And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.
Jesus with His newly chosen disciples was specially invited to a wedding feast at Cana in Galilee, where His mother was also present among relatives and influential guests. He began His public ministry not with a great work before the Sanhedrim at Jerusalem but with power put forth at that household gathering to add to the joy of the feast. By honoring the occasion with His presence He sanctioned and exalted marriage as a sacred divine institution ordained by God, showing He came to restore it to its original sanctity and bless the union. His being called with His disciples shows His social nature and sympathy with humanity, sanctioning innocent fellowship and teaching His followers through all time to meet people where they are rather than shut themselves away in seclusion. The wine He provided by miracle was the pure unfermented juice of the grape, a wholesome drink that sets an example of temperance and gives no approval to intoxicating liquor.
Wedding Setting and Guests
Jesus began His ministry not with a great display before the Sanhedrin at Jerusalem but with power exercised at a household gathering in a little Galilean village to add to the joy of a wedding feast. After returning from the Jordan to Galilee He came to Cana with His newly chosen disciples because they had been specially invited, and His mother was there as well. The families hosting the wedding were relatives of Joseph and Mary, and influential people were present among the invited guests. He deliberately planned to attend and honored the occasion with His presence.
The marriage followed Jewish custom in which joyous festivities were preceded by solemn religious ceremonies, with the parties performing rites of purification and confessing their sins in preparation for the new relationship. In the evening the bridegroom went to meet the bride to bring her to his home while a company of invited guests waited at the house of the bride. They greeted his approach with the cry to go out to meet him, then accompanied the bride, clothed in pure white with her head encircled with flowers, in a slow torchlight procession with singing and instruments of music from her father's house to the house of the bridegroom where a feast was provided for the guests. For the feast the best food that could be secured was provided, and unfermented wine was used as a beverage. His presence there honored the occasion and prepared for the sign that followed.
First Miracle and Impact
At this wedding Jesus began His public ministry and performed His first miracle. When the wine ran short, a serious failure of hospitality, He used His power to provide wine abundantly and with honor for the guests, bringing happiness to the household. The miracle confirmed the disciples' faith and gave convincing evidence that Jesus was the world's Redeemer. Their testimony about what they had seen and heard at the Jordan, together with the miracle at the feast, stirred hope that God had raised up a deliverer for His people.
That miracle prepared the way for a warm reception when He later returned to Galilee from Judea after the Passover. Reports carried back from the Passover of His temple cleansing and healing miracles strengthened the people's hope that He was the promised Deliverer. The display of power in changing water into wine encouraged the nobleman of Capernaum to believe Jesus could heal his dying son.
News of the miracle spread through all that region even to Jerusalem. It caused the priests and elders to search with new interest the prophecies pointing to the coming of Christ. They felt intense anxiety to know the aim and mission of this unassuming Teacher who did what no other man had ever done.
Marriage Sanctioned and Exalted
By being present with His disciples at the wedding feast, Jesus sanctioned and honored marriage as a sacred, divine institution ordained by God. It was an institution He Himself had formed and established when He gave Eve to Adam as a helpmeet, and His attendance showed respect for the marriage covenant and that He accepts the ordinance of marriage. His presence gives high endorsement to the marriage covenant and shows He is present to bless the union and will not refuse to attend marriage occasions. He honored it by active interest and full sympathy, proving He is in harmony with the blessed institution.
His attendance shows He did not come to forbid marriage, destroy family relationships, impose celibacy on any class of men, or put a cloud over happiness. He came not to destroy marriage but to restore it to its original sanctity and to exalt and ennoble pure affection. His presence expressed sympathy with and approval of the wedding guests and welcomed the pure joy of family and friends.
Marriage when joined with purity, holiness, truth, and righteousness is a sacred institution and a great blessing to the human family. Men and women are ordained to be united in holy wedlock to rear families whose members, crowned with honor, are recognized as members of the family above. Partners are to respect and cherish one another, and their shared belief in Christ is to unite them in Him, so that the earthly family symbolizes the family in heaven. Christ's presence can transform ordinary experiences into heavenly joy, making the home like Eden and a place of happiness and sacred influence.
Having drunk the cup of woe in the wilderness of temptation, He came forth to give men the cup of blessing, and by His benediction to hallow the relations of human life. His being called with His disciples shows His sympathy with men and His desire to minister to their happiness. His presence affirmed that innocent happiness and social fellowship were pleasing to Him and that He welcomed the pure joy of family and guests.
Fellowship and Mission Example
His being called with His disciples reveals a social nature, close sympathy with humanity, approval of the guests, and a desire to minister to their happiness. He visited people in their homes, sought to turn their thoughts from cares to God's goodness and love, and shared the way of salvation wherever people were open to receive it. His attendance was an expression of sympathy that welcomed human happiness and hallowed the relations of human life.
His presence sanctioned innocent social fellowship and wholesome joy, showing it is right to gather for a pleasant occasion without dissipation. He joined the gathering with dignified simplicity and genial, beneficent mercy, while no shadow of worldly levity marred His conduct. His joining the mixed festal assembly stood in marked contrast to the austere seclusion of the Pharisees and other dignitaries. His presence there was not worldly conformity but the expression of a generous, welcoming character.
By thus joining ordinary social life to do good and bring divine truth to people, He began to break down the exclusiveness, prejudice, and social barriers of the Jewish leaders. He taught His disciples sympathy and humanity by the same act. He opened His mission to people of every class as members of one family, seeking contact with people rather than withdrawing from them, and mingling with every class so they could know God made manifest in human flesh.
His example is a lesson for His disciples through all time not to shut themselves away in strict seclusion, self-righteous bigotry, cold reserve, or desire for pre-eminence. To reach all classes they must meet people where they are, since people will seldom seek them of their own accord and hearts are seldom touched by divine truth from the pulpit alone. They are to go among people as one desiring their good, seeking them at their daily vocations and showing unfeigned interest in their temporal affairs, carrying instruction into households and bringing whole families under divine influence in their own homes. He sought men in the public streets, in private houses, on the boats, in the synagogue, by the shores of lakes, and at marriage feasts. Those entrusted with truth are to hold property, mental powers, and spiritual strength as only lent to advance His cause, to show special kindness to the poor, and not to shun the society of fellow men but to seek it in order to bestow heavenly benefits.
By His teachings and generous conduct on such occasions He put Himself into the hearts of those who honored Him with their invitation and gave them opportunity to become acquainted with Him and to know His character, in marked contrast to the narrow rules and condemnation of the Pharisees. He honored those who invited Him and shared the social life of His countrymen without forcing His way in uninvited. Those who try to preserve religion by hiding it within stone walls to escape contamination lose golden opportunities to enlighten and benefit humanity. Yet His attendance at a wedding does not make theater, dancing, pleasure parties, or other such pleasures harmless or acceptable.
Wine Pure and Temperate
The wine Jesus created from water at Cana was the pure, unfermented juice of the grape, clarified and refined, wholesome and refreshing to drink. It contained not one particle of fermentation, and was the same kind of wine afterward used at the first communion as the symbol of His blood, with no fermentation in the wine just as there was to be no leaven in the bread. He did not make intoxicating wine, and He did not drink it, for to do so would have contradicted the teachings and example of His own life. His example was consistent with His instruction to abstain from wine and strong drink, and He never puts before anyone what would be a temptation, so the miracle gives no approval to drinking fermented wine but sets an example of temperance against fermented liquor. The pure wine acted to bring the taste into harmony with a healthful appetite. It was intended to restore the governor of the feast's perverted taste and lead him to recognize it as better than any he had tasted before. It is a safe drink that keeps the powers of mind and body clear and strong to honor and glorify God, distinguishing harmless unfermented wine from fermented wine, so that the home should contain no wine nor liquor, only that wine which comes from the fresh grape.
Symbols and Daily Provision
The provision at Cana becomes a symbol of salvation, for the water stands for baptism into His death and the wine stands for His blood shed to purify sin and blot out iniquity, and the ample supply points to the abundant provision made for forgiveness. Unlike the pleasures of the world, His gifts remain fresh and satisfying, and each gift enlarges the receiver's capacity to enjoy His blessings. His turning of water into wine means He turns the common water of daily life into the wine of heaven. He works together with a God-fearing mother connected with Him, whose loving ministry makes the home a Bethel and whose work is of infinite worth, transforming ordinary home work into a blessing of heavenly worth and showing the power and excellency of home religion.
The account shows the heavenly Provider supplying human need, for in providing wine at the wedding feast He met a human necessity. The food business to supply human necessity is one of His own instrumentalities, and He will not leave His people in ignorance but will teach them the preparation of the best, suitable foods for all times and occasions. By being present He sanctioned marriage as a sacred institution ordained by God and showed that Christians may share in innocent, joyful occasions conducted in harmony with God's law. Christians may attend joyful occasions and should rejoice with those who rejoice when festivities follow God's laws, for He did not discourage innocent celebrations.
His presence and instruction at wedding feasts made them occasions His followers could rightly attend. His presence gives sanction to every gathering that is pure and lovely and of good report, and He looks with pleasure on the family relationship where sacred and unselfish love rules.
Jesus with His newly chosen disciples was specially invited to a wedding feast at Cana in Galilee, where His mother was also present among relatives and influential guests. He began His public ministry not with a great work before the Sanhedrim at Jerusalem but with power put forth at that household gathering to add to the joy of the feast. By honoring the occasion with His presence He sanctioned and exalted marriage as a sacred divine institution ordained by God, showing He came to restore it to its original sanctity and bless the union. His being called with His disciples shows His social nature and sympathy with humanity, sanctioning innocent fellowship and teaching His followers through all time to meet people where they are rather than shut themselves away in seclusion. The wine He provided by miracle was the pure unfermented juice of the grape, a wholesome drink that sets an example of temperance and gives no approval to intoxicating liquor.
Wedding Setting and Guests
Jesus began His ministry not with a great display before the Sanhedrin at Jerusalem but with power exercised at a household gathering in a little Galilean village to add to the joy of a wedding feast. After returning from the Jordan to Galilee He came to Cana with His newly chosen disciples because they had been specially invited, and His mother was there as well. The families hosting the wedding were relatives of Joseph and Mary, and influential people were present among the invited guests. He deliberately planned to attend and honored the occasion with His presence.
The marriage followed Jewish custom in which joyous festivities were preceded by solemn religious ceremonies, with the parties performing rites of purification and confessing their sins in preparation for the new relationship. In the evening the bridegroom went to meet the bride to bring her to his home while a company of invited guests waited at the house of the bride. They greeted his approach with the cry to go out to meet him, then accompanied the bride, clothed in pure white with her head encircled with flowers, in a slow torchlight procession with singing and instruments of music from her father's house to the house of the bridegroom where a feast was provided for the guests. For the feast the best food that could be secured was provided, and unfermented wine was used as a beverage. His presence there honored the occasion and prepared for the sign that followed.
First Miracle and Impact
At this wedding Jesus began His public ministry and performed His first miracle. When the wine ran short, a serious failure of hospitality, He used His power to provide wine abundantly and with honor for the guests, bringing happiness to the household. The miracle confirmed the disciples' faith and gave convincing evidence that Jesus was the world's Redeemer. Their testimony about what they had seen and heard at the Jordan, together with the miracle at the feast, stirred hope that God had raised up a deliverer for His people.
That miracle prepared the way for a warm reception when He later returned to Galilee from Judea after the Passover. Reports carried back from the Passover of His temple cleansing and healing miracles strengthened the people's hope that He was the promised Deliverer. The display of power in changing water into wine encouraged the nobleman of Capernaum to believe Jesus could heal his dying son.
News of the miracle spread through all that region even to Jerusalem. It caused the priests and elders to search with new interest the prophecies pointing to the coming of Christ. They felt intense anxiety to know the aim and mission of this unassuming Teacher who did what no other man had ever done.
Marriage Sanctioned and Exalted
By being present with His disciples at the wedding feast, Jesus sanctioned and honored marriage as a sacred, divine institution ordained by God. It was an institution He Himself had formed and established when He gave Eve to Adam as a helpmeet, and His attendance showed respect for the marriage covenant and that He accepts the ordinance of marriage. His presence gives high endorsement to the marriage covenant and shows He is present to bless the union and will not refuse to attend marriage occasions. He honored it by active interest and full sympathy, proving He is in harmony with the blessed institution.
His attendance shows He did not come to forbid marriage, destroy family relationships, impose celibacy on any class of men, or put a cloud over happiness. He came not to destroy marriage but to restore it to its original sanctity and to exalt and ennoble pure affection. His presence expressed sympathy with and approval of the wedding guests and welcomed the pure joy of family and friends.
Marriage when joined with purity, holiness, truth, and righteousness is a sacred institution and a great blessing to the human family. Men and women are ordained to be united in holy wedlock to rear families whose members, crowned with honor, are recognized as members of the family above. Partners are to respect and cherish one another, and their shared belief in Christ is to unite them in Him, so that the earthly family symbolizes the family in heaven. Christ's presence can transform ordinary experiences into heavenly joy, making the home like Eden and a place of happiness and sacred influence.
Having drunk the cup of woe in the wilderness of temptation, He came forth to give men the cup of blessing, and by His benediction to hallow the relations of human life. His being called with His disciples shows His sympathy with men and His desire to minister to their happiness. His presence affirmed that innocent happiness and social fellowship were pleasing to Him and that He welcomed the pure joy of family and guests.
Fellowship and Mission Example
His being called with His disciples reveals a social nature, close sympathy with humanity, approval of the guests, and a desire to minister to their happiness. He visited people in their homes, sought to turn their thoughts from cares to God's goodness and love, and shared the way of salvation wherever people were open to receive it. His attendance was an expression of sympathy that welcomed human happiness and hallowed the relations of human life.
His presence sanctioned innocent social fellowship and wholesome joy, showing it is right to gather for a pleasant occasion without dissipation. He joined the gathering with dignified simplicity and genial, beneficent mercy, while no shadow of worldly levity marred His conduct. His joining the mixed festal assembly stood in marked contrast to the austere seclusion of the Pharisees and other dignitaries. His presence there was not worldly conformity but the expression of a generous, welcoming character.
By thus joining ordinary social life to do good and bring divine truth to people, He began to break down the exclusiveness, prejudice, and social barriers of the Jewish leaders. He taught His disciples sympathy and humanity by the same act. He opened His mission to people of every class as members of one family, seeking contact with people rather than withdrawing from them, and mingling with every class so they could know God made manifest in human flesh.
His example is a lesson for His disciples through all time not to shut themselves away in strict seclusion, self-righteous bigotry, cold reserve, or desire for pre-eminence. To reach all classes they must meet people where they are, since people will seldom seek them of their own accord and hearts are seldom touched by divine truth from the pulpit alone. They are to go among people as one desiring their good, seeking them at their daily vocations and showing unfeigned interest in their temporal affairs, carrying instruction into households and bringing whole families under divine influence in their own homes. He sought men in the public streets, in private houses, on the boats, in the synagogue, by the shores of lakes, and at marriage feasts. Those entrusted with truth are to hold property, mental powers, and spiritual strength as only lent to advance His cause, to show special kindness to the poor, and not to shun the society of fellow men but to seek it in order to bestow heavenly benefits.
By His teachings and generous conduct on such occasions He put Himself into the hearts of those who honored Him with their invitation and gave them opportunity to become acquainted with Him and to know His character, in marked contrast to the narrow rules and condemnation of the Pharisees. He honored those who invited Him and shared the social life of His countrymen without forcing His way in uninvited. Those who try to preserve religion by hiding it within stone walls to escape contamination lose golden opportunities to enlighten and benefit humanity. Yet His attendance at a wedding does not make theater, dancing, pleasure parties, or other such pleasures harmless or acceptable.
Wine Pure and Temperate
The wine Jesus created from water at Cana was the pure, unfermented juice of the grape, clarified and refined, wholesome and refreshing to drink. It contained not one particle of fermentation, and was the same kind of wine afterward used at the first communion as the symbol of His blood, with no fermentation in the wine just as there was to be no leaven in the bread. He did not make intoxicating wine, and He did not drink it, for to do so would have contradicted the teachings and example of His own life. His example was consistent with His instruction to abstain from wine and strong drink, and He never puts before anyone what would be a temptation, so the miracle gives no approval to drinking fermented wine but sets an example of temperance against fermented liquor. The pure wine acted to bring the taste into harmony with a healthful appetite. It was intended to restore the governor of the feast's perverted taste and lead him to recognize it as better than any he had tasted before. It is a safe drink that keeps the powers of mind and body clear and strong to honor and glorify God, distinguishing harmless unfermented wine from fermented wine, so that the home should contain no wine nor liquor, only that wine which comes from the fresh grape.
Symbols and Daily Provision
The provision at Cana becomes a symbol of salvation, for the water stands for baptism into His death and the wine stands for His blood shed to purify sin and blot out iniquity, and the ample supply points to the abundant provision made for forgiveness. Unlike the pleasures of the world, His gifts remain fresh and satisfying, and each gift enlarges the receiver's capacity to enjoy His blessings. His turning of water into wine means He turns the common water of daily life into the wine of heaven. He works together with a God-fearing mother connected with Him, whose loving ministry makes the home a Bethel and whose work is of infinite worth, transforming ordinary home work into a blessing of heavenly worth and showing the power and excellency of home religion.
The account shows the heavenly Provider supplying human need, for in providing wine at the wedding feast He met a human necessity. The food business to supply human necessity is one of His own instrumentalities, and He will not leave His people in ignorance but will teach them the preparation of the best, suitable foods for all times and occasions. By being present He sanctioned marriage as a sacred institution ordained by God and showed that Christians may share in innocent, joyful occasions conducted in harmony with God's law. Christians may attend joyful occasions and should rejoice with those who rejoice when festivities follow God's laws, for He did not discourage innocent celebrations.
His presence and instruction at wedding feasts made them occasions His followers could rightly attend. His presence gives sanction to every gathering that is pure and lovely and of good report, and He looks with pleasure on the family relationship where sacred and unselfish love rules.