John 2: 1 – 12
They ran out of Joy
1 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. 3 And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.” 4 Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” 6 Now there were set there six water pots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. 7 Jesus said to them, “Fill the water pots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it. 9 When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. 10 And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!” 11 This beginning of 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, His mother, His brothers, and His disciples; and they did not stay there many days.
The incident at the wedding in Cana of Galilee is said by the writer John to be the first of Jesus’ ‘signs’. This brings out how important what happened here was seen to be. It was to be seen as a specific sign of Who He was. It is to be seen, therefore, as more than just a nature miracle. And that should cause us to look at it carefully.
John is in fact the only one who describes Jesus’ miraculous acts as ‘signs’. They were ‘signs’ because they revealed something of His person, His glory and His purpose. In other words they are ‘signs’ because they demonstrate something of Who and What He is. We should note in this regard that John stresses that these signs actually occurred and were witnessed by the disciples and by others which John comments again in chapter 20 verses 30 – 31, “‘Many other signs did Jesus in the presence of His disciples --- but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and believing might find life through His Name’.
There are seven such signs described in John’s Gospel:
• The turning of water into wine (2.1-12).
• The healing at a distance of the son of the high official at Herod’s court (4.46-54).
• The healing of the lame man on the Sabbath (5.1-16).
• The feeding of the five thousand (6.1-15).
• The walking on the water of the Sea of Galilee (6.16-26).
• The healing of the man blind from birth (9.1-41).
• The raising of Lazarus (11.1-46).
Each of the ‘signs’ points either to being the Messiah or His divinity. The first has in mind the promise of full flowing wine in Isaiah 25.6-8 which is to take place when God takes away the veil that is over men’s eyes and when death is swallowed up, and consolation and joy is given to all who are His.
Isaiah 25 ‘And in this mountain The LORD of hosts will make for all people a feast of choice pieces, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of well-refined wines on the lees. 7 And He will destroy on this mountain the surface of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations. 8 He will swallow up death forever, and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces; The rebuke of His people He will take away from all the earth; For the LORD has spoken.’
This miracle or sign will also indicate that the old ritual is passing away to be replaced by the new wine of the Spirit.
In this first extraordinary sign we see the creative power of God through Jesus as John declared in chapter 1 verse 3, ‘All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made’. By ‘creating’ wine Jesus reveals Himself therefore as the One Who has come to bring joy to the world through His creative power. It revealed that He could do it by a word or even a thought for He made no movement towards the jars of water. He simply determined that they should hold wine, and they did.
A further truth is revealed by the fact of a change from the old ritual truths to new truths which will bring life, joy and satisfaction. The old was to be turned into something better. The water of the old rituals is turned into the wine of the new message that Jesus has brought. And behind the new wine lies the thought of the new age, for such an ‘abundance of wine’ was a symbol of the coming age of blessing.
1 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding.
There was a marriage at Cana in Galilee. We can speculate why the Lord Jesus, his disciples, and His mom were invited to this affair but the scripture remains silent as to the reason. A marriage was a time when the whole town would join together. After the ceremony there would be feasting lasting seven days, and anyone known to the couple would feel free to come. Thus they were all invited.
So, which of the disciples were there? Well so far only Philip and Nathaniel were disciples. Since John covers this miracle he was also in attendance. We do not know if Andrew and Peter were there.
The site of Cana is not yet certain, although it was presumably not far from Nazareth. It was therefore a matter of honor to ensure that they went well. The marriage feast itself would usually take place in the evening, and after the marriage covenant had been signed the couple would be escorted to a specially prepared room, the ‘chuppa’. The feasting would then continue for a number of days, with much music, drinking, and eating. It would be a welcome break from toil and labor. It was a point of honor to ensure that the guests were provided for. To fail to do so adequately would be a matter of great shame.
3 And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.”
We do not know at what point the wine failed, whether at the marriage feast or in the later festivities, but either way it was a shameful thing for the families concerned. They could have suffered reproach for many years to come. So, when the wine began to run out it would be seen as a catastrophe. It would signify that the poverty stricken families had been unable to live up to requirements. Thus when Jesus’ mother learned what had happened, she would realize immediately what it would mean for the families and her thoughts thus turned immediately to her eldest son Jesus, and she went to Him and indicated to Him that ‘they have no wine’.
We know that wine relates to ‘joy’. So, in a way we see Mary tell our Lord Jesus, ‘They ran out of Joy and they need Your input.’
The fact that the wine did run out would suggest that the family concerned were very poor and had not been able to fully fund the wedding fully (the ‘servants’ may well have been volunteers), but it would make their shame clear to all. If their means were very limited this could easily happen as the feasting during a wedding was not restricted to close relatives, and there would be many friends and acquaintances there, not to mention strangers taking advantage of what was on offer. Outwardly this is just Mary consulting Jesus about whether anything can be done. But to John, and possibly to Jesus at the time, the words are more poignant. John sees it as a picture of the world. The world indeed has religious ceremony galore, but it lacks that which floods the heart with joy, it lacks the wine that satisfies (Isaiah 55.1). The world too ‘has no wine’.
I have dealt with a lot of couples and families regarding the scheduling of wedding receptions. Most are shocked at the costs. I have witnessed this same situation occur in both food and drinks. It does cause a major uproar among the guests.
Something for us to consider is the lack of mention of Joseph. He who would normally have attended such an affair, and the fact that Mary turned to Jesus as ‘the head of the family’, suggests that Joseph was dead.
4 Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.”
We know that our Lord Jesus knows all things even what people think so we see that Mary’s words are not just a quiet remark to her son because His reply tells us what she was presenting to Him. He knew that she hoped that He would be able to do something remarkable, revealing some of the powers she knew that He had. On the other hand she knows that she cannot tell Him what to do. She can only draw His attention to the situation. Then the decision will lie with Him.
Mary submitted to Jesus’ way of doing things. She recognized that the Lord Jesus was more than her human son – He was the Son of God. When we bring our problems to Christ, we may think we know how He should take care of them. But He may have a completely different plan. Like Mary, we should submit and allow Him to deal with the problem as He knows is best.
Jesus’ reply is fairly stern, but not as stern as it might appear. It probably contains the sense of gentle chiding, but no more. What He says literally is, “What is there to you and to me?”. The phrase can be used
(1) When one person is unjustly bothering another. The injured party may then say "What is it to me and to you?" meaning, "What have I done to you that you should do this to me?".
(2) it may be used when someone is asked to get involved in a matter he feels is no business of his, he may say to the one asking him, "What is it to me and to you?" meaning, "That is your business, how am I involved?"
Here then this probably means, ‘we have different concerns, mom , rather than the harsher ‘what have we in common?’ or ‘why do you do this to me?’ It was not yet the time when He wished to reveal Himself, as He makes crystal clear when He says ‘my hour has not yet come’. Even Jesus must await the hour God has appointed for Him. Mary did not know what was going on between the Lord and Father God and should not gotten involved. How much more important is it for us then, not to rush into things before God and we are ready.
5 His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”
Mary clearly did not feel His words as a rebuke, but just as a reminder that she must not hurry Him into His work. But she knows Him well enough to know that He will do something, something which is apparent to her from His attitude. So she turns round and tells the waiting servers, ‘Do whatever He tells you.’ The words may indicate that she is expecting Him to do something unusual which may take the servers by surprise, or may simply indicate her confidence in His ability to get the people out of the mess that they had got themselves into.
This incident illustrates the fact that, although like the disciples she accepts He is chosen for a special task, Mary is not fully in tune with her son’s purposes. Jesus will later re-emphasize this when He will not allow her to interfere with His ministry in other circumstances. Thus we see this come out in the unique interaction between Mary and Jesus’ brothers and sisters in not understanding what He was doing came to take Him home as listed in the Gospel of Mark 3.31-35, “31 Then His brothers and His mother came, and standing outside they sent to Him, calling Him. 32 And a multitude was sitting around Him; and they said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking You.” 33 But He answered them, saying, “Who is My mother, or My brothers?” 34 And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! 35 For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.”
6 Now there were set there six water pots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece
Nearby Jesus sees six very large jars which were there for the purpose of Jewish cleansing rituals. Much of the water would have been used already as the wedding feast was well under way, so He tells the servers to refill the jars. Each jar contains on average about a hundred liters, (about 26 gallons). All this detail indicates an eyewitness. It is significant that John mentions the use of the water pots and describes their significance. He wants to draw the attention of his readers to the source of the water, that it is connected with the old religious rites.
7 Jesus said to them, “Fill the water pots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim.
On the basis of Jesus’ instruction to ‘fill the water pots with water’ the servers fill them to the brim. They are probably curious as to what He will do. If you were working at this reception and someone told you to go to the bathroom and fill up the jars used to wash people feet you would be curious also. But watch how the Lord blows their minds in what He then tells them to do.
8 And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it.
Can you just stop and think what theses servants are thinking. Since there are six pots were there 6 servants? ‘Hey man, are you trying to get us fired?’ We know that the guests are feeling no pain from the wine they already drank but our manager will be livid when he tastes the water and finds out where we got it.”
The Lord Jesus told them to draw out some water and carry it to the governor or manager of the feast. Again let me emphasize that the water was not there for drinking. It was for washing in order to remove ritual uncleanness. But now it would appear to them that Jesus was telling them that the water was to be drunk instead of wine. They probably did not at first realize that that was because it had become wine. They may well have thought that Jesus was saying, ‘here is your solution’. But Jesus’ purpose was to bring out that the emphasis was no longer to be on such things as outward ritual washing but was to be on inward sustenance and blessing. The whole symbolism of the water has been altered.
9 When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. 10 And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!”
When the water was drawn and taken to the master of ceremonies, who is not aware of what was happening. He drinks it and is impressed. Indeed he calls the bridegroom and says, ‘Most people serve the best wine first, and then when people are a little merry give them cheaper wine. But you have saved the best till last’. There is not only overabundance but exquisiteness of taste. Jesus is bringing the very best. It is a true Messianic feast. ‘The best wine’ emphasizes change for the better, a new beginning.
I would have loved to be there standing on the side and watching the servants. They do not know what would happen after they gave their boss the water. They did not know it was changed into the best wine the expert manager has ever tasted.. I wondered if they took a little sip to find out what the manager was true. I am sure they stared at Jesus the rest of the night.
11 This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.
The whole account illustrates to John that here is One Who will take the old ceremonies and replace them with a new and vibrant reality. The water of the old religion will become the wine of the new, which will introduce a new and wonderful future, a time of joy and fruitfulness, a Messianic Feast of overflowing plenty. God has saved the best until last. The Messiah is seen as here at last to satisfy men’s deepest needs, and by His actions He reveals His glory as the provider of God’s richest blessing. This is why John can call it a ‘sign’, indeed the first sign, of the purpose Jesus has come to fulfill. The incident strengthens and confirms the faith of the disciples. It indicates that in one sense His hour has begun.
12 After this He went down to Capernaum, He, His mother, His brothers, and His disciples; and they did not stay there many days.
Having been astonished at the Lord Jesus’ miracle at the wedding reception John now remembers vividly how, after this incident, they went to Capernaum for a few days, along with Jesus’ mother and brothers, where they all stayed together. This comment has no significance for the story because we will see in our next study that our Lord travels to Jerusalem
We are going to see in chapter 4 verse 46 The Lord Jesus will come again to Cana. In between He will reveal:
• The true condition of the Temple and of those who seek after signs (2.14-22), who are like the old water of ritualism with nothing to warm men’s hearts.
• The true condition of the hearts of men who seek after signs (2.23-25) as exemplified in a teacher of Israel, who was satisfied with the old waters of Judaism and was missing the water of the Spirit (3.1-21).
• A discussion about the old waters of purifying, in contrast with the new waters of John’s baptism which pointed to the Spirit (3.25), which will be followed by the offer of living water to the Samaritans in place of the old water of Jacob in chapter 4.
Then He returns to Cana to perform His second sign and find a genuine faith that does not seek after signs. We will look at chapter 4 verses 46-54 in more detail when we go over this chapter but for now I want you to see this significant spiritual development, “46 So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum. 47 When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48 Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.” 49 The nobleman said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies!” 50 Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your son lives.” So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way. 51 And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, “Your son lives!” 52 Then he inquired of them the hour when he got better. And they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” 53 So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives.” And he himself believed, and his whole household. 54 This again is the second sign Jesus did when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.
