John 2

John 2:1-2 And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: [2] And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.

Mention of the “third day” may refer back to Joh 1:43 and Philip’s conversion. The marriage in Cana of Galilee may have been on Wednesday of the week, the traditional day when Jewish virgins were wed. It may be presumed that at least one of the wedding party was a close friend or relative of Jesus or his mother. Mary seemed to be involved in the details of the reception banquet. It may be presumed Joseph was deceased. He does not interact at any time in Jesus’ ministry.

John 2:3-4 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. [4] Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.

During the course of the wedding festivities, they ran out of wine. It should be noted that the Jews of that time had a means of producing a fine wine which was not fermented. Though the Greek word (οινος) oinos, commonly translated as wine, can refer to alcoholic wine, or it also can refer to non-fermented wine. Context is the basic determinant. It is totally incongruous to assume our Lord participated in an ongoing drunken party, much less providing even more alcohol. Without question, the wine drank and produced here was unfermented.

Jesus’ mother came to inform Him of the problem. (What further may be implied is that Jesus as a friend or relative may have been helping with the details of the reception banquet.) Jesus’ answer to His mother has proven to some enigmatic.

He replied, “Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.” Several comments are in order. (1) Jesus reference to His mother as woman is not as harsh as it might seem. A comparable modern equivalent might be ‘my lady’ or ‘dear lady.’ (2) What is significant is how Jesus viewed His mother as He began His ministry. He, in effect, placed her on an equal plane with all other godly women. She had no higher rank. This deflates the Roman Catholic position that Mary remains a medatrix and holds special access to her Son now in heaven. (3) The phrase could literally be rendered, ‘Woman, what is this to you and me.’ This may be an idiomatic way of saying, ‘My lady, this really isn’t important.’

“Mine hour is not yet come.” This phrase usually bespeaks momentous events (even crises). Jesus used it on a number of occasion to refer to His death. Here, it probably is a reference that the public revelation of Him being the Christ was not yet at hand. By synopsis, in view of His overall ministry and purpose of His coming, the problem of the wine was of little importance.

John 2:5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.

Nevertheless, His mother made a profound statement. “Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.” That injunction remains to this day.

John 2:6-10 And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, 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 governor of the feast. And they bare it. [9] When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, 10 And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.

Jesus therefore performed the miracle of the water being turn to wine. Again the wine so described, without question, was not fermented.

According to the Levitical practice of washing of hands prior to eating, six, large, stone water pots were at hand for the use of the wedding guests. These vessels could contain as much as twenty gallons. They were not full. Therefore, Jesus ordered them filled to the brim. Whereupon He instructed them to draw out and serve the “governor of the feast.” The “governor of the feast” would be the equivalent in modern terms of being the head waiter, or the caterer. He was in charge of actually serving the guests.

What further is implied is that evidently when the servants drew from the waterpot, they in fact drew water. However, that water became wine as it was carried to the governor. Though the servants knew whence the wine had come, the governor did not. He therefore complimented the bridegroom on the quality of the wine and commented that most people put the best wine at the beginning, but he had saved it for later.

John 2:11-12 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him. [12] After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days.

The word translated as miracles (σημειον semeion) is more commonly rendered as ‘signs.’ To this time, John had borne witness of Him. Now, His own works began to bear witness of Him. A major purpose of the miracles of our Lord was to testify of His person and power. They served to validate and authenticate who He was—the Son of God, the Messiah, the King of kings. They “manifested forth his glory.” Though His disciples had already come to believe in (i.e., trust in) Him, their fledgling faith was thus greatly strengthened.

Thereafter, He, His brethren, and His mother spent several days in Capernaum. The word translated as brethren(αδελφος adelphos) could just as well be translated as ‘bro-thers.’ Mary was not a perpetual virgin and bore other children, some of whom are mentioned here.

John 2:13 And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

The Passover season was at hand. Jesus and His disciples traveled to Jerusalem as devout observant Jews. The three synoptic gospels do not mention this event. In fact, only in John’s gospel is it evident that Jesus’s ministry was spread over a period of three years. In the synoptics, there is record of Jesus observing the Passover at Jerusalem only after His triumphal entry, just prior to His crucifixion.

John 2:14-18 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: 15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; [16] And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.[17] And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up. [18] Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?

Upon Jesus’ arrival at the Temple, He found a scene which brought righteous indignation. It had become a practice for the Temple authorities to enter into contract or franchises with Jewish concessionaires to sell the animals necessary for the prescribed Levitical sacrifices. Because many Jews of the diaspora traveled long distances and did not have access to such animals otherwise, it began as a service to them. Moreover, the Law of Moses prescribed that each male was to pay a Temple tax each year of one-half shekel. Jews arriving from around the world often did not carry Hebrew coinage. Therefore, bankers were allowed to set up currency-exchange kiosks in the Temple courts. Again, it began as a service to pilgrim Jews.

However, by the time of our Lord’s arrival, the scene had become more like a middle-eastern bazaar. Though no mention of souvenirs or religious artifacts are specifically mentioned, it might be surmised by the word merchandise such trade was going on as well. The word merchandise is translated from (εμποριον) emporion. Our English word emporiumderives therefrom.

This encounter is not the same as described in the three synoptic gospels. In those, Jesus’ similar encounter at the Temple occurred in the final week of His earthly ministry. However, then He referred to the merchants as a “den of thieves” (Mt21:13). Over the course of time, the original practice of providing service to pilgrim worshippers had become corrupt. Not only had the atmosphere become commercial and venal, these concessionaires were ‘ripping off’ their unwary customers. Inflated prices were charged for animals needed for sacrifice. Moreover, the money changers were using exorbitant exchange rates.

Jesus, in righteous indignation, drove them out of the Temple. His disciples in witnessing this recalled from Ps 69:9 the verse, “The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.”

The Jews (perhaps the merchants thus driven out) demanded to know, “What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?” Years later, Paul would mention in 1Co 1:22 how the Jews require a sign.

John 2:19-20 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. [20] Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?

The sign Jesus gave confounded them. “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” Even His disciples took it to mean the massive Temple complex about them. His opponents, perhaps with a sneer, reminded Jesus that the Temple had been under renovation for more than forty-six years and still was not complete. They incredulously queried how He could rebuild it in three days.

John 2:22 When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.

John, looking back many years later, records that after the resurrection of Jesus, “his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them.” Then, it enhanced their faith in the Scripture and in what Jesus had said. Curiously, though His disciples forgot what Jesus had said until after His resurrection, His enemies had not. At the trial of Jesus, His statement was thrown back into His teeth, though somewhat distorted. (See Mr 14:58; Mt 26:61.)

John 2:21 But he spake of the temple of his body.

Of course, Jesus was referring prophetically to the resurrection of His body. The greater significance is that the future resurrection of Jesus would become the all-encompassing sign verifying and energizing the coming (though unforeseen as yet) church.

John 2:24-25 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, 25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.

The word translated as commit (πιστευω pisteuo) is the word commonly rendered as ‘believe.’ The thought is that Jesus did not entrust Himself to them. Though there had been a degree of faith on the part of those witnessing His miracles, they either remained immature or more likely were not regenerate. This well may illustrate how men may possess a degree of intellectual faith or even temporal faith, born of the hour. However, these are in distinction to saving faith in which people entrust their eternal salvation to Jesus Christ.

Jesus in His Deity and omniscience knew their hearts as only God can know. He knew what was in them. Whatever it was, it evidently was not true saving faith. He therefore, did not commit (entrust) Himself to them. This may even be a preliminary offer of Himself as King. Yet, though many outwardly believed in His name, Jesus knew better. He therefore turned away.

John 2:23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.

Again, a major purpose for the miracles of Jesus is reported. “Many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. However, the following indicates their belief was shallow. They were impressed by the miracles, but evidently they did not truly turn to Him in repentance and saving faith.