The Gospel of John
Lesson 6 – John 2:1-12
John 2:1-12 (Jesus and the relatives)
The Apostle John continues in chapter two as Jesus’ ministry
continues to unfold. Following His baptism His ministry and purpose for coming
now becomes very public and visible. He is called to attend a wedding. It is
interesting that John begins his examples of Jesus’ miracles with this event.
None of the other Gospel writers mention this event and at first glance one
might ask the question why? Why would John begin his letter to us attempting to
convince us that Christ is the One that we need to consider giving up our own
way and following Him with our life by using this as his beginning example of
His greatness? Some would argue that he could have started with a better more
dramatic example, one more representative of His ability.
Matthew starts with the cleansing of a leper (Matt. 8:1).
Mark a paralytic man healed (Mk. 2:1) Luke begins with the casting out of
demons (Lk. 4:31). I think that John would have said in his defense that ‘You
should have been there’, for the end result of this miracle turned hearts
toward the Savior.
At first glance one might consider this miracle one to pass
by going on to a more important and maybe dramatic example of Jesus’
capabilities as the Savior of the world. But, we will see the Apostle John use
examples like this throughout his Gospel. We will see John use examples in his
gospel that to some might seem insignificant or that maybe the other Gospel
writers did not feel compelled to record whatever their reason. But, John will
consider these examples important enough to share them with us as part of his
argument.
It is possible that one of the reasons that the other Gospel
writers do not record this event is that all of the disciples may not have been
present at this event. We do not know for sure who Jesus had called by this
time. However, even though all of the Gospel writers may not have been present
at this wedding you can be sure all of His disciples would have heard the
details of this event at some point and would have been familiar with it and
could have included it in their account if they had been led too do so.
This is such a common event that one might think that even
Jesus would have declined the offer to attend having too much to do and much more
important things to do now that His ministry had officially begun. But, Jesus
had come for people, and as we will see so often throughout the Gospels we will
find Him with the people that He came to save doing common everyday things in
common everyday settings.
This wedding had some interesting parameters and connections
to it that one might pass at first glance. It appears that those in this
wedding had a close connection to Jesus, his mother, probably His family and
possibly His disciples. In v. 2 we read that Jesus did not come as a tag along
and helper to His mother being invited only because of His mother’s connection
to those in the wedding. It appears that He had also been directly invited. It
is also interesting to note in v. 2 that not only was He invited, but his
disciples seemed to be included in this invitation giving the impression that
they were also familiar with those in the wedding party.
We are unsure just what the connection might have been,
whether it was immediate family, or friend, or distant relative it does not
tell us. His disciples being invited might have been because of their
connection with Jesus and His ministry at this point. However, it is evident that
this connection with those in the wedding must have been a pretty strong one
because in v. 3 Mary, Jesus’ mother, takes personal responsibility for making
sure that some of the details were taken care of. In this instance her
immediate concern was one of having enough wine for the wedding party’s guests.
Wine was an important item in the wedding ceremony of that
day. It was considered an essential item to make your guests feel comfortable
and at home making them feel welcomed. When looking at this event, it seems
that everyone wants to focus on the debate of whether the wine mentioned here
was fermented or not. For the sake of argument, let us mention here that it
does not say whether it was or wasn’t, and I will not argue the point in this
study one way or the other. However, there is no debate that the wine mentioned
in this time period was an important and common item in daily life and was
especially important at an event such as this. It would have been considered as
an essential part of the celebration.
In reality, wine would have taken center stage in an event
like this. The better the quality of wine, the more impressed the guests would
have been that this was a special occasion and that the host appreciated them
being there. We have to remember that weddings such as this in that time were
family and fellowship events. Travel was poor and taking the time and making
the sacrifice to travel was substantial. It was rare that family and friends
had opportunities like this to be with each other.
At any rate…they ran out of wine. Normally, in our day, if
you were out or beverages you would just grab someone slip them a $20 bill and
tell them to go and get some more drinks. Some would argue that it appears that
this is what Mary was doing. But, when looking at the dialog and conversation
that went on between Jesus and Mary you would have to wonder if there was more
to it than just a request to go buy some more to drink.
When considering this encounter we need to remember that in
all probability it was not that easy to come by the amount of wine that would
be needed for such an event as this. We do not know for sure how much was
needed, but, as we will see later, Jesus eventually makes enough wine to feed
an army. And, in doing so He makes quite an impression. In all likelihood this
was a well attended event.
But, when we consider what Mary says to Jesus and the way
she puts her request to Him one could consider that Mary’s request may not have
been a request out of her duty to meet a need for this wedding, but a request
from a bystander who is seeing a need and knowing her son has the ability to do
special things, she makes a request to her son. She knowing Him to be God asks
Him to fix an impossible situation.
Looking at the details of this encounter it would appear
that Mary was not sure what He would/could do to fix this problem, but it
appears that she knew that He was capable of doing something about it. We know
this by her response that she gives to the attendants who were present at that
time. V. 5
The interchange between Mary and Jesus here is interesting.
She says to Him ‘They have no wine’. This again appears to be spoken out of
compassion for someone else’s need. Jesus’ response is interesting. At first
glance His response could appear to be somewhat pointed and possible rude or
somewhat disrespectful. But, at a closer look it seems that Jesus could be
challenging her to remember who He is. It could be that she had come to Him
with a request that could have been considered a prayer request, but Mary was
caught between Jesus as her son and Jesus the Savior, her Savior God. She had
an interesting position. Jesus was her son and she had in reality also been a
mother to Him. But, over the years, now 30, she surely had observed Him like no
one else could have knowing Him as a one of a kind, special person. Who knows
what she had seen in those 30 years. You can bet that even though their
household was not strange, that it was a little unusual. Some would tag it ‘Special’.
He was probably asking her with His reply ‘Who are you really asking, ‘your son
or your Son the Savior God’?
This though is born out in her response. It must have been
extremely difficult for Mary at times to keep it straight. Jesus’ comment made
her examine her heart and her request. Her response yields to Him being able to
handle an impossible situation calling for a miracle. She tells the attendants
to do whatever He says and turns and
walks away. She yields to His ability to perform a miracle honoring Him in her
heart. Wow! What a tender and precious moment. John would have said that we
should have been there. Special!
It is good to remember that Mary had a unique position, a
one of a kind relationship with her Savior. Being the mother of the Savior only
happened once and to one person. Over the years of personal Bible study I have
come to love, appreciate and respect Mary more all the time for the person that
she must have been and she continues to encourage me in my faith even more as
the years go by. She truly was a unique person and an excellent example of the
Christian faith.
But her relationship with her Savior son encourages me in
another way. It reminds me how personal my relationship with the Savior needs
to be. A relationship like this is really what He came for.
I often watch my wife with my children and in particular my
boys and am amazed with the interaction and relationship that a good mother has
with her children. I frequently ponder and wonder what it was like in the Mary
and Joseph household with Jesus in it as a boy. Only Mary and Joseph will know
for sure. But, there must have been some very tender moments. Even though Jesus
was now older, this indeed was one of them to be added to the list.
As we walk through this Gospel and have referenced other related
passages I am already very much impressed with the personalities that we have
found here and what good Christian people they are. These are real people who
did these things. They have already lived life and left something behind worth
looking at and following. John the Baptist, Andrew, Peter, Philip, Nathanial
and now Mary…real people, great people…a great Christian foundation laid down
in their life, having been lived out in them and now being revealed to us
through the pages of Scripture. One might ask what will we leave behind for
those that follow us? I am thankful for these real people found in the
Scriptures. Although I personally have many favorites from the pages of
Scripture, I would have to say that Mary ranks as one of the highest for me. No
one can deny that she was/is a special person and handled her mission well.
In v. 6-7 Jesus begins to answer her prayer request. He
instructs the attendants to fill 6 large water pots with plain water. It is
estimated that these water pots would hold 20-30 gallons of water apiece. They
were rather large. Together they would have totaled approximately 150 +/-
gallons. Notice that the attendants also must have believed that something was
about to happen for when given the request to fill the water pots they not only
fill them up, but they filled them to the brim or the top.
It is true that it may have been that Jesus’ actual request
might have contained an element in this instructing them to fill the pots right
to the top possibly losing a little meaning in our translation. But, it is
interesting that these attendants followed His request filling them to the top
even though it might have been a little more effort on their part. The
interaction between Mary and Jesus and the attendants also may show some
familiarity with Mary and Jesus because of this response. The attendants’ actions
show full and maybe even more than full compliance indicating that they
expected something to happen. Their response was not half hearted.
In v. 8 Jesus tells the attendants or servants now to draw
out what they had just put in the pitchers and are instructed to give some to
the governor or the presider over this ceremony. It is interesting that they
obey His instructions seemingly without any excuses or apprehensions. Remember
they had just been a part of and witnessed all that had occurred prior to this
point and knew that when they handed the goblet to the governor of the feast
that he would be expecting to taste wine. But, these servants knew that they
had just put water into these pitchers. It would have been a cruel trick and in
all likelihood an insult to the governor to give him water instead of wine. In
the end of v. 8 it says that they bore it to the governor as instructed
seemingly without a comment or apology for what might happen. In v. 9 we see
that even they, the servants, must have been waiting to see what would happen
for they waited to observe his response.
In v. 9 the governor tastes what’s in the glass expecting to
taste wine and is surprised at what he finds.
To his surprise he not only finds wine as he would expect, but finds wine
of extremely great quality which was completely unexpected. This was late in
the ceremony. The wine that they had set aside for this event had already run
out. Maybe the guests were enjoying themselves too much and ended up staying
longer than expected. In any case, it was late in the ceremony and at this stage
you serve only what you could get your hands on or what you bought at a lesser
price and lesser quality just in case the wedding went on longer than expected.
But to his surprise, the governor finds the opposite and is
extremely impressed. So much so that we find him calling the bridegroom over
and commends him on being such a good host. In all probability he would commend
him openly making a public announcement to their guests. It would not be long
before the miracle that had occurred would have been known by most if not all
that were there. Remember they had 150 +/- gallons of excellent wine to account
for. The bridegroom being put on the spot would have to explain himself. He
would in all likelihood make some gesture toward Mary who in turn would look
over at Jesus wondering what to say or do. The net result and effect was His
disciples believed on Him. To some this miraculous event could seem somewhat
small or low on the scale of miracles, but it made an impression on those who
were there. John would have said ‘you had to be there’. Jesus leaves for
Capernaum…
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