(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)
Explain:
And the third day…
One commentator notes that John deliberately highlights the opening week of Christ’s ministry. Later John highlights the end of Jesus’ ministry, and here he higlights the beginning. John’s Gospel references the first day in 1:35, the second day in 1:43, and the third day in 2:1.
…there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee;
Jewish weddings were community-wide celebrations that typically lasted seven days. The bride’s family financed the wedding itself, while the groom covered the costs of the celebration festivities. The ceremony represented the completion of the engagement period, which usually spanned several months.
During this engagement period, the couple would be together enough that if it ended it would take a divorce. They did not consummate the relationship until the end of the betrothal at the end of the wedding. Remember that this is what was even said about Joseph when he considered “putting away” Mary. (Matthew 1:18-19).
The wedding ceremony typically took place on Wednesday evening. The groom and his companions would travel to the bride’s residence, then accompany her and her attendants back to the groom’s home, where both the ceremony and feast occurred (Matthew 25:1-10). The celebration concluded with the consummation of the marriage.
So Jesus was there for a week long celebration.
and the mother of Jesus was there:
Some say that she was mentioned in such a way as to suggest she was helping to host the even with the family.
And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.
They were all called to the wedding. Suggests that they were all part of the same community.
And when they wanted wine,
Wine? What is the nature of the wine? The wine served had been fermented, but in the ancient world they had no refrigeration, and flavoring of beverages were limited. To have a flavored drink that quenched thirst and did not make someone drunk, wine was diluted with water to a place where drunkeness would not happen. Because of a lack of water purification process, wine mixed with water was also safer to drink than water alone.
Certainly Jesus was not fostering drunkenness. Proverbs says,
[1] Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. (Proverbs 20:1)
Drunkenness is always condemned in the scripture. Strong drink, or unmixed drink, is condemned, except when being used in medicinal ways. What we call “wine” today is the strong drink of the Old Testament.
the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine
Something suggested in the statement of Mary. “They have no wine.” It seems to suggest that she thought he could do something about it. This is inferred in Jesus’ answer to her.
Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.
There is a theme in John speaking of Jesus’ coming hour.
John 4:21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
John 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
John 5:25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
John 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
John 7:30 Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come.
John 8:20 These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.
John 12:23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.
John 12:27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.
John 13:1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.
John 16:21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.
John 16:32 Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
John 17:1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
It seems clear that Jesus understood why he was on the earth, and that his hour represented the time for which he would perform the purpose for which he came. It was in his ministry, as it went public, that He revealed His identity and fulfilled His purpose.
This calling of Mary, “woman” was not a derogatory thing. He was respecting his mother. It would be something like calling my mother, Mrs. Jennings. It was distancing himself relationally from his mother for her concern in that moment. Mary needed to view Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God, and not necessarily as her boy. In Jesus’ mind and heart, His mission was now the priority.
Application
The scripture says that Jesus was tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin. I think it is incredible to think that Jesus was on this earth, in a family, living in a village, connected to real people in community, and part of their every day life events like marriage. He commended marriage by being there and being a blessing to this event. He knows what its like to have a mom and dad. He knows what its like to grow up, not only because He is God and has infinite knowledge, but because He experienced it. As such, I can trust that what He tells me to do through His Word, and by His example is what I should do. I should live as He compels me to live in my family, in my community, and in my time.
Response
- What does it mean to be like Jesus with your people, your family, your friends today?
- What does Jesus’ prioritizing of His purpose mean for you as an example this week?