On Line Bible Study - For the Week October 3-9, 2011

Lesson 513

John 2: ¹¹ What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

Before we look at the first 10 verses in this chapter, we need to be aware of what the 'signs' (semeia in Greek) are all about. Chapters two-twelve of the Gospel are referred to a the 'Book of Signs'. John records seven 'miraculous signs' in these chapters. Father Raymond Brown points out that three of these 'signs' are variations of stories we read in Mark, Matthew and/or Luke. Three others are miracles that are similar to ones found in the Synoptics. This 'first sign' stands alone. Where does it come from?

Some scholars attributed the source for this story as coming from the cult of Dionysus (the god of vintage). Others see meaning in the shortage of wine at the wedding feast - guests typically brought gifts of wine to the wedding. Were Jesus and his disciples too poor to have brought wine? Is their presence at the wedding the reason the party ran out of wine? Is that why Mary is insistent on Jesus taking some action?

At the heart of the matter is this question: What is the purpose of these (or any of the other) signs which Jesus performs? Regardless of their historical setting, the author of the Gospel makes it clear that this - and all the other - signs reveal Jesus' glory and inspire people to come to faith in him. Jesus 'shines' in this story. Let's review the story...

John 2: ¹ On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, ² and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. ³ When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”

⁴ “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” ⁵ His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” ⁶ Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.

⁷ Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. ⁸ Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”

They did so, ⁹ and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside ¹⁰ and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”

THE SETTING - Weddings and banquets are highly charged theological events suggesting such things as God being wedded to God's people, and guests sitting at the divine banquet in the kingdom of God. Jesus is presented here as the source of the Spirit, the one from whom flows the fountains of joy and power and light. Prophets have come; kings have reigned; scholars have taught; priests have presided over the Temple worship; but in Christ what has happened in 'former times' is now superseded. Jesus is "the radiance of God's glory." (See Hebrews 1:1-3.)

Jesus is not only the "wine-maker"; he is the "Light-Bearer", the shining of God's presence in our midst. It may be trite to put it this way, but indeed, Jesus is the 'life of the party' - the one without whom there truly is no party at all.