Jesus Turned the Water into Wine

John 2:1-11

In the second chapter of St. John’s gospel we read: On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.”Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it. When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!”This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him. (John 2:1-11)

On the occasion of this miracle, Jesus has just been tempted by Satan in the wilderness and has called his disciples together. He has returned to Galilee and, on the third day, is called to a marriage to which His mother Mary and His disciples have also been invited. One comforting thought is that those who belong to Christ are privileged to be admitted to the same privileges to which He is admitted.

There are a number of notable points to be discovered in this miracle at Cana. Let’s take note of the important truths revealed in this first miracle of Jesus’ earthly ministry. First of all, the miracle was performed to emphasize the high regard God has for the Institution of Marriage. The first marriage He blessed and sanctified was at the Garden of Eden for the propagation of the race; no coincidence that this was the first miracle of Jesus, just as marriage was the first institution of God.

The miracle also demonstrates the concern of Jesus for the most common matters of the life of man. It was a joyous celebration, and Jesus participated in both the joys and the dignity of the occasion. The wine to which the text relates was not grape juice, but truly wine, and added to the joy of the occasion. They ran out of wine, and more was needed. Jesus comes wherever He is invited, and He is a benefit to all who are present.

We further note that Jesus had tremendous respect for His mother, and obeyed her request even when His time had not yet come.“Woman, what does your concern have

Rev. Reid

to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.” (John 2:4) We all should follow the example of the Lord in keeping the Commandment: “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.” Also of note is the Lord’s reference to Mary as WOMAN which was considered ‘honorable’ in that day and not meant to be disrespectful.

The miracle reveals the purpose and glory of Christ in His command over the natural creation which He has made and whose precise laws He commanded in the dawn of time. “This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.” (John 2:11) He is Sovereign over all things and came to satisfy a great need, and even lesser ones. “And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.”No problem is too great, or too small, to be brought to Jesus. He will always supply our needs, but not necessarily our desires.

The miracle at Cana reveals the importance of unquestioning obedience to Christ: “Whatever He says to you, do it.”(John 2:5)His mother did not argue with Jesus, but knew He would satisfy the need. She directed that the servants do whatever Jesus commanded. That is a good lesson for us, as well. If you are not a devout student of Scripture, how can you know “whatever He has commanded you to do?”

The King James Bible records: “And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.” A Jewish firkin was more than seven gallons. So each of these enormous pots would have held about twenty gallons of water, (soon to be wine). (John 2:6).

The miracle reveals the approach Jesus takes in the progress of His work. “Jesus said to them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast” (John 2:7-8). You will note that even though the manner of the miracle was not flamboyant or animated in any way, the servants obeyed every command without even a slight hesitation. It must have seemed odd to bear what appeared to be water to the governor of the feast. But they did so without question. Are we so obedient in simplicity and sincerity? Though He could have turned water into wine without the aid of human hands, He allows us to be participants in His work. He allowed the lowliest of servants to be participants in the greatest event of the marriage. He takes, today, the lowliest among us found and makes them ministers of His Word. Phil Robertson of Duck Dynasty fame has brought thousands to Christ with his testimony, and his wife Kay demonstrated her love of God and the institution of marriage.

Of profound importance to the Christian is the intimation in this miracle that, for the believer, the “best is yet to come! When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. And he said to him,“Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!”(John 2:10)

Another outstanding point of this miracle is that the benefits of Christ will always amaze us. We are made joyful by the surprise of His blessings!

Of the greatest importance to us is the miracle that takes place in our hearts when we put our faith in Christ’s finished work on the cross. Jesus told us: “Because I live, you will live also”. (John 14:19)

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen

The Most Rev. Dr. Rick Aaron Reid, Presiding Bishop Traditional Anglican Church of America Rector, St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, Newton, North Carolina 28658