Main point summary
Jesus performed his first sign, manifesting his glory, by changing water into wine and his disciples believed in him.
In this passage, we see an account of Jesus' first sign. As we move through this passage let's look at a couple of significant moments. First, notice the interaction between Jesus and his mother. -In Jesus' response can we tell if he committed to helping? (no, he was vague.) -Why would his mother respond with "do whatever he tells you"? (Since Jesus was unclear, she humbly stepped aside and let him direct where the situation would go.) Secondly, let's look at the role that the servants played. -At each point (7c, 8c, 9b) the servants were faced with a situation that seemed ridiculous. Why would they respond obediently even though it might mean they are punished if the wine turns out to be just water? After all, they knew where it came from. (Perhaps because they knew Jesus' mother and out of regard for her they obeyed. Or perhaps they had noticed something different about Jesus. Or perhaps neither of those, regardless they acted out of humility; trusting and submitting to someone else.) Third, the miracle culminates at the declaration made by the master of the feast when he declares that this, the water-become-wine, is the good wine. -In what way is this a sign and how does it manifest Jesus' glory? (authority over nature?) -Are there any other accounts of water becoming something else? (In Egypt the water became blood. Prior to the giving of the old covenant, water (in the Nile) became blood. Prior to the giving of the new covenant, water (in stone jars) became wine. In John 1:17 we see the law came through Moses but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. In the old covenant, we are confronted with our sin and it brings death (blood) (Rom 2:12). In the new covenant, we find life, true life (good wine), in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the good wine that has been kept until now. -Looking at Jesus' mother, in what ways are we trying to control our own situations? Just as Jesus' mother stepped aside and let Jesus direct their approach, how can we seek Jesus' direction? -Looking at the servants, in what ways do we need to submit to Jesus and respond obediently even if we can't see what God is going to accomplish? If we are convinced of God's calling or hear his command, in humility, we need to follow him. -Looking to Christ, how does knowing that he brings life and joy change the way we interact with the world? How does knowing that he himself is our life and joy, the good wine, change the way we pursue joy? Rather than pursuing material things, accomplishments, service or even other people, we will only find true and lasting joy when we pursue the one who is our joy, Jesus Christ.
On h the third day there was a wedding at i Cana in Galilee,
Καὶ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ τρίτῃ γάμος ἐγένετο ἐν Κανὰ τῆς Γαλιλαίας, καὶ ἦν ἡ μήτηρ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ ἐκεῖ•
and the mother of Jesus was there.
Jesus also was invited to the wedding with j his disciples.
ἐκλήθη δὲ καὶ ὁ Ἰησοῦς καὶ οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸν γάμον.
When the wine ran out,
καὶ ὑστερήσαντος οἴνου λέγει ἡ μήτηρ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ πρὸς αὐτόν• οἶνον οὐκ ἔχουσιν.
the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.”
And Jesus said to her,
[καὶ] λέγει αὐτῇ ὁ Ἰησοῦς• τί ἐμοὶ καὶ σοί, γύναι; οὔπω ἥκει ἡ ὥρα μου.
k “Woman, l what does this have to do with me?
m My hour has not yet come.”
His mother said to the servants,
λέγει ἡ μήτηρ αὐτοῦ τοῖς διακόνοις• ὅ τι ἂν λέγῃ ὑμῖν ποιήσατε.
“Do whatever he tells you.”
Now there were six stone water jars there n for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty o gallons. 1
ἦσαν δὲ ἐκεῖ λίθιναι ὑδρίαι ἓξ κατὰ τὸν καθαρισμὸν τῶν Ἰουδαίων κείμεναι, χωροῦσαι ἀνὰ μετρητὰς δύο ἢ τρεῖς.
Jesus said to the servants,
λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς• γεμίσατε τὰς ὑδρίας ὕδατος. καὶ ἐγέμισαν αὐτὰς ἕως ἄνω.
“Fill the jars with water.”
And they filled them up to the brim.
And he said to them,
καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς• ἀντλήσατε νῦν καὶ φέρετε τῷ ἀρχιτρικλίνῳ• οἱ δὲ ἤνεγκαν.
“Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.”
So they took it.
When the master of the feast tasted p the water now become wine,
ὡς δὲ ἐγεύσατο ὁ ἀρχιτρίκλινος τὸ ὕδωρ οἶνον γεγενημένον καὶ οὐκ ᾔδει πόθεν ἐστίν, οἱ δὲ διάκονοι ᾔδεισαν οἱ ἠντληκότες τὸ ὕδωρ, φωνεῖ τὸν νυμφίον ὁ ἀρχιτρίκλινος
and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew),
the master of the feast called the bridegroom
and said to him,
καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ• πᾶς ἄνθρωπος πρῶτον τὸν καλὸν οἶνον τίθησιν καὶ ὅταν μεθυσθῶσιν τὸν ἐλάσσω• σὺ τετήρηκας τὸν καλὸν οἶνον ἕως ἄρτι.
“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.”
This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee,
Ταύτην ἐποίησεν ἀρχὴν τῶν σημείων ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐν Κανὰ τῆς Γαλιλαίας καὶ ἐφανέρωσεν τὴν δόξαν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐπίστευσαν εἰς αὐτὸν οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ.
and manifested q his glory.
And r his disciples believed in him.
not sure how this should work. he could not remember where it came from. so is the verb "to be" acting as the direct object? or is there a different way to diagram this?