JOHN 2
THE FIRST SIGN AT CANA
JOHN 2:1-12
2:1-11: THE WEDDING IN CANA: is the setting for the first SEVEN SIGNS (v. 11) performed by Jesus here in the Gospel of John: John using the term signs to show us that these miraculous actions point beyond themselves to the truth that the Kingdom of God has come among us in the Person of Jesus Christ: THE SEVEN SIGNS ARE: (1): the changing of the water into wine (John 2:1-11); (2): curing the nobleman's son (John 4:46-54); (3): healing the paralytic (John 5:1-15); (4) feeding the five thousand (John 6:1-14); (5) walking on water (John 6:15-21); (6) opening the eyes of a blind man (John 9:1-41); and (7) raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11:38-44): This is setting is significant: In the OT, marriage feasts symbolized the union of God with His Bride, Israel: Jesus began His ministry at GALILEE, which had a large Gentile population; this was a sign of the spread of the gospel to the entire world: The wedding took place ON THE THIRD DAY sets a resurrectional tone, showing that the marriage of God and His Church will be fulfilled in Christ's Resurrection: Other parallels between the marriage and the Resurrection account in (John 20:11-18) has similarity to (SS 3:1-5), again showing the unity between marriage and our Lord's Resurrection: His presence at this wedding , Jesus is declaring marriage to be holy and honorable (Hebrews 13:4); therefore, this passage is read at Orthodox weddings, and these images are incorporated into many prayers in the wedding service:
2:3-5: HERE IS AN EXAMPLE OF MARY'S GIFT: of Intercession or Intercessory Prayer: Even now my brothers and sisters in Christ- Mary continually speaks to her Son on our behalf and in our preeminent intercessor before His Throne: It's declared in the words of an Orthodox Prayer: "The intercessions of a mother have great effect to win favor of the Master..." This is granted and confirmed when Yeshua (Jesus) grants her the request she asked of Him: In this passage WINE is symbolic of life, and so there are two levels of meaning to Mary's statement: THEY HAVE NO WINE : (1) A marriage is not complete without the presence of Christ; and (2) the old covenant was unable to bestow life even on the most faithful people: Contrary to certain modern usages, WOMAN is a sacred title in Scripture, an address conveying deep respect and distinction (JOHN 4:21; 8:10; 19:26; 20:13; AND COMPARE WITH GENESIS 2:23): WHAT DOES YOUR CONCERN HAVE TO DO WITH ME??? is more literally, "what is that to Me and to you???" The answer is not refusal of Mary's intercession, but instead a declaration that the time of Him had not yet come for Christ to be revealed to all of mankind: We are taught several things for Christ fulfilling the request of Mary: (1): Christ is Lord over hours and seasons and is not subject to them: (2) the wedding party needed to be aware of their lack of wine first so that they might learn that Christ is Who fulfills it all and all of our needs: (3): we need to have perseverance in our petitions before God (Matthew 15:21-28): (4): The intercession of the righteous have great power (James 5:16):
2:6: WATERPOTS WERE MADE OF STONE: according to rabbinical teaching, stone would not contract ritual impurity: THAT THERE ARE SIX (one less than the perfect seven)- Is indicating that the Law, illustrated by water being reserved for Jewish PURIFICATION, was incomplete, imperfect, and not able to bestow life: This water is changed into wine, symbolizing the old covenant being fulfilled in the new, which is capable of bestowing life: The overabundant GALLONS of wine illustrate the overflowing grace Christ grants to us all!!!
2:9: EARLY SAINTS: see this transformation as prefiguring the transformation of bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ in the Eucharist:
2:11: GLORY: See my notes- John 1:14:
CLEANSING THE TEMPLE- See (Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-17; Luke 19:45-46)
JOHN 2:13-25
2:13-17: SEE NOTE ON THE CLEASNING OF THE TEMPLE IN MATTHEW 21:12-13: In the synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke), this event occurs at the end of Christ's ministry, while John places it at the beginning: Some teach that Christ performed this act twice???
2:18-21: SINCE JESUS IS NOT LEVITICAL PRIEST: His authority to cleanse the temple is challenged: The term JEWS in John's Gospel often refers specifically to the leaders; in this case, it refers to the chief priests and the elders (see-Matthew 21:23): As Christ is careful not to reveal Himself to scoffers, he answers in a hidden way; the ultimate SIGN will be His death and Resurrection:
2:23: JOHN REPORTS THREE PASSOVER FEASTS: between our Lord's Baptism and Passion (see- also John 6:4; and John 11:55), showing that His earthly ministry lasted three years!!!