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| Jars like these would have been at Cana |
2On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.” 5His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.” So they took it. 9When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom 10and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.” 11Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
12After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples; and they remained there a few days.
Thoughts: This is the first of 7 signs in John's Gospel that point beyond the act itself to something much bigger. Signs are different from miracles as they act as beacons along the way that help us understand who Jesus is. So what is the sign of the water turned into wine pointing to or toward? Some see in the reference to it being the "third day" a clue that we are to understand this event in the context of the resurrection. After three days, all that we thought we knew about life will be turned upside down! That is, at the wedding they believed the party was over, the wine had run out...and so it is with all good things, they eventually come to an end. However, on the third day that we call Easter, God has proclaimed that death no longer has the ability to ruin the party--that their is a new covenant or promise being made where life to come, like the wine that Jesus produced, will be even better than that which we have originally known.
Your thoughts: Is there something else that they could be pointing to or toward? What is your take on the exchange between Jesus and his mother Mary? Does it seem harsh to you? Of course being a good Jewish boy...he does listen to his mother. What does that tell you about Jesus? About Mary?
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