This Sunday, January 19, the Gospel reading is John 2:1-11, a wedding in Cana, Galilee. Here is the portion of the Gospel:
“Jesus said to the servants, ‘Fill the jars with water’; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, ‘Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.’ They did so, 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” (John 2:7-9).
Biblical scholars introduced the water turned into wine as a miracle. A miracle is an unusual, surprising, and mysterious event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws. It is thought to have been caused by God because it does not follow the usual laws of nature.
In the Gospel of John, miracles are appropriately called signs. There are seven signs which include:
1. Water Turned to Wine (John 2:1-11)
2. Healing of the (Nobleman’s) Son Near Death (John 4:46-54)
3. Healing of the Lame Man at the Pool (John 5:1-17)
4. Feeding of the Five Thousand (John 6:1-15)
5. Walking on the Water (John 6:16-21)
6. Healing of the Man Born Blind (John 9:1-41)
7. Raising of Lazarus from the Dead (John 11:1-47)
John highlighted these seven signs in chapter 20:30-31 where he writes:
“Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God and that by believing you may have life in his name” (NIV).
The seven signs or miracles are written so that the readers may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing they may have life in his Name.
The first of the signs (water turned to wine), Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, which manifested His glory. His disciples believed in Him (John 2:11). The disciples present at the time Jesus performed His first miracle were Andrew, Simon Peter (John 1: 40-42), Philip (John 1:43-44) and Nathanael (John 1:45-51).
This was performed in Cana. Cana is in the region of Galilee (John 2:1), about 12 miles (19 kilometers) west of the Sea of Galilee and about 15 miles (24 kilometers) east of the Mediterranean Sea or northwest of Tiberias and 6 miles northeast of Nazareth. It’s a small city in the tribe of Asher, (Joshua 19:24-31). By saying this was Cana of Galilee, John distinguishes it from another Cana, which was in the tribe of Ephraim, in the Samaritan country. Presently, Cana is called Kerr Kenna, under the government of Turkey, and contains more than 300 inhabitants.
Turning water into wine was an event during a wedding feast. “Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding” (John 2:1-2). A Jewish wedding feast went on for up to seven days. In those days, wine was the only drink other than water.
“When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, ‘They have no more wine’,” (John 2:3). Why would Mary be helping to run the wedding feast in the first place? She’s probably one of the people organizing the wedding. It might be the wedding of a relative or a close family friend.
Running out of wine at a wedding feast would be like running out of all drinks except tap water in a reception today. Mary knew that the wine had run out even before the master of the feast knew. She was concerned about it and tried to resolve the problem.
Did Jesus praise Mary for telling Him that the wine had run out? Jesus rebuked Mary. “’ Woman, why do you involve me?’ Jesus replied. ‘My hour has not yet come’,” (John 2:4). The term, “my hour” referred not to His ministry but to his final confrontation with the Jewish leaders that had led Him to the cross. The timing of that confrontation had to be precise and Jesus knew that His miracles would draw the attention of the Jewish leaders. In John chapter 12, when that final confrontation had happened, Jesus declared, “The hour has come.”
After hearing Jesus, Mary said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you” (John 2:5). Mary’s instruction was the last word we read in the Scriptures. Therefore, anyone who seeks guidance from Mary should heed her final guidance and simply do whatever Jesus “tells you.”
“Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, ‘Fill the jars with water’; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, ‘Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.’ They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew” (John 2:6-9).
To be ceremonially clean, the Jews had to wash not just their hands before a meal, but their hands and the dishes after every course of the meal. They also had to wash their feet, hence, the need for such large jars.
The miracle happened, but only Jesus and the banquet servants knew. In the first place, the master didn’t realize that the wine being served was the water turned into wine. He just praised the bridegroom because the best wine was still served. “Then he (master) called the bridegroom aside 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’,” (John 2:9-10).
What does this miracle o sign tell us today?
Jesus sanctified marriage, which is usually celebrated with a feast (Genesis 29: 22; Judges 14:10). It is a token of joy, friendly respect, and the confirmation of love.
Marriage feasts are important to the people of every Filipino community. Even in a small community, if there is a wedding, there is a celebration, however simple. We call it a thanksgiving to God with our family, relatives, friends, and neighbors.
Jesus’ presence and His work of blessing (turning water into wine) remind us that marriage should be an event that should always be prepared and instituted. It would be a feast celebrated with dignity and even elevated into a sacrament (an outward sign of God’s blessing). Therefore, no one should vilify and destroy its solemnity. Marriage is an act of grace or blessing from God.
When there is a marriage, whatever its location, it must be made public. The presence of our family and our neighbors is important. In this celebration, let God be one of us in our prayer (prayer of thanksgiving). Let Him bless the marriage, the couple, and the community. God must be the master of the celebration. Thus, we should let His grace pour the blessings to those who share the joy and abundance of their wealth.
In our small village in Mindanao, the whole community is responsible for the marriage celebration. Everyone prepares for it. They share whatever means they have to host a successful wedding feast. It is a modern miracle or sign of God’s blessing and glory.
When a wedding feast is held in a community, we cannot imagine how many people will be our guests. This was the same situation during the wedding in Cana. As the community celebrates, wine will inevitably be lacking or consumed before the feast ends.
When it happens, someone should give a sign of attention. At that wedding, Mary, the mother of Jesus, told Him about the problem. This is because Mary knew about Jesus. She knew that Jesus could perform wonderful works. She may even have witnessed the unrecorded wonderful works of Jesus before His public ministry. As such, Mary is confident that Jesus will do something to save the family of the bridegroom or the couple from the disappointment of their guests.
Jesus even told Mary that His “hour has not yet come,” but Mary told the servants of the feast, “Do whatever he tells you” (John 2:5). The servants followed Jesus’ instructions, and the water became wine, but it is not clear how.
The master of the feast tasted the water that had been turned into wine brought by the servants, but he was surprised not because the water had been turned into wine, but because the wine he had tasted was good wine. Although he knew that wine run out, he did not realize how the “good” wine came to be.
The servants were the ones who knew directly that the water that they had given to the master of the feast had been turned into wine. They, along with Jesus’ mother, His brothers, and His disciples, were the ones who witnessed the miracle that Jesus performed. The master of the feast, the bride and groom, their parents, and the people in the community did not know what Jesus had done – the miracle that had occurred. Only a few knew of Jesus’ first sign of glory.
“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” (John 2:10) is an indication of a change in culture or customs in Jewish life. The arrival of Jesus’ “hour” is the arrival of change. The Jewish law was initially changed by Jesus with this sign or miracle.
When Jesus came into the lives of the Jews and in His ministry of service, the first people to become His followers were the common people. They were the first to know and witness the power of Jesus and they would express faith in Jesus. As Jesus continued to perform miracles, the grace of God would be experienced more meaningfully in the lives of the common people. As time went on, Jesus continued His ministry, and the people’s faith in God would become stronger and grow.
So, it is up to us Filipinos, especially the common people, who had to think over and over that Jesus’ glory is for the masses of poor Filipinos. The wedding at Cana must be a reminder to us that God will never fail us. He will pour blessings upon us. What we need is to know and learn about Jesus’ true nature. Jesus is a loving Son, a good Instructor, and a silent Provider.
This first sign was the beginning of his disciples’ faith (John 2:11). A miracle is a sign of God’s blessing or grace, to which the witnesses responded by believing.
Jesus revealed His glory through the miracle at the wedding in Cana, which was a sign to revive the people’s faith and reveal His being the Son of the Father. The purpose of the signs was to show that Jesus was the Son of God the Father and not just a man who performed miracles.
We should always remember, “Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name,” (John 20:30-31).
This sign taught us that Jesus first revealed His power and glory to the common people. This is important to us as disciples of God and Christians in general. Sometimes, we forget who is the priority in our ministry. We always say to serve everyone yet we do not want to unite and live with the poor and support their lives, livelihoods, and struggles.
This miracle also taught us that culture or customs can be changed through the grace of God. We should not be tied to many traditions and old beliefs. Jesus is the one who changes our lives.
This miracle taught us a lesson for an abundant life. The grace of God, the good wine, should be received immediately by those in need. Do not wait for the “blessings” that will not bring abundance to life to be exhausted. If an abundant life is what people need, we hope that they receive it with joy.
This miracle will also remind us that nature is important to use or be an instrument of God’s blessing. Water and wine are important in human life. These things, especially the water, should be valued and not be wasted. Water is important for humans, animals, fish, plants, and even inanimate objects. Water when its nature and characteristics are not valued, can kill many people and destroy nature.
When water becomes wine, it explains that wine is important for the human body and can also be a medicine and a cleanser. However, wine, when abused, is harmful to the body.
Let us always remember that the Lord Jesus Christ blessed water and wine to give joy and not sadness and grief.
Jesus never failed the people in need. It is very desirable, to have Jesus Christ to own and bless us. Those that would have Christ with them at their marriage, must invite Him by prayer, and surely He will be in their midst. Those that expect Christ’s favors, must observe His instructions with ready obedience.
What we need is to believe and “Do whatever he tells you” (John 2:5). Jesus Christ can help in saving and liberating us because we believe that He died on the cross as a Redeemer, a Liberator and a Judge (Son of Man). The manifestation of the glory of Jesus Christ is the great confirmation of the people’s faith. In the Philippines, most of the people are Christians. We as Christians must actively do what Jesus has taught, has worked and has offered on the cross.