(1) “And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: (2) And Jesus also was bidden, and His disciples, to the marriage. (3) And when the wine failed, the mother of Jesus saith unto Him, They have no wine. (4) And Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not yet come. (5) His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it. (6) Now there were six waterpots of stone set there after the Jews’ manner of purifying, containing two or three firkins apiece. (7) Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. (8) And He saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the ruler of the feast. And they bare it. (9) And when the ruler of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and knew not whence it was (but the servants that had drawn the water knew), the ruler of the feast called the bridegroom, (10) and saith unto him, Every man setteth on first the good wine; and when men have drunk freely, then that which is worse; thou hast kept the good wine until now. (11) This beginning of His signs did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed on Him.”
Golden Text.—“Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it.” Verse 5.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
(1) What is said to have taken place in Cana? Verse 1. Note 1. Who is specially mentioned as being there? Same verse. (2) Who else were among the guests? Verse 2. Note 2. (3) What is said of the wine supply? Then what did Jesus’ mother say to Him? Verse 3. Note 3. (4) What reply did Jesus make? Verse 4. Note 4. (5) What did His mother then say to the servants? Verse 5. Note 5. (6) What kind of vessels were standing by the house? How much would they contain? Verse 6. (7) What command did Jesus give to the servants? How faithfully did they obey? Verse 7. (8) Then what further command did He give? Verse 8. (9) What did the ruler of the feast first do? Did he know whence it came? Who did know? Whom did the ruler call? Verse 9. (10) What did the ruler say to the bridegroom? Verse 10. Note 6. (11) What was specially manifested in this first of Jesus’ miracles? Who is said to have believed on Him? Verse 11. Note 7.
NOTES.
1. “The third day” from the time that Jesus left the region of the Jordan where John was preaching, to go into Galilee. Cana was some seven or eight miles northeast of Nazareth.
2. At this time Jesus had five, and probably six, disciples—Andrew, Peter, John, Philip, Nathanael, and possibly James. As Nathanael’s home was at Cana (John 21:2), Jesus and the other disciples may have stopped at his house.
3. The failure of the supply of wine would be a most embarrassing thing for the host and members of the family, as would be the failure of any other requisite on such an occasion; and the mother of Jesus, who was evidently a near relative or special friend, felt also their chagrin. The calling of Jesus and his disciples, especially the latter, was no doubt a very late decision, and was not contemplated when the supplies for the feast were provided. This fact would add to the embarrassment of the mother of Jesus. Her remark to him seems to have been in the nature of an appeal for some suggestion in the matter that would relieve the situation.
4. “What have I to do with thee?” The earthly relation of Christ to His mother was ended. He who had been her submissive son was now her divine Lord. Her only hope, in common with the rest of mankind, was to believe Him to be the Redeemer of the world, and yield Him implicit obedience. The fearful delusion of the Roman Church exalts the mother of Christ equal with the Son of the infinite God; but He, the Saviour, places the matter in a vastly different light, and in a pointed manner indicates that the tie of relationship between them in no way raises her to His level or insures her future. Human sympathies must no longer affect the One whose mission is to the world.—Great Controversy, Vol. 2.
5. The mother’s reply indicates that she meekly submitted to His will, and trusted that whatever He would do would be for the best. Indeed, it would seem that this manifestation of faith was instrumental in calling forth the miracle that followed.
6. “This donation of Christ to the marriage supper was a symbol of the means of salvation. The water represented baptism into His death, the wine, the shedding of His blood for the purifying of the sins of the world. The provision made for the wedding guests was ample, and not less abundant is the provision for blotting out the iniquities of men. Jesus had just come from His long fast in the wilderness, where He had suffered in order to break the power of appetite over man, which, among other evils, had led to the free use of intoxicating liquors. Christ did not provide for the wedding guests wine that from fermentation or adulteration was of an intoxicating character, but that which had all the qualities of the pure juice of the grape, clarified and refined. Its effect was to bring the taste into harmony with a healthful appetite.”
7. “His disciples believed on Him.” Their former belief was confirmed, and their faith greatly strengthened. This miracle was a revelation of His divine power, of His spiritual nature hidden by the flesh. It was a deed worthy of the expected Messiah. With all His power and holiness, nothing in human affairs was too trivial for His attention. He taught that holy men are not to shun the scenes of social life on account of the temptations they may meet. As Dr. Deems says, “that would be the laziness which refuses the bounty to save the labor of seeking the grace.” Jesus always made the social life minister to the spiritual as a means of uplifting men.
