2:1 The third day, there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee. Jesus' mother
was there.
2:2 Jesus also was invited, with his disciples, to the marriage.
2:3 When the wine ran out, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have
no wine." 2:4 Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does that
have to do with you and me? My hour has not yet come." 2:5 His mother said to the servants, "Whatever he says to you, do
it." 2:6 Now there were six water pots of stone set there after the Jews'
manner of purifying, containing two or three metretes apiece.
{2 to 3 metretes is about 20 to 30 U. S. Gallons, 16 to 25 imperial gallons, or 75 to 115 litres.} 2:7 Jesus said to them, "Fill the water pots
with water." They filled them up to the brim.
2:8 He said to them, "Now draw some out, and
take it to the ruler of the feast." So they took it.
2:9 When the ruler of the feast tasted the water now become wine,
and didn't know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn
the water knew),
the ruler of the feast called the bridegroom,
2:10 and said to him,
"Everyone serves the good wine first, and when the guests have drunk
freely, then that which is worse. You have kept the good wine until now!" 2:11 This beginning of his signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee,
and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
2:12 After this, he went down to Capernaum, he,
and his mother, his brothers, and his disciples; and they stayed there
a few days.
Discussion Questions
Who ended up bring most of the wine to the wedding feast?
vs 4 Why did Jesus seem reluctant to help?
vs 5 What did the servant have to do to provide wine?
When we lack the necessary resources to fulfill our obligations, what
must we also do?
vs 6,7 Does it sound like Jesus provided just enough and no
more or did he wastefully provide an overabundance of wine? How might this
principle also be applied to our gifts and services?
vs 9 Who was aware of Jesus' miracle?
vs 10 Did Jesus provide fermented or unfermented wine? In other
words was good wine old wine or new wine?
Comments
vs 3 They have no wine The usage of wine in banquets was not inconsistent with the Bible.
"On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food
for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine-- the best of meats and the finest
of wines." Isaiah 25:6 To have run out of wine would be an embarrashment
and bring shame upon the wedding party and the groom in particular as verse
9 implies it was the bridegrooms responsibility to see to the wine.
vs 4 Why do you involve me? One is reminded of the incident with the Canaanite worman of Matthew
15 in which Jesus at first appears reluctant to respond to her request.
But what was really happening was that he was testing her faith. This incident
with Mary is another example of persistence paying off as Jesus' parable
of the Persistent Widow also teaches.
vs 5 Do whatever he tells you. Let us all heed this command and our ordinary watery lives will turn
to wine, or our 5 loaves and 2 fish into a feast. Obedience leads to fruitfulness.
vs 10 Good wine Some who reckon it sinful to drink alcohol have proposed that Jesus
turned the wine into grape juice. But that was not the case. The governor
of the feast reckoned it "good wine". Jesus tells a parable.
Luke 5:37-39 "And no one pours new wine into old
wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will
run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, new wine must be poured into
new wineskins. And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for he
says, 'The old is better.'"
The good wine was old, aged wine, fermented, not grape juice. That was
the best wine and Jesus produced about 150 gallons of it for the party.
God's grace is not simply sufficient, it is overabundant. In describing
God's grace to him David says, "my cup overflows." Ps
23:5 So if you are in need, just call upon the Lord who supplies abundantly
and you may find yourself drowning in his blessings.
vs 11 Who saw the miracle? It was Jesus' mother, the servants and his disciples that beheld miracle
first hand. The groom was no doubt surprised but unlikely to admit his
negligence. The master of the feast may have been ignorant of it altogether.
The closer one is to Jesus the more one recognizes the signs which affirm
him to be the Son of God. If you want to see him do miracles you have to
follow him.