The Wedding At Cana Series

Introduction

I have a problem. I don’t like things on my hands. As a result I wash my hands too often when I’m cooking. Now, you may not see that as a problem, after all, cross contamination of various foods is never good. But I do. The other day, Danielle and I were preparing dinner together. My job was to open up the salmon from its individually wrapped packages and then put salt and pepper on them. I could not figure out how to do it without washing my hands several times. I must have washed my hands 4 or 5 times that night.

When I eat French fries, I have to wipe my hands between each bite.

I think the bottom line is I can’t stand having stuff on my hands. I don’t like being dirty.

I have a problem.

But, as I understand it, I’m not alone.

Today, as we continue our study in the Gospel of John, we’re going to consider his first miracle or “sign” which happened at a wedding. This involved hand washing and so much more.

If you have your Bibles, let me encourage you to open them to the book of John, chapter 2. As we did last week, we’ll consider the contextual elements of the passage, and then we’ll reflect on some points of application.

Let’s begin with...

Reflections on the passage (John 2:1-12)

So, we’ve tried to leave some extra space in your outlines in case there are things in this passage that jump out at you.

Before we dive into the specifics of this passage, I think it’s important that we consider the context. This chapter marks a new beginning. Chapter 1 included the prologue and a bit of the ministry of John the Baptist. Chapter 2 marks the beginning of what some commentators call the “book of signs” - chapters 2-12. The final chapters of the book commentators refer to as the “book of glory” - chapters 13-21 - as Jesus displays his divinity to his disciples.

John 2:1–2 ESV

On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples.

So Jesus, His mother and His disciples have been invited to a wedding. The timing of this seems to indicate that it is happening 3 days after the preceding event - which was the calling of Philip and Nathanael.

John 2:3 ESV

When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.”

Several of the commentators suggested that this wedding must have been among some close friends or family members to Mary. Her concern over the lack of wine may indicate that she had a hand in the catering.

In their culture, a wedding celebration could last up to 7 days. It became a very big deal. To have the wine (or any of the food) run out would have been a gross oversight on the part of those who were in charge of the provisions - namely the grooms family. This could have resulted in shame or disgrace on the part of the new couple and their extended family - not the best way to begin a marriage.

With Mary approaching Jesus with this concern, it is unclear exactly what she is expecting him to do or even what she believes he can do. She is simply raising the issue.

John 2:4 ESV

And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.”

As we read this in English, it sounds like Jesus is being disrespectful and harsh - calling his mother “woman.” But this is the same Greek word that Jesus used when he addressed the Samaritan woman in chapter 4, the woman caught in adultery in chapter 8, his own mother on the cross in chapter 19, and Mary Magdalene after the resurrection in chapter 20. (Burge). It might be better understood if it was translated “Ma’am” (Carson). While the Greek word is not an endearing term, it is not as distant as “woman.”

Jesus’ follow up question seems to be a sort of “measured rebuke.” (Carson).

While his public ministry was just getting started, He seemed to be reluctant to go public enough to gain notoriety. And yet, as we will see, while the miraculous sign that followed was a blessing to many, the people who understood what really happened was minimal.

Even with his response, Jesus must have indicated that he would do something, because Mary responds...

John 2:5 ESV

His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

John then gives us a little context.

John 2:6 ESV

Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons.