Changing Water into Wine
August 14, 2020
Commentary
Jesus with His six new disciples traveled from Bethany, which is near Jericho, to Nathaniel’s hometown of Cana in Galilee, which is about a two days’ journey on foot. Since Cana is near Nazareth, perhaps Jesus stopped in his hometown. Jesus and his disciples were invited to a wedding in Cana. The names of the bride and groom are not given but possibly, Mary (Mother of Jesus) was a good friend (vv. 1-2). At the wedding, a crisis occurred. A Jewish wedding was a week-long celebration, requiring an abundance of food and drink. But all the wine was used up. Mary turned to Jesus hoping that He could solve the problem (vv. 3-5). Jesus asks the servants to fill the six water pots (20 to 30 gallons each) which were used for Jewish purification rites before and after meals (vv. 6-7). (See Matthew 15:1-2). When they were full, He told them to take some to the master of the banquet (v. 8). When the master had tasted it, he said it was the best wine they had been served yet (vv. 9-10). The fact that this was the Jesus’s first miracle disproves the false stories about Jesus performing miracles as a child. After the wedding, Jesus, His mother, His disciples and other members of His family went to Capernaum for a few days (v. 12). Capernaum was the closest thing Jesus had to a headquarters during his earthly ministry.
Dr Ironside says; “It was a wonderful miracle, and yet after all, it was just a duplication of what our Lord Jesus has been doing for ages on ten thousand hillsides, changing water into wine.” It is interesting to note that our Lord’s first miraclewas a spectacular event that everyone witnessed.
Application
Just like Dr. Ironside said, the Lord is performing miracles every day in my life. I just need to recognize them and praise Him. I know that He has performed many miracles in my life beginning with salvation and over 54 years of trying to be faithful in ministry with Word of Life in the United States and around the world. It has been so exciting to see so many people trust Christ as their Savior!
John 2:1– 12 (NET)
1 Now on the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no wine left.” 4 Jesus replied, “Woman, why are you saying this to me? My time has not yet come.” 5 His mother told the servants, “Whatever he tells you, do it.”
6 Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washing, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus told the servants, “Fill the water jars with water.” So they filled them up to the very top. 8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the head steward,” and they did. 9 When the head steward tasted the water that had been turned to wine, not knowing where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), he called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the cheaper wine when the guests are drunk. You have kept the good wine until now!” 11 Jesus did this as the first of his miraculous signs, in Cana of Galilee. In this way he revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.
12 After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples, and they stayed there a few days.