1On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, 2and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine." 4"Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied, "My time has not yet come." 5His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." 6Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.[a]
7Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim.
8Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet."
They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now." 11This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.
Footnotes:
John 2:6 Greek two to three metretes (probably about 75 to 115 liters)
I. Message:
Content:
- Description of the wedding banquet, including the guests, in Cana ( v1-2)
- When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother asked Jesus for help (v3)
- Jesus’ response to his mother (v4)
- Jesus’ mother’s instruction to the servants (v5)
- Jesus’ instruction to the servants (v6-8)
- Changing water to wine, revealing Jesus’ glory and the faith of the disciples (v9-11)
Theme:
- Wedding banquet in Cana
- First miracle
- Marvelous banquet
- From plain to abundance
II. Who is God? Who is Jesus Christ? Who is Holy Spirit?
- Jesus Christ who mingled with people (v1, v2)
- Jesus mourns and rejoices with people (v2)
- Jesus with mission (v4)
- Jesus Christ performs miracle (v11)
- Glorious Christ (v11)
- Jesus is trust worthy/reliable (v11)
III. What is God teaching me (command, promise, model, rebuke, warning)?
1) Jesus identifies with people (v1-2)
On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding (v1-2) Jesus is the begotten Son of God, he is Christ who became man to live among men. He is divine and human. In his days on earth, he revealed his divinity and also showed his humanity.
The wedding banquet is where Jesus’ humanity became concrete/physical. He mourned with those who mourned, and he rejoiced with those who rejoiced. He was once moved to tears (John 11:35: Jesus wept for Lazarus). Jesus mourned and rejoiced with people of his time just as he willingly mourns and rejoices with us today.
Reflection:
Do I invite Jesus to take part in my life whether I am in sorrow or in joy?
2) Confronting difficulties and embarrassment in life (v3)
When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine." (v3) It is said in certain hymn: God does not promise the sky to always be blue, nor does He guarantee flowers would last. In life, we face many different unpleasant situations. However, what are important are not the circumstances in which we find ourselves, but whether we have invited Jesus to walk along side us, to be with us.
The host of the wedding banquet in Cana was in an embarrassing situation, namely not having enough wine for his guests at the festive occasion. Wine symbolizes celebration; it is a necessary beverage at a wedding. Surely it is shameful to run out of it.
Reflection:
In my life, have I ever ‘run out of wine’, (awkward situation/embarrassment)? How did I handle it?
3) A woman who magnifies the Lord (v3)
When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine." "Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied, "My time has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."
When Mary learned of the news of the Immaculate Conception and the eventual birth of Jesus Christ, May praised and said “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my savior.” (Luke 1:46-47) Evidently, Mary, magnifying the Lord, was a blessed woman. This attitude is once again revealed in this passage.
In the physical sense, Jesus is Mary’s son; their relationship is that of mother and son (hierarchical). Yet, when the host of the banquet ran out of wine, Mary simply informed Jesus of the situation and did not express other opinions. She does not use her authority as a mother (older person) to order Jesus to do this or that. She merely asked to servants to follow Jesus’ instructions. Obviously, Mary remained a woman who magnifies the Lord.
Reflection:
In my daily life and especially in serving at the church, do I observe the principle of ‘magnifying the Lord’?
4) Strategies for confronting difficulties (v3)
When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine." (v3)
Facing difficulties, different people have different response. Some are active in seeking solution; some simply take a defeatist stance; some become hopeless and are ready to give up. Of course, different approach leads to different result. In today’s passage, we see that the host, through Jesus mother, brings his problem to Jesus’ attention. This is an excellent approach.
Reflection:
How do I deal with the failures and difficulties in my life? Do I bring my problem to Lord Jesus?
5) Supernatural identity and mission (v4)
“Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied, "My time has not yet come." (v4)
“Mom! What’s that to you and I? My time has not yet come!” (Pastor Lu’s translation)
“Mother! Don’t force me to do anything; my time has not yet come! (Today’s Chinese Version)
When Mary brought the host’s problem to Jesus, Jesus response to his mother, was at first glace very rude. But that is not true! Because ‘mother’ and ‘woman’/’wife” in Jewish culture are not dishonoring addresses. Thus in both Chinese Union Version: “What’s to you and I?” and New Chinese Version: “ Mother! Do not force me to do anything, my time has not yet came!” are not disrespectful responses.
Not only was the response not disrespectful, the phrase “my time has not yet come” reveals in fact Jesus special (supernatural) identity and mission. This also shows that God has his plan and his time. In order to honor his mother, Jesus subsequently performed the miracle of turning water to wine. Evidently, Jesus not only did not disrespect his mother, in his response, he revealed to her his unique identity and mission.
Reflection:
How much do I know and understand who Jesus is and what his mission is? Is he someone important? Is he a renowned teacher? A Prophet? A Messiah?
6) Conditions for miracle (v5-7)
His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim. (v5-7)
From this miracle, we discover that the key to accomplishing the miracle was obedience. First, Jesus’ mother told the servants: “Do whatever he tells you." This is obedience. Next, Jesus instructs the servant to fill the jars with water. And “they fill them to the brim.” Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet."
They did so (v8). This is obedience!
Hence, in this miracle, we observe the ‘chain of’ obedience. Certainly, to obey there must first be trust. Any part of this chain chooses to not trust, to not obey, and then the result would have been drastically different. Miracle requires trust and obedience.
Reflection:
Do I fully trust in who Jesus is, in his mission, in his power? Or am I shaky in my belief? Am I willing to trust and to obey Jesus’ command as recorded in the Bible?
7) The meaning of the miracle (v11)
This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him. (v11)
Miracles are not for showing off nor are they meant to impress people. Miracles are performed to give glory to God, and to help people believe in Jesus thus receive salvation. This is why Jesus refused to perform miracle for those who had impure motivations. Remember; do not ask for miracle lightly?
Reflection:
What is my understanding of miracle? Have I asked for miracle in vain? Have I experienced God’ miracle? How would I consider miracle from now on?
IV. Prayer/ Life Application
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