John 2: Water Turned to Wine
Why were Jesus and his disciples at the wedding in Cana?
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John 2:1–2 Three days later, there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother, Mary, was there. Jesus and his disciples were guests.
King James
John 2:1–2 And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.
Why did Mary go to Jesus with the problem of no wine?
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John 2:3–4 When the supply of wine ran low, Mary said to him, “They have no more wine.”
“Mother,” Jesus said, “you must not tell me what to do. My time has not yet come.”
King James
John 2:3–4 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.
Why did Jesus say, “My time has not yet come” and then fulfill his mother’s request?
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John 2:4–5 “Mother,” Jesus said, “you must not tell me what to do. My time has not yet come.”
Mary said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
King James
John 2:4–5 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.
Based on having six stone water jars where people could wash their hands before eating, how many might have been at the wedding celebration?
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John 2:6 Six stone water jars stood nearby, the kind used for ritual washings. Each could hold twenty to thirty gallons.
King James
John 2:6 And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.
How did the servants fill the huge stone jars “to the brim”?
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John 2:7 “Fill the jars with water,” Jesus said.
So the servants filled them to the brim.
King James
John 2:7 Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.
What did the servants think after being told to dip the wash water from the jars and pour it into the hosts wine glass?
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John 2:8 “Now, dip some out and take it to the host.”
King James
John 2:8 And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.
At what point in the process of pouring did the water become wine?
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John 2:9–10 When the host tasted the water that had been turned into wine, he did not know where it had come from. Of course, the servants knew.
The host called the bridegroom aside and said, “Normally, everyone brings the choice wine first. After the guests have had too much to drink, they bring the cheaper wine. You have saved the best until now.”
King James
John 2:9–10 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, and saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.
Why was the best wine usually served first?
Author’s Thoughts
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John 2:9–10 When the host tasted the water that had been turned into wine, he did not know where it had come from. Of course, the servants knew.
The host called the bridegroom aside and said, “Normally, everyone brings the choice wine first. After the guests have had too much to drink, they bring the cheaper wine. You have saved the best until now.”
King James
John 2:9–10 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, and saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.
After seeing the miracle, what did Jesus disciples believe?
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John 2:11 This miracle at Cana in Galilee was the first sign of Jesus’ majesty, and his disciples believed in him.
King James
John 2:11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
Do you think Jesus turning water to wine was his first miracle? Why?
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John 2:11 This miracle at Cana in Galilee was the first sign of Jesus’ majesty, and his disciples believed in him.
King James
John 2:11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
In his short time in Capernaum, what did Jesus do?
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John 2:12 After this, Jesus went with his mother, brothers, and disciples to Capernaum, but he did not stay there very long.
King James
John 2:12 After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days.
Was Jesus surprised to see the business being conducted in the Temple? Why?
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John 2:13 That spring, when it was almost time for the Jewish Passover celebration, Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
King James
John 2:13 And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,
Under what authority were people doing business in the Temple?
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John 2:13 That spring, when it was almost time for the Jewish Passover celebration, Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
King James
John 2:13 And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,
How much help might Jesus have had in throwing out the moneychangers?
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John 2:14–15 In the Temple, he found merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices. Dealers had set up tables to exchange foreign money for the half-shekel Temple tax. After making a whip from small cords, Jesus drove out the sheep and cattle, scattered the moneychangers’ coins, and overturned their tables.
King James
John 2:14–15 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables;
What was the source of Jesus’ passion? In what ways was the passion self-serving? Self-sacrificing?
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John 2:16–17 To those who sold the doves, he said, “Get these things out of here. Do not make my Father’s house a marketplace.”
Then his followers were reminded of the passage from the Psalms: Passion for your house burns like fire within me.
King James
John 2:16–17 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise. And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.
Why did religious leaders question Jesus’ authority?
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John 2:18 The Jewish leaders demanded of him an answer. “What miraculous sign can you show us to prove you have the right to do this?”
King James
John 2:18 Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?
How did Jesus answer to the religious leaders validate his authority?
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John 2:19–21 “All right,” Jesus said. “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
“It took forty-six years to build this Temple,” they said in disbelief. “Can you rebuild it in three days?”
When Jesus said “this temple,” he referred to his own body.
King James
John 2:19–21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body.
Why did the disciples remember Jesus’ words after the resurrection and not before?
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John 2:22 After he had risen from the dead, his disciples remembered what he had said. They believed the scriptures and his words.
King James
John 2:22 When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.
What do you think the number and nature of the miracles at this time in Jerusalem were?
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John 2:23 Many people came to the Passover celebration in Jerusalem. When they saw the miracles Jesus did, they believed.
King James
John 2:23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.
What was the basis for Jesus not trusting human nature?
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John 2:24–25 But Jesus did not trust them, because he understood human nature. No one had to explain to him what people were really like.
King James
John 2:24–25 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, and needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.