WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An international Sunday school lesson commentary
For Sunday January 24, 2016
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A WEDDING IN CANA
(GOD reveals HIS glory in unexpected ways)
(John 2:1-12)
The now famous “wedding at the village
of Cana” in Galilee, is regarded as the site of the first of the “seven signs”,
or “miracles” of the MESSIAH,
that are recorded in the Gospel of John. This miracle was a private miracle,
known only to Jesus’ disciples, a few wedding servants and quests, and Mary,
the mother of JESUS.
Of the four Gospel writers,
only the Apostle John was present at this wedding, and perhaps that is why this
event in JESUS’ ministry is found only in his Gospel account. John, perhaps,
uses the word “sign”, instead of “miracle”, in his account so that he might
draw away from the spectacle of the event, in order that we may better focus on
the significance of the event.
The “turning of the water
into wine” is also the first of the 35 miracles of JESUS that are recorded in all of the four
Gospels combined. This miracle occurred three days after JESUS called Philip
and Nathanael to be a part of HIS ministry. JESUS’ disciples at that time, HIS mother, and, HIS brothers were all
invited. A wedding feast of this nature would typically last for seven days,
and it would begin following the groom’s taking of his bride to his home, or, to his father’s home for consummation of
the marriage.
After all of the wine had
been consumed (v. 3),
JESUS’ mother turned to HIM for help. In verse 4, JESUS’ response, and use of the word “woman” to respond to
HIS mother, in those days, was a polite term, even though it may not be for us
today. The expression “What have I to do with thee”, also in verse 4, in the Greek, was a common expression
that referred to a difference in relations, or realms. It also can be
translated, “How does that concern you and me”, which, would seem more likely
what JESUS was stating.
According to Jewish custom, the host at a
wedding feast always treated the guests with wine, and the guest’s name was
mentioned when the wine was poured. The statement spoken by JESUS, “MY time has
not yet come” (still in verse 4) may simply mean nothing more than, “It is not
MY turn to treat”. JESUS may have just been stating that HIS position at the
wedding was as “quest”, and HE didn’t wish to upstage the host by taking away from
his responsibilities.
JESUS did “treat”, however, and the water
was miraculously turned into the best wine of all. Six large stone water pots
were there, which was normally used for regular Jewish ceremonial purposes.
Each pot could hold twenty to thirty gallons of water. JESUS instructed the
servants to fill the pots with water. After the pots were filled to the brim
with water, JESUS told them to dip some out and take it to the Master of Ceremony.
When the Master of Ceremony tasted the water that had been transformed into
wine by JESUS, he called the bridegroom over and said to him, “Usually the host
serves the best wine first, then, when everyone is full and doesn’t care, he
brings out the less expensive wines. But you have kept the best for last”.
Some scholars believe that all of this was a clear signal that Mary must now
face the fact that her SON JESUS was now committed totally to the will of HIS
FATHER GOD in Heaven, and to the completion of HIS mission here on earth. And although she had
given birth to HIM, and raised HIM from a child, she must now submit herself to
JESUS as her LORD and SAVIOR, just like all the rest of humanity would have to do, in the process
of time. And while she did
not completely understand this at the time, she had decided, from that moment on, to trust in HIM completely.
The, significance of this
miracle is explained by John, in verse 11 as the initial manifestation of the
glory of CHRIST to men here on earth. JESUS’ first miracle of transforming
water into wine at a joyful event such as this wedding, was a sign of the joy that HE would
bring to all mankind, through “a transformation of hearts”. HIS ministry would
be a “transforming
one”, and the transformation
that HE would
bring, would come by way of the HOLY SPIRIT.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official
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