The Miracle at Cana

On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples.

This was the third day after Nathanael and Philip were called, and there was a wedding to which they were invited. There is speculation as to why they went to this wedding; The likelihood is that one of the disciples or Mary was a relative or a friend of those getting married. Wedding feasts in Israel were a week long event, and the story begins towards the end of the feast. This was likely the Sabbath day, because we see that the Nathanael and Philip were called on the fourth day, and this was three days later. Therefore, the sign that will be performed falls on a Sabbath day; one of two miracles John records that happened on a Sabbath day.
This was not likely the wedding of a wealthy couple, because his disciples and his own family were not wealthy people. People generally associated with the class that they were a part of, rarely did people associate with those of a lower class. Certainly, even in some of the teachings of Jesus, he instructed us not to judge those of a lower class and to eat with them. The point is, Jesus Christ was not invited to this wedding to be the main attraction for he had not even done any miracles that were public. In being at this wedding, Jesus was nothing more than a guest. The only ones who knew that there was anything special about Him was his mother and his disciples that had chosen to follow Him. His invitation seems an afterthought, sort of like yeah; you can bring your Rabbi along also.

3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

The wine running out was a bad sign. This was a social blunder of a magnitude that I cannot describe here. These weddings were a week long event, as previously mentioned. There were social implications, and even moral implications to food running out. In fact, one could be fined for such a blunder. It was of a magnitude that it caught Mary’s attention enough that she would mention it to Jesus. This points us to why she was present there; she might have been assisting at the wedding as some sort of wedding coordinator. Whatever her role, for some reason she mentioned it to Jesus. Note what she says: “They have no wine”- a statement of fact rather than an instruction, or even a plea for help.

Jesus’ response is not rude, though to us as readers in the English this may seem a rude way to address ones mother. The Greek indicates that this is a respectful way to address a older woman. He is saying something like, my lady, I am not involved here, I am a guest, and what is it that I should get involved? While Jesus was being respectful, he was also establishing the fact that Mary was not in authority over Him any longer. It is likely at this time that Joseph has died, leaving Mary a widow. In Jewish law, Jesus had responsibility to care for his mother, but she had no legal authority over Him. He was letting her know that God was in control. This is demonstrated by the next phrase; “My hour is not yet come”. This idea of Christ being on a divine timetable is developed throughout this Gospel. Jesus Christ was here to accomplish the Father’s work of reconciliation. Everything that He did, every word that He spoke led him on the trail to the cross on the Father’s exact timetable and plan. He was not at the wit and whim of humans; he was doing God’s will regardless. The instruction of Mary to the servants was a further demonstration of these facts; she instructed them to do whatever Jesus told them to do. Mary was not in control of Jesus, and she pointed to Him in submission and humility, giving Him the honor and the glory for whatever He saw fit to do.

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

This was something that was common at every social event for there to be enough water for ceremonial washing. Outlined in the law were tasks that must be done in order to eat in the presence of others. Part of the ceremony was to wash hands, feet, and certainly, utensils. People would wash themselves to be considered clean ceremoniously. There were many other laws that the Pharisees had added regarding cleansing; indeed Jesus also addressed this later on talking about the Pharisees being clean on the outside, but on the inside they were rotten to the core. The ceremonial washings, the mikvah, has carried over to today as a good work that covers up sin. The water in these jars, used for purification before and after meals, would not be a place a Jew would ever drink from. The water had become unsuitable for drinking, and the Jars were only good for containing water that was for this ceremonial washing. These Jews would never drink wine or anything else from these containers!

7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim.
There was to be no doubt that this was a miracle; the Jars were refilled all the way to the top. Note that the only observers were these servants, the disciples, and Mary. This sign was for the disciples primarily. The time had not yet come for Jesus to reveal Himself publicly.
8 And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. 9 When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew),

The servants did not know that the miracle had been done; they simply obey what Jesus tells them to do by faith. They had filled these jars with water, and they followed Jesus’ instructions exactly. They did not check the contents themselves, they simply brought it to the master of the feast as Jesus had instructed. It is when the master of the feast tastes the wine that the servants realize this awesome sign which had been done in their very midst.

The master of the feast called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.”

The master of the feast was sort of like a wedding planner of today. He was in charge of the food, the wine, and the other festivities. He complemented the bridegroom, and the family on the quality of the wine, and the significant break in tradition. The best wine was usually reserved for the first, before the people became drunk. Once they were merry, the wine that was not so good was served. They also had a practice of watering down the wine, so the last wine was usually not as potent as the first. Clearly, this wine was the best that the master had ever tasted. And the bridegroom received the glory.

11 This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

The purpose of this, and all the other signs, was to bring glory to Jesus Christ, and confirm in people’s eyes who He was. This statement at the end of this passage tells us a few things. One, this was the first of His signs. There has been much speculation and extra-biblical literature stating that Jesus was doing miracles as He was growing up. This really puts this idea to rest. His baptism heralded the start of his public ministry, this three year period which was orchestrated by God to proclaim His salvation to a lost and dying world. This sign, along with the others proclaimed in the Gospel, had the purpose of making known His glory, showing those observing that He was who He said He was. Last, we see that in this manifestation of His glory His disciple’s faith in Him was increased. They believed in him, trusted Him, and placed faith in Him. This was not a complete faith, but a start to the progressive teachings and signs that would culminate in His death and resurrection. This sign was for those who were observing. It was not a public miracle, for it was not on the Father’s timetable. It was for them and for those reading the Gospel of John in the years that followed.

This first sign was significant to the Christians who John was writing to. There are many metaphors that people interpreters have pulled out of this sign. These are as simple as Jesus’ control over the elements (water into wine), the place that faith has in completing a miracle, and the submission of Mary to the Son of God. This sign (semeion,) was to point to something greater. Many times when Jesus performed a miracle, it led naturally into a sermon. It made me think of the message that Jesus preached to His disciples in private that evening.

Wine was a symbol for Joy in the Old Testament.

Psalm 104:15 (ESV) 15 and wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man’s heart.

Could Jesus have compared the way that the wine ran out at the wedding was the same as the old system of the Law having run its course? Could it be a representation of the joy provided by things of this world being temporary, one day running out and bringing with it only despair? I wonder if Jesus said that this new wine was a symbol of a joy that He would give is far superior to the joy that the world gives, for it is everlasting, never running out.

Perhaps our Lord had a special message here for His people, Israel. In the Old Testament, the nation is pictured as “married” to God and is unfaithful to her marriage covenant:

Isaiah 54:5 (ESV) 5 for your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called.

Jer. 31:32 Jeremiah 31:32 (NIV)32 It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them,” declares the LORD.

At this marriage celebration, the wine ran out, and, like Israel, all that was left were six empty water pots! The water in the pots was used for ceremonial washing, but there was nothing that could cleanse their unfaithfulness to God! This washing with water was representative of the old covenant. This washing could only clean the outside of a man; but it did nothing for the Spirit of a man. The new wine that was produced could be a representation of the new covenant, the shedding of the blood of Jesus for the remission of sins, which cleans up the whole man, making Him righteous. Jesus, as the perfect bridegroom, is calling his bride to share in the cup of the new covenant. This is what Jesus called the wine that he took at the last supper; saying this is my blood of the new covenant- representative of the cleansing power of His blood that was to be shed. Could this have been a foreshadowing of the new covenant that would be completed at the cross, or perhaps a picture of the marriage supper of the lamb? This wine was also superior, the best saved for the last. The new covenant is superior to the old.

Finally, this sign was a transformation of water to wine, which was the result of Jesus’ earthly ministry. We are new creatures when we come to Christ,

2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV) 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

And he transforms us into His image as we walk out our faith. Jesus makes all things new. These vessels that held this water were vessels of dishonor, holding water for washing before Jesus came. We were vessels for dishonor, doing wicked works before Jesus changed us. He does more than just clean us up, we are transformed. Like these pots, those who have been born again are now vessels of honor, because our very nature has been changed, the very content of our soul has been sanctified in Christ Jesus.