ruler of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and didn’t know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the ruler of the feast called the bridegroom, and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when the guests have drunk freely, then that which is worse. You have kept the good wine until now!” This beginning of his signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
John 2 [12.] After this, he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, his brothers, and his disciples; and they stayed there a few days. The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. He found in the temple those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, and the changers of money sitting. He made a whip of cords, and threw all out of the temple, both the sheep and the oxen; and he poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew their tables. To those who sold the doves, he said, “Take these things out of here! Don’t make my Father’s house a marketplace!” His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will eat me up.”
Meaning:
The first sign of Jesus in John's Gospel takes place not in the temple or before a crowd, but at a village wedding. By turning water into wine he saves a family from shame and gives his disciples a first glimpse of his glory.
- “The third day, there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee”
Cana was a village near Nazareth, the home of Nathanael (John 21:2). Weddings lasted up to a week, and hospitality was a matter of honour. Running out of wine would have been a serious embarrassment for the bridegroom's family. Mary seems to have had some responsibility at the feast, and she brought the problem to her son.
- “Woman, what does that have to do with you and me?”
“Woman” was a respectful form of address, not a rude one; Jesus used it from the cross when he tenderly entrusted his mother to the beloved disciple (John 19:26). Still, Jesus signals that his actions are directed by his Father's timing, not family expectations. “My hour” in John points to his death and glorification: later he says, “The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified” (John 12:23).
- “Whatever he says to you, do it”
Mary does not argue. She trusts her son and tells the servants to obey him. Her words are a model of faith: leave the matter with Jesus and do what he says.
- “six water pots of stone … after the Jews’ way of purifying”
Stone jars were used because stone was thought not to become ritually unclean. They held water for the washings that Jewish custom required (Mark 7:3). Each held two or three metretes, about 75 to 115 litres, so the six together held a very large amount. Jesus filled the vessels of the old purification rites with new wine.
- “You have kept the good wine until now!”
The ruler of the feast did not know where the wine came from, but he knew it was the best. The prophets pictured the coming age of salvation as a feast “of choice wines” (Isaiah 25:6). Jesus spoke of “new wine” that needs “fresh wineskins” (Mark 2:22). The best was saved for last: the joy that Jesus brings surpasses everything before it.
- “This beginning of his signs”
John calls Jesus' miracles signs because they point beyond themselves to who he is. In this first sign Jesus “revealed his glory”, the glory John spoke of in the prologue (John 1:14). The result was faith: “his disciples believed in him”. John wrote down such signs “that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God” (John 20:30).
The Significance of John 2:1-11
- Jesus cares about ordinary life
Jesus' first sign was performed at a family celebration to meet a practical need. He is concerned with our everyday joys and troubles, not only religious matters.
- Do whatever he says
Mary's instruction to the servants applies to every believer. Blessing came as the servants simply obeyed, filling jars with water before they could see the result.
- The best is yet to come
The good wine kept until last points to the joy of God's kingdom, pictured as a wedding feast (Matthew 22:2).
Cross-References:
Isaiah 25:6: “a feast of choice wines,” The prophetic picture of the messianic banquet.
Mark 2:22: “they put new wine into fresh wineskins.” The newness Jesus brings.
John 19:26: “Woman, behold your son!” Jesus again addresses his mother as Woman, at the cross.
John 20:30: “Therefore Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples,” The purpose of John's signs.
Conclusion: John 2:1-11 records Jesus' first sign, turning water into wine at a wedding in Cana. In this act of kindness he revealed his glory and showed that he brings the abundant joy promised for God's coming kingdom. His disciples saw it and believed in him.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible