Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide Office of Presiding Bishop Gospel Studies: Jesus’ First Miracle Water into Wine John 2:1-11

SUMMARY OF PASSAGE: - His disclosure at the wedding feast (2:1-11) -The setting (2:1-2) - The dilemma (2:3-6) - The miracle (2:7-10) - The result: "disciples believed" (2:11)

1 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. 3 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. John 2:1-4 (KJV) This is a most important occasion because Jesus chose a Marriage Supper as the venue for His first miracle. It demonstrates the sacred importance and sanctity in which God holds this, the first institution which He instituted in Eden.

And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. John 2:3 (KJV)

You will note that Mary, the mother of Jesus, did not ask her Son to do anything at all. She simply stated a need. This is a great prayer that asks nothing, but leaves the need up to God to satisfy according to His will. This was at the very beginning of the earthly ministry of Christ. The wedding was in Cana of Galilee – not far removed from Nazareth. The family at whose home the event took place were likely friends of the family of Jesus. Since Jesus was invited, His disciples were likewise privileged to attend. Wherever Christ is welcome, so are you and me as His disciples.

Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. John 2:4 (KJV) This was a gentle and respectful rebuke. ‘WOMAN’ was a term of respect. But Jesus set the record straight that He was on His Father’s business.

The mother of Jesus knew, instinctively, that Jesus would do SOMETHING to satisfy the need for wine and save the family from grave embarrassment. “His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. John 2:5 (KJV) Mary did not know what Jesus would do, but she knew that her prayer would be answered if we only obey God. The point is this: WHATSOEVER God has commanded us to do, whether in business, marriage, or labors, WE ARE TO DO THAT THING without question!

And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. John 2:6 (KJV) Two or three firkins is approximately thirty gallons.

Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. John 2:7 (KJV ) What do we do when God commands us to do something that makes no sense to us at all, such as filling the wine bottles with water when wine is wanted? We obey immediately just as good soldiers on the battle field who may not know the reason for a command, but trust their Captain does know and acts with wisdom and knowledge. What did these servants do when Jesus commanded? “And they filled them up to the brim.” John 2:7 (KJV)

Not partially filled, but to the BRIM!

And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. John 2:8 (KJV) Without examining the contents, the servants were told to carry the water jugs to governor of the feats for taste- testing. I wonder if these servants were very much afraid that the governor would punish them for bringing water when wine was needed? Or did they know, by faith, that Jesus was able to meet the need under all circumstances? What would YOU have done as a servant? Would you perhaps have at least dipped your finger in the jug to see if it was water or wine? These men, without question, immediately obeyed Jesus. “And they bare it”

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 John 2:9 (KJV) Normally, the best wine was served first and, when the party is more under the influence, the lesser wine is served.

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. John 2:9-10 (KJV) Just as with great masters such as Beethoven, Handel, and Fanny Crosby, God may save our best wine for last – and usually does. It has been so in my own life. Having drawn nearer and nearer to Christ in my latter years, I find a joy, happiness, and contentment I never knew in my young years.

What truths do we learn from this wonderful miracle of Jesus? We learn, first and foremost, the importance that God places on the institution of Marriage. Let us review a few poassages to bring the matter into full light: 21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; 22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. 23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. Gen 2:21-24 (KJV) Clearly God intended marriage to be between one man and one woman!

Jesus clearly points out the “one man, one woman” principle of marriage: 3 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? 4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder Matt 19:3-6 (KJV) Conversely, whatsoever God has NOT joined together, let not man presume to join.

God calls this sinful perversion an abomi- nation.

22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church Eph 5:22-32 (KJV)

We see in the preceding passage from Ephesians that Marriage is sacred because it represents a model and type of Christ and His Bride, the Church! There can be no Bride of the Church if that Bride does not conform to the biblical pattern. “1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.” Rev 21:1-3 (KJV)

What part of “He made them MALE and FEMALE” do we not get? We had better get it just as God has spoken it, and very quickly! We are not even supposed to take pleasure (entertainment) in such perversions (homosexuality): 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: cont’d

27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient Romans 1:26-28 (KJV) 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. Romans 1:32 (KJV)

There is no longer any gray area in America for the fence-sitter: You either stand on the side of God’s Word, or else with the wicked and perverse. Your CALL! AMEN