Third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee, Mary the mother of Jesus was there: and both Jesus and his disciples was invited. when they ran out (needed) of wine. His mother said to Jesus, they have no wine. Jesus said to her, " Women what have I to do with thee?" Mine hour has not yet come. His Mother said to the servants, whatever He says to you, do it. And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. Jesus said unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them to the brim. And He said unto them, Draw out now, and bear out to the governor of the feast. and they bear it. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made into wine. and knew not where it had come from, ( but the servants which drew the water knew); the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, and said unto him, Every man at the beginning sets forth good wine; and when men have drunk freely, that which is worse is served. but you have kept the best wine until now. This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and by shining forth his glory, and his disciples believed on him. John (2:1-11).
Weddings were more important part of Jewish culture.An entire village or town often participated in the festivities. Jesus performed his first miracle at this wedding at wedding at Cana, in Galilee.
As we opened our message on Jesus first miracle, we picture six men walking on a narrow road....
The men's faces are eager, but worn and common. Their leader is confident, but unknown. They call him Rabbi.... Where are they going?.... " Why we go to a wedding?" They haven't been told before hand, they just started out on this journey, led by a leader called "Rabbi." Why would they go to a wedding? The answer is found in the second verse of john 2. Because! "Jesus mother was there."
Jesus and his followers were also invited to the wedding and kept travelling north and went into Galilee, and arrived at Cana in time to attend the wedding in Nathanael's home town. We don't know what Mary's connection with the wedding except that Jesus mother was close enough to the bride and groom to b e involved in the serving and to assume some authority over the servants. An unusual thing happened. The wine ran out during the celebration. Usually at a Jewish wedding the entertainment for a full week at the grooms home following a procession from the brides home to his, and since wine was a staple for meals, it would be a major embarrassment to be without wine. some think because the wine ran out early, which may indicate that the couple was poor.
All that really matters, however, is that the stage was set for the first miracle of Jesus ministry. his mother came to him. " They have no more wine," she said" she told Jesus of the shortage, fully expecting him to solve the problem. But do what? We aren't told, so ant answer, involves guesswork. we cannot rule out she hoped for a miracle. Remember, this was a virgin mother who had learned from an angel that she would bear a savior. This was Mary, who pondered in her heart the things about Jesus. she believed in him being the one sent from God.
Jesus response indicates she wanted him to work a miracle, if necessary. Otherwise He would have no reason putting her off as He did. " Dear women why involve me?" " Jesus replied, my hour has not yet come."
Jesus answer, " Literally meant something like more than it seems." What have I to do with you, my time has not yet come. Mary wanted to fill a need to avoid embarrassment, and she spoke as his mother. Their purposes were essentially different, although He would satisfy hers.Jesus needed to reveal himself as the Messiah to strengthen the faith of His disciples.Their time tables differed too, by a little. Jesus was bound to act at the hour set by the Father in Heaven and in the Father's time Jesus would work a miracle. Also in the Father's time, three years later, Jesus would lay down his life for lost sinners.
Mary believed and trusted Jesus. She ordered the servants, of the feast, do whatever He tells you. We pause at these words, thinking how important they are for everyone this day. Mary's faith was well placed, and the scene was set. Near-by stood six stone pots, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing. ST. Mark tell us, the Jews in the rites of purification washed their hands before eating and after, also, they washed all the utensils after dinner.
Now Jesus in His first Miracle, made about a 175 gallons of wine. That must have been a heck of a wedding. Christians use of the story at Cana of Jesus first miracle occurs at a wedding and has been interpreted as God's blessing of marriage as an example of the joy of those who live in Christ. Medieval celibate Christians welcomed any biblical passages t could serve the imagery of Christ marriage to the church. We are married to Christ: We are chosen in Love and bonded until death in mutual service and joy. For Christians, human marriage becomes a metaphor for our relationship with God, and, conversely, the ideal picture of what God hopes our christian marriage to be. As Jesus gladdened the wedding guests at Cana we are touched in the same mysterious ways: through our faith; a daring faith which looks to Christ, which calls for a venture to a leap in the dark. According to Luther, only one thing sustains us in the leap from life's safe shore into the abyss: Over this abyss God has erected the sign of the. Even the cross is no proof that we shall spring into the arms of God. If one views the cross with eyes other than those of faith. Faith does not require information, knowledge, but free submission to God's goodness.
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