Jesus First Miracle: Water to Wine
The Miracle of water into wine, found in John 2:1 thru 11. This was the Lord's first miracle. He had made a brief visit to Capernaum. Jesus, Mary, and the disciples were invited to the marriage. There are six noteworthy circumstances that can be drawn from the text.
1. This may have been the first Christian wedding ever.
2. The founder of Christianity and His disciples were invited.
3. At this marriage we see the Lord's first miracle.
4. Mary, the mother of our Lord was in attendance.
5. The marriage was according to the law of God. Why? Because Jesus, the disciples, and Mary would not have attended.
6. The bride and groom must have loved Jehovah. We may conclude this because of the guest who were in invited.
Marriage is always honorable in itself, but it is NOT always used honorably. When Jesus is invited He makes the union noble and sanctifies the good in this often abused institution. Only through Him can good come. If not, tragedy waits.
John 2:3, Mary said to Jesus, "They have no wine." Jesus replied, "Woman what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come." In His reply, Jesus calls His mother,
"woman." He was not showing any disrespect, owing to the fact that this form of response was used in the language of that day.
We see another example of this in John 19:26. As our Lord hung, dying on the cross, He sees His mother with John, and said to her, "Woman, behold thy son."
Jesus response, "What have I to do with thee?" I have two thoughts concerning this comment.
1. Jesus was committed to His Father's will, His time was short, and the time for His manifestation was in the Father's hands. This may have been a gentle rebuke to His mother for interfering in this area from which she was exclude. Or,
2. Jesus may be saying, we are not employed to provide the things necessary for this wedding, or the feast. These who were to supply the things necessary should have made ready sufficient provisions for the guests.
I do not feel that Jesus was blaming his mother. The newlyweds may have been relatives or close friends, and Mary may have thought that her son would take a personal interest in helping to honor them.
In ver.4, Jesus said, "mine hour is not yet come." Jesus may have been hinting that He would do something, but at His won time. He may have been implying, What I do, I will do when necessary and not before. It is impossible for Divine wisdom to anticipate itself, and Christ's goodness will not delay that which is necessary.
Ver.5, Mary said to the servants, "Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it." Mary appears to have understood the intentions of the Lord's words.
Six waterpots of stone, each holding twenty or more gallons of water. These were used for the purifying of the Jews before and after meals. Here is a lesson in the contrast between the old order, "purifying by washing," and the new, "believing by faith." This is evident, compare,
John 4:13, Jesus said, "Whosoever drinketh of this water (from a well) shall thirst again." With,
John 7:38-39, Jesus said, "He that believeth on me, --- out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."
The water pots were filled to the brim. Jesus directed them touching nothing, this may have been to prevent any appearance of deception.
Ver.8, "Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it." The governor is the one who is head over three couches or tables. The guests would take their meals sitting, or reclining on small low couches. When many guests were in attendance, three of the tables were put together to form a crescent. One of the guests would then be appointed to take charge. Therefore, they were called chief, or governor.
Did Jesus turn all the water into wine? He may have, Scripture is silent on this. He may have supplied the wine as it was drawn from the jugs, one ladle at a time.
Another question frequently asked, "Was the Lord ministering to possible drunkenness?" I say no for two reasons.
1. The guests were a select and holy group. Among them no excess of drinking would, or could be permitted.
2. Jesus does not appear to have furnished any extra supply of wine, but only what was necessary, and only as it was necessary.
Does the text hint that the guests were nearly intoxicated before this miraculous addition to their wine took place? I do not believe this to be the case, not even in the most indirect manner. The words of ver.10, are not spoken of the persons in attendance. The governor only stated that such was the common custom at feast of this nature, saying,
Ver.10, "Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse (inferior:) but thou hast kept the good wine until now."
The verb, "drink," with the word wine has several meanings. Inebriate is one, but also to take wine, to drink wine, to drink enough. The verb is used this way in, Gen.43:34. Hagai 1:6, "ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink." Isa.58:11, speaks of the abundant blessings of the godly, and compares them to a watered garden, not one drowned with water, but one sufficiently saturated with it, not having one drop too much, or to little.
Ignorant of the source of the supply of good wine, the guests testify that it was not only real wine, but superior to any that was before it.
The significance of this miracle is that Christianity is superior to Judaism. The Father had kept the best gift, His Son until now.
Ver.11, "This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth His glory: and His disciples believed on Him." Nothing like this is ever said of the miracles of the Prophets or apostiles.
1. At a marriage Jesus made His first appearance.
2. At this highest God given sanction of marriage, Jesus did His first miracle.
3. The miracle did not make bad good, but good better. Jesus turns the water of the earth into the wine of heaven.
In our agricultural and fermentation process, water is turned to wine regularly. Here Jesus simply did the process immediately. This was His gift to a young couple.
This was the beginning of miracles exhibiting the character and manifested forth the glory of Christ's mission.
Thank you,
Phil LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com