The water turned into wine. John 2:1-12 For years, there was silence; the Lord was at work. Tables and benches, maybe houses to build; all evidence of a Man who was here among people—someone who became human. Then, suddenly, events changed everything. The preacher, the river, the nation, the mission: Jesus stepped out to be seen in His baptism, and the first of twenty-five “Verily, Verily” messages in John’s Gospel was given; the first day arrived when He was identified as God’s Lamb. Now the nation would know that God was here as the great I AM!
The second day arrived, and John saw Him again, clearly pointing Him out to two other men, Andrew and John. These two followed Him and soon recognized Him as the Messiah. The One they had heard about; now they wanted others to see for themselves. They called their family and friends, unaware that Jesus knew who was who and who would follow Him.
On the third day, He knew the time had come for His first public miracle: turning water into wine. The word was out. There is someone in our land who came down from God and is here as a man. For three and a half years, He demonstrated that redemption would happen when the time was right. Jesus spoke of that time, but three years had to pass. The temple of His body, and His death in advance, was the day the Lord Jesus referred to when He said, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it in three days.” The third day after His crucifixion was the day of His resurrection. The third day is significant; it represents new beginnings. Because of His resurrection three days after His death, salvation is available to all who place their faith in Him. He’s not dead; He’s alive; His grace saves us.
In the past, the entire community often attended weddings in their town. In some small villages, celebrations would last more than a day. Mary, the mother of Jesus, was likely well known in Cana of Asher. Jesus and His disciples came from different towns, but God's sovereign guidance brought them to this wedding. God has His own plans and methods. A life of faith often means simply taking the next obvious step in front of us. "Full surrender's tide" can be a frightening time for us, but when the Lord Jesus is present, we can move forward with confidence—"He knows the way I take."
The Lord honored that wedding feast by His attendance, and even more, by being there, He honored the institution of marriage. "Marriage is honorable..." Showing fellowship on joyful occasions is important, but those moments are often difficult to manage without sinning. We always need to be reminded of the honor we have in honoring the Lord's presence with us. We must dedicate ourselves and the event to the Lord so that He will be glorified by what we do and say. Then, that dignity and honor will accompany such an important time as a marriage.
There are often chances on such occasions to do good, whether through conversations or actions. Whenever a marriage takes place, make sure the occasion is such that the Lord Jesus can be happy to be there as an invited guest. It is essential that He is recognized as the One who created the union, and He can bless both the union and the event. Invited guests share in the joy of such a celebration.
The disciples who followed Jesus, even though they were not yet called "the twelve," were connected with Jesus, even if they still wondered about this Teacher they were following. Mary was there, but not as someone to be prayed to or worshipped. In some places, she might still have been the subject of scorn or unkind gossip because of the events surrounding the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. The presence of Jesus, the Son of God, makes an occasion holy, and an event like this one is far more than just a wedding feast.
When a need arose, Mary was not the person venerated and could not fulfill it. She knew without a doubt who her son was, and she understood the infinite power of God in miraculously bringing Him into the world. Now that He had made His identity known publicly, she probably felt He might be willing to meet the need through His power. Other books are written about the childhood miracles Jesus performed, but they are not considered true. This miracle at the wedding in Cana of Galilee is clearly described as the "beginning of miracles."
The word "woman" is not used patronizingly in this passage. It means "honorable lady." The Lord understood what Mary had in mind, and this first mention of "My hour" relates to His mother. "Mine hour is not yet come." The last time He referred to His "hour" was in connection with His Father. "The hour is come." Jesus responded lovingly to His mother in a way that caused no offense. She knew who He was, and He understood what she meant when she spoke to the servants.
It was always before Him, in His mind and His words, though not always clear to those who heard. The meaning was not always understood, but the cross was before Him, even at the wedding feast. He could already taste the wine of the cup of God's wrath. When all rejoiced, did He pause and shed a tear for those who had come to celebrate? He knew He would bear their sins. They tasted the wine and were probably made happy for what He did for them, but little did those people know that He was the One who would die for their sins.