John 2:1-12 HCSB On the 3rd day a wedding took place in Cana of Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and 2 Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding as well. 3 When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother told Him, “They don’t have any wine.” 4 “What has this concern of yours to do with Me, woman?” Jesus asked. “My hour has not yet come.” 5 “Do whatever He tells you,” His mother told the servants. 6 Now six stone water jars had been set there for Jewish purification. Each contained 20 or 30 gallons 7 “Fill the jars with water,” Jesus told them. So they filled them to the brim. 8 Then He said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the chief servant.” And they did. 9 When the chief servant tasted the water (after it had become wine), he did not know where it came from—though the servants who had drawn the water knew. He called the groom 10 and told him, “Everyone sets out the fine wine first, then, after people have drunk freely, the inferior. But you have kept the fine wine until now.” 11 Jesus performed this first sign in Cana of Galilee. He displayed His glory, and His disciples believed in Him. 12 After this, He went down to Capernaum, together with His mother, His brothers, and His disciples, and they stayed there only a few days.
Even a cursory reading of the books of the New Testament reveal the great faith in the disciples. This faith was not simply belief in the supreme, The early disciple of Christ already possessed this faith. They were raised with it being a part of Jewish families. No this faith was predicated on something much more substantial.
Of course, being with Jesus, the son of God, hearing His teaching and witnessing the miraculous works to a large extent is responsible for this deep seated faith. Today, we can have much the same faith building experiences as the early disciples. We read God’s word and the teachings of our Lord Jesus and they can and do change our lives. Even the Miracles can be experienced as well. John 20:29
The Sign in Cana of Galilee is our first example of faith building among Jesus and His disciples. To be the first recorded Sign it is unremarkable to say the least. I do not mean to detract from the sign itself. But to take place at a wedding in the small town of Cana far from the limelight and big cities seem remarkable. It is just this kind of sign which causes it to stand out in the life of Jesus and be remembered by the present disciples.
One might wonder, as humans usually do, about some of the events that took place in this small town. In our lesson on Wednesday evening we will discuss some of them and if you have some others as well. Below is a short list of the more common ones.
- Where was Cana in Galilee?
- Why does John not use Mary the mother of Jesus name in his Gospel?
- What did Mary want Jesus to do about the wine for the wedding feast?
- What was Jesus initial response to His mothers request?
- Who else beside the Disciple knew what Jesus did with the water pots?
- What was the master of the feast response to the wine which save embarrassment, provided by Jesus?
- Why would Jesus turn water to wine but not stones to bread? Matthew 4:3
- Is there a difference between the wine for the wedding and alcohol consumed today?
- What effect did turning water to wine have on the disciples.
- Why is the events in Cana of Galilee recorded for us today?
