On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.
The third day…
This is likely to mean exactly what it says. The third day.
Back then, weddings were often on Wednesdays. Not Saturdays, the seventh day,
which was Sabbath. It appears, this wedding was on the third day; Tuesday.
Cana of Galilee…
This is like saying, the city of Sebring of Highlands County. Cana
was a small village less than ten miles from Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth.
The mother of Jesus was there. Joseph is not mentioned; most
likely he’s already passed away.
2 Now both Jesus and His disciples
were invited to the wedding.
The bride and groom were probably friends
or family of Jesus and Mary.
At this time, Jesus has only five
disciples. John 1:35-45.
They invited Jesus—the most important Guest, for
any wedding.
3 And
when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.”
Wine represented joy.
Running out of wine at a wedding, was not
only an embarrassment, but a shameful dishonor that’d stay with them for the
rest of their lives.
It could be a reflection of poor
planning, or, since the groom’s family generally picked up the tab for the
week-long celebration, it might evidence financial troubles; and could even
result in a lawsuit from the bride’s family.
Mary was concerned for
the couple. She knew Jesus better than anyone on the planet. She nursed Him,
clothed Him, fed Him, taught Him to walk, and talk and watched Him grow, in
every way, she was a mother to Him. Yet she knew, about thirty years prior, as
a virgin, she’d given birth to the very Son of God.
So, she went to Him. Notice,
she didn’t tell Jesus what to do, she simply told Him the problem. Like only a
mother can do. Like she may have done countless times, while He was young. Your
room’s a mess. The donkey’s hungry. The trash is full. She wasn’t simply
providing information, she expected action.
Only, the action she
triggered, may have been more than she was ready for.
4 Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.”
We may read that and think— how rude. But actually,
when we look at the original text, we see that what He says is a, respectful,
compassion filled message to His mother.
The first part, the question, is originally only three
words.
γύναι Τί ἐμοὶ
Gynai Ti emoi.
γύναι (gynai) Τί (Ti) ἐμοὶ (emoi)
Woman, (gynai)…
This is a polite, formal, greeting. Not intimate, or
familial, like mom or mommy.
When speaking of His Father God, Jesus used the
intimate, familiar word, “Abba” meaning, Daddy. Growing up, He probably
referred to Mary, as mom or mommy.
But not this time.
Now, He addresses His mom using a word that is not
intimate or familial, but polite and formal; like saying, ma’am.
A foreshadow of words from the cross, where He will cry, not Daddy, not Abba, but, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Mark 15:34.
He alone had bore the sin, the suffering, the sorrow, for you, for me.
Just that one word was enough for Mary to know. The time had come. All those things, and all those years, she pondered in her heart when it would begin. Now she knew.
The first word told her the Truth, the next two words
asked her the question, we all must answer.
what does your concern have to do with Me? (Ti emoi)
This little word, (Ti) is defined
with words like: who, which, what, why.
Me, (emoi)… Is a personal pronoun.
Me, or I, or Us, is a fitting translation.
He let her know, now it begins. Everything changes
from this moment forward. My walk to the cross, has begun.
Ma’am, now who
are we?
The relationship changed. Now, Mary had to decide, do
I know Him, and love Him, only as my son, or also as, The Son of God, my Lord, my
Savior, the Messiah.
Her lip may have trembled, her eye glistened as she
remembered the words of the prophets, predicting the mission of her Son. The
Lamb of God, slain to take away the sins of the world, bruised, beaten,
chastised, rejected, cut off from the land of the living. Isaiah 53.
She may have shuddered, shivered.
Perhaps He smiled, drew her close, wrapped her in a
hug, kissed her forehead, her cheek, wiped her tears, looked in her eyes and
whispered, “My hour has not yet come.” We still have some time—let’s
turn water to wine.
5 His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you,
do it.”
This is the greatest, and last words ever
recorded of Mary.
Some try to deify Mary, pray to Mary, say she was
sinless, but she knew better. She called Him her Savior. Luke 1:47. Only
sinners need Saviors.
She pointed to Jesus, listen to Him. Whatever
He says, do it.
6 Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to
the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons
apiece.
Made of stone, because it was considered the purest vessel to contain pure water for purification, for ritual washing.
If you do the math
that’s about 120-180 gallons. More than enough to finish the wedding; and perhaps, even help the family financially, if need be.
7 Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim.
They filled them to
the brim. There was no room for dilution.
Notice, He didn’t fill
the empty wineskins or wine bottles or jars. New wine cannot be put into old
wineskins. Mark 2:22.
Those waterpots and
all the water within, couldn’t purify or cleanse one speck of sin. But before
long, the new wine, the cleansing blood of Jesus, would be shed. Soon, Jesus
would break the bread, “My body broken for you” and take the cup, “My blood,
shed for the remission of sins”…and then, the Lamb of God that takes away the
sins of the world, would willingly lay down His life, for you and me.
8 And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to
the master of the feast.” And they took it.
He didn’t promote
Himself, or force Himself, or shout, “Look what I’ve done.” He simply, quietly,
respectfully, solved the problem, met the need.
How could anyone not
love Someone like that?
9 When the master of the feast had
tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from
(but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called
the bridegroom.
The one in charge
didn’t know, but the servants knew. Walk with Jesus, be about serving Him well,
and He’ll give you insight, and understanding, and the inside scoop. His secret
council is with the upright. Proverbs 3:32.
10 And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good
wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You
have kept the good wine until now!”
The typical process
was to save money by giving cheaper wine once the folks were too tipsy to
notice.
If Jesus is in it—it’s
the best. No watered down, diluted, imitation. Genuine Best. The world is
reeling in search of the Real.
Jesus, saves the best
for last.
This life for those
who love Jesus, is the worst it’ll ever get. But for those who don’t…this is
the best it’ll ever get.
11 This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of
Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.
This is how He chose to begin, to manifest His glory. A wedding, in a small village.
He could’ve chosen
anything, anywhere, for His debut. Why not something big, like raising someone
from the dead, or, how about feeding the multitudes—that’d get a lot of
attention.
Why this? Why there?
The Alpha & Omega, the
first and the last, He who declares the end from the beginning, paints a
picture of the end, right here in the beginning, at a wedding.
His grand entrance and
grand finale are at weddings. He begins and ends with a wedding.
In the garden, He
performed the first wedding with Adam and Eve. He begins to manifest His glory
at this wedding in Cana, and the grand finale is at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
Revelation 19:7.
Are you ready?
Let’s pray.
Lord Jesus, You are so
awesome. Thank You for inviting us, to Your wedding. If we haven’t done so
already, we RSVP right now, by asking You to forgive us, and cleanse us, and help
us live for You the rest of our lives.
We love You, forever.
Amen.
And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who
hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him
take the water of life freely.
Revelation 22:17.
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