After my series on the parables, I found I was drawn to look into the miracles of Jesus in the Gospels. I have never studies the mighty works of Jesus as a focused effort before and am looking forward to finding nuggets of truth that we can be encouraged by.
I have provided a general introduction, with an opportunity to download two files for your reference in my initial post Signs and Mighty Works of Jesus – Introduction. I found that the format I used for the parable posts were useful to keep me on track, and will continue to use them for this series, with some minor tweaks.
With that said, let’s take a look at the miracle…
Jesus Turns Water into Wine
John 2:1-11
On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.
Questions to Consider
Who were the audience?
All the wedding guests, along with the mother of Jesus and the disciples. And some forgotten people we may chat about later on in the post. Can you guess who I am intentionally forgetting?
When did the Lord perform this miracle?
See https://www.bibletimelines.net/timelines/jesus-ministry
Where did the Lord perform this miracle?
See Signs and Mighty Works of Jesus – Introduction for downloadable reference file.
Why did the Lord perform this miracle?
It may appear that this miracle was spurred on by the Lord’s mother, and her concern for the reputation of the wedding hosts. She requests her Son for assistance, but He rebuffs her.
This must have been a very rare (in my opinion) act for the Son to “refuse” His mother, but the very next thing we read is that He speaks to the servants to resolve the lack. This is where being there, seeing facial expressions and hearing tonal inflections, would provide understanding of the situation.
Did the Son tell His mother this with a smile? Was He surprised by her request? Was He refusing and then changed His mind?
A few versions I have perused actually expand this response from the Son in the following ways.
Jesus saith to her, ‘What — to me and to thee, woman? – John 2:4 YLT
“What does that have to do with you and me, woman? ” Jesus asked. – John 2:4 CSB
Jesus replied, “Woman, why are you saying this to me? – John 2:4 NET
The message I am starting to understand is that this response had to do with Jesus and Mary’s relationship. The miracle was not in response to obeying the mother, as was His way as He grew up in her household.
No, I think Jesus was trying to identify His relationship with His Father in Heaven, in that the miracle, as it states in verse 11, revealed His glory.
This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. – John 2:11 ESV
He was not simply Mary’s son, but the Father’s Son.
What was the message for the original audience?
It appears the miracle was obvious to the disciples, for they believed in Him, as verse 11 speaks, His mother, and one other group, which I mentioned earlier. Have you identified this group?
Verse 9 & 10 shows that the response to the miracle was between the master of the feast and the bridegroom. The text says nothing of anyone approaching Jesus.
….the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” – John 2:9c-10 ESV
What is the message for us today?
Have you identified the forgotten people, those that also understood who performed the miracle, actually took part in the miracle, and watched from behind the scenes?
The servants. Those that are considered below us were the ones who were involved in this miracle. This fact has always amazed me in that Jesus uses the lowly, the humble, those who have no standing in the society. This is a recurring theme through the gospels, and Jesus Himself identifies Himself as lowly and meek.
This is the primary message I find in this first miracle. A quiet, humble walk with the Lord will allow us to experience miracles that others cannot see or experience.
A loud boisterous, attention grabbing “ministry of miracles”, that seems so popular in today’s church, does not seem to align with the first of Jesus miracles, and may provide instruction for us in the proper identification of true miracles today.
Nevertheless, He is good, and to walk with Him, as servants, is a privilege that we do not deserve, providing us opportunities to see His works in our lives and the lives of those around us.
Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion.
Considering the Bible 
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