*John 2:1-25
At a wedding in Cana of Galilee, Jesus performs his first miracle by turning water into wine and reveals his divine power.
- Wedding at Cana:
- The passage begins with Jesus, His disciples, and His mother attending a wedding in Cana of Galilee.
- During the festivities, the host runs out of wine, which would have been a significant social embarrassment.
- Mary’s Request:
- Mary approaches Jesus and informs Him of the situation, saying, “They have no wine.”
- Miracle of Water into Wine:
- Although initially hesitant, Jesus instructs the servants to fill six stone jars with water, each holding twenty to thirty gallons.
- After they fill the jars, Jesus commands them to draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.
- When the master tastes the water that has become wine, he is amazed at its quality and praises the bridegroom for saving the best wine until last.
- Significance of the Miracle:
- This miraculous sign in Cana is the first recorded in John’s Gospel and reveals Jesus’ power over nature and His ability to bring joy and abundance.
- Jewish Leaders’ Demand for a Sign:
- After the wedding, Jesus and His disciples go to Capernaum for a few days.
- Later, Jesus goes up to Jerusalem for the Passover feast.
- Cleansing of the Temple:
- In Jerusalem, Jesus finds the temple courts filled with merchants selling oxen, sheep, and doves, and moneychangers exchanging currency.
- He makes a whip of cords and drives out the animals and people, overturning the tables of the moneychangers.
- Jesus’ Authority Challenged:
- When the Jewish leaders demand a sign to justify Jesus’ actions, He cryptically responds, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
- Misunderstanding of Jesus’ Words:
- The leaders misunderstand Jesus, thinking He is referring to the physical temple, not realizing He is speaking of His own body.
- Belief of Jesus’ Disciples:
- Despite the confusion, Jesus’ disciples remember His words after His resurrection and believe in Him.
2:1 And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: 2:2 And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.
2:3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.
2:4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.
2:5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.
2:6 And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.
2:7 Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.
2:8 And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.
2:9 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, 2:10 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.
2:11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
2:12 After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days.
2:13 And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
2:14 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: 2:15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; 2:16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.
2:17 And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.
2:18 Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? 2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
2:20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? 2:21 But he spake of the temple of his body.
2:22 When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.
2:23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.
2:24 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, 2:25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.