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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Joh_2:1-11
1On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; 2and both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. 3When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to Him, "They have no wine." 4And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come." 5His mother said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it." 6Now there were six stone waterpots set there for the Jewish custom of purification, containing twenty or thirty gallons each. 7Jesus said to them, "Fill the waterpots with water." So they filled them up to the brim. 8And He said to them, "Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter." So they took it to him. 9When the headwaiter tasted the water which had become wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom, 10and said to him, "Every man serves the good wine first, and when the people have drunk freely, then he serves the poorer wine; but you have kept the good wine until now." 11This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.
Joh_2:1 "there was a wedding" Village weddings were major social events. They often involved the entire community and could last several days.
▣ "Cana" This term is mentioned only in John's Gospel (Joh_2:1; Joh_2:11; Joh_4:46; Joh_21:2). We know some things about it.
1. Nathanael's home town
2. site of Jesus' first miracle
3. close to Capernaum
There are four supposed sites (AB, vol. 1, p. 827)
1. Ain Qana, just one mile north of Nazareth
2. Kafr Kanna, about three miles northeast of Nazareth
3. Khirbet Qana, a tel about eight and a half miles north of Nazareth, on a hill
4. Cana on the Plain of Asochis, mentioned by Josephus (Life, 86, 206).
The location on a plain seems to fit the name Cana, which is Hebrew for "reed" (i.e., cane)
▣ "the mother of Jesus was there" Apparently Mary was helping with the arrangements for the wedding. This can be seen in (1) her ordering the servants (cf. Joh_2:5) and (2) her concern over the refreshments (cf. Joh_2:3). These probably were relatives or family friends.
Joh_2:3 "They have no wine" It was a mandatory Hebrew custom for the guests to provide the wine. This wine is obviously fermented, as seen in (1) comment of master of ceremonies, Joh_2:9-10; (2) the Jewish customs in Jesus' day; or (3) the lack of hygienic processes or chemical additives.
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Joh_2:4 "Woman" In English this sounds harsh, but it was a Hebrew idiom, a title of respect (cf. Joh_4:21; Joh_8:10; Joh_19:26; Joh_20:15).
NASB "what does that have to do with us?"
NKJV "What does your concern have to do with Me?"
NRSV "What concern is that to you and to me?"
TEV "You must not tell me what to do"
NJB "What do you want from me?"
This is a Hebraic idiom, literally "what to me and to you" (cf. Jdg_11:12; 2Sa_16:10; 2Sa_19:22; 1Ki_17:18; 2Ki_3:13; 2Ch_35:21; Mat_8:29; Mar_1:24; Mar_5:7; Luk_4:34; Luk_8:28; Joh_2:4). This was possibly the beginning of Jesus' new relationship to His family (cf. Mat_12:46 ff; Luk_11:27-28).
▣ "My hour has not yet come" This shows Jesus' self-understanding about His appointed purpose (cf. Mar_10:45). John uses this term "hour" in several ways.
1. for time (cf. Joh_1:39; Joh_4:6; Joh_4:52-53; Joh_11:9; Joh_16:21; Joh_19:14; Joh_19:27)
2. for the end time (cf. Joh_4:21; Joh_4:23; Joh_5:25; Joh_5:28)
3. for His last days (arrest, trials, death, cf. Joh_2:4; Joh_7:30; Joh_8:20; Joh_12:23; Joh_12:27; Joh_13:1; Joh_16:32; Joh_17:1)
Joh_2:5 "Whatever He says to you, do it" Mary did not understand Jesus' comments as totally precluding His acting on her behalf in this situation.
Joh_2:6
NASB "for the Jewish custom of purification"
NKJV "according to the manner of purification"
NRSV "for the Jewish rites of purification"
TEV "the Jews have rules about ritual washing"
NJB "for the ablutions that are customary among the Jews"
These containers of water were used for ceremonial washings of the feet, hands, utensils, etc. John makes this comment to help Gentiles understand the setting.
Joh_2:6-7 "six stone water pots" As so often in John, this seems to be a sign with dual purposes.
1. to help the wedding couple
2. it was ultimately a sign pointing toward Jesus as the fulfillment of Judaism. The reasons behind this last statement may be
a. the number "6" is symbolic of human effort
b. Jesus' request to fill them up to the brim seems to have symbolic meaning, not just to provide more wine
c. the huge amount of wine, which was far too much for a local wedding feast
d. wine was a symbol of the abundance of the new age (cf. Jer_31:12; Hos_2:22; Hos_14:7; Joe_3:18; Amo_9:12-14).
▣ "containing twenty or thirty gallons each" The measurement used was the Hebrew term bath. There were three different sizes of baths used in Jesus' day so the amount is uncertain, but this miracle involved a huge amount of wine!
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Joh_2:8
NASB "the headmaster"
NKJV "the master of the feast"
NRSV "the chief steward"
TEV "the man in charge of the feast"
NJB "the president of the feast"
This person could be either (1) an honored guest who was in charge of the festival or (2) a slave in charge of serving the guests.
Joh_2:10 The point is that usually the best wine was served first. After the guests were affected, a poorer grade of wine was served. But here the best was last! This seems to be a contrast between the old covenant (old wine) in Judaism and the new covenant (new wine) in Jesus (cf. the book of Hebrews). Jesus' cleansing of the Temple (cf. Joh_2:13-25, apparently placed out of chronological order by John for theological purposes) may symbolize this truth.
Joh_2:11 "This beginning of His signs" The Gospel of John is built around seven signs and their interpretation. This is the first. See Special Topic: Archç at Joh_1:1.
▣ "and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him" The manifestation (see note on verb at Joh_1:31) of Jesus' glory (see Special Topic at Joh_1:14) was the purpose of the miracle(s). This miracle, as many others, seemed to be directed primarily at His disciples! This does not refer to their initial faith act, but their ongoing understanding of His person and work. The signs reveal the true person and work of the Messiah. It is uncertain whether the guests ever knew what occurred.