Bible Study Lesson:
- John 2:1-11: The Miracle of turning Water Into Wine
Q. How were wedding celebrations like in eastern cultures? Who were invited? How long do the celebrations last?
- In Eastern cultures, weddings are like social events, where family, friends, distant relatives(extended families), neighbors are all invited. (Parable of the Wedding Banquet)
- Wedding celebration can last for 2-3, even 7 days or more.
Q. The passage begins with ‘On the third day’, So what was is it referring to? What was Jesus’ schedule like?
Let us trace back to Jesus’ schedule for that week. Take a note of ‘The next day‘ at the beginning of each verses.
- 1st Day – John the Baptist spoke about the Messiah. (John 1:26-28)
- 2nd Day – John the Baptist testifies about Jesus (John 1: 29)
- 3rd Day – Jesus’ first disciples are chosen– Andrew and Simon Peter (John 1:35)
- 4th Day – More disciples – Philip and Nathaniel (John 1:43) (Twelve Disciples of Jesus – bible study)
- 7th Day – Jesus was at the Wedding. (John 2:1)
It seems like the Gospel of John gives an account of a major event occurring on every day of the week. This is quite fascinating. In some ways, this gives us idea of what happened during the first few days of Jesus’ public ministry.
Q. Where was Cana?
- It was a small town in Galilee (you can locate Cana in your bible map). It is the location where Jesus performed his first miraculous sign, in his public ministry. (John 2:11)
- Jesus also performed another miracle at Cana. (John 4:46 – “Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum.”)
- Cana is also mentioned in John 21:2 as Nathaniel’s home town.
Q. What does it mean to run out of food at the Wedding in that culture or any culture?
- Public disgrace, shame or embarrassment to the families.
- In some eastern cultures, legal actions can also be taken against the concerned families.
Q. Why did Mary tell Jesus about the problem?
- To report, or just to inform Him, or may be prompting Him to do something about it.
- Her anticipation is clear by her instruction to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
- (Mary may seem like a meddler! But it is quite common for the elders to help out in some critical situation especially during weddings)
Q. What do you think about Jesus’ address to his mother?
- “Dear Woman”, sounds inappropriate! Nonetheless, it was a respected term.
- (Jesus used similar words on the cross, John 19:26 -”When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son..”)
Q. Why did Jesus tell, “My time has not yet come”?
- Jesus implies that the time has not yet fully come to publicly reveal his true identity.
- Compare it with John 12:23, John 12:27, John 13:1, John 16:25 and John 17:1.
- (Jn 17:1 – “After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you”.)
Q. What were the six stone jars for?
- The jars were used by the Jews to store water for purification purposes and for washing of hands prior to eating. Each stone jar, can approximately contain 20 gallons of water. So, its about 120 gallons of water (~450 liters). (Total number of wine bottles, click here)
Q. Who was the master of the banquet?
- A Wedding planner.
Q. What does wine represent in the bible?
- Wine is often considered to be a symbol of Joy. (Isaiah 55:1)
Q. How many people were aware that Jesus had performed this miracle?
- His mother, his disciples, and the servants.
- This was the first miracle Jesus performed. It was a very low profile one. Very few people knew about it. It was at the wedding, in a very insignificant town, and performed in front of the servants.
Q. What can we learn from this passage?
- Jesus cares for the insignificant.
- He can turn our ordinary life or circumstances into exceptional ones for His glory. (John 2:11)
- There is a wonderful poetic expression of the miracle of water into wine: “The conscious water saw its God and blushed.”
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Check out our eBook, The Miracles of Jesus Christ – 7-part Bible Study Series on the Healing Miracles of Jesus Christ for Small Groups & Personal Study.
26 replies on “Miracle of Jesus at Cana Wedding – John 2:1-11 | Bible Study”
MarketPipeline, Thanks. The world is a small place, I studied at western michigan in kalamazoo!
Great information here. I have always had the same take away as you’ve drawn here but recently our pastor preached on this miracle and revealed what it spoke to him. So much more than simply investing in the normal and making much out of the insignificant. He focused on the end of the passage where it says this is how he revealed his glory and they believed him.
Our pastor sited several spots in the Old Testament where an abundance of wine is a sign of the time that the Lord has come. This was a miracle that many of the Jews would recognize and understand the significance of who is in their presence.
It was real interesting.
Not sure if my first post will allow me to put a link in here so let me know if you’d like a reference.
Great stuff here!
Oh My Great village..I Love You..
im samara from cana 🙂 .. thank for sharing this information
Your presentation is very nice:
It blessed me and it is a good material for teaching others too.
This passage has so much more greater meaning. First, the third day. That should not be passed over lightly. The third day is when Jesus raised up from the grave and gave us “LIFE”. When Jesus gives us life that is the New birth. That is the true marriage. We are the bride and he is the groom. So much more to that, but I will go on. The wine is significant in that the first wine was not the best that represents Adam and the best wine represents “Jesus”. Remember the governor asked why did you leave the best for last? The next important notation on this scripture is that it was brought out that it was the first miracle. That is important because when you are born again that is the first miracle God does in your life. Marriage in the bible is a coming together.
Be Blessed, something to mediatate on.
Thanks Edwina, for your insight. I agree there is much more to this passage.
[…] out of hot water due to not having enough wine for everyone. (to know why that matters – check this out) So from the earliest days we see that Jesus was willing to do miraculous things to get people out […]
Very helpful and handy. It is really appreciable that such great details are made easily available. It helps us to save a lot of time too.
Just wanted to let everyone know, who is interested in learning a deeper, symbolic signifance of this miracle, that they are welcome to read an indepth study of Jn 2 at the following website: http://estradablog.wordpress.com/.
Thanks for taking a look.
[…] Miracle of Jesus at Cana Wedding: Water into wine – John 2:1-11 […]
Actually Jesus was a bit reluctant to show a materialistic miracle for generating faith .He would have been quite comfortable to miraculously touch people’s hearts through healings and renewal which could have everlasting faith; enough to be declared as SAVED.Nonetheless here he is left no choice but save the family from disgrace though such a disgrace could turn out to be grace if accepted in all humility for just failing to plan the quantity of wine.Today to avoid such a disgrace(and lower our STATUS} how much more is being wasted at weddings and family functions!!!!!!! Jesus never favoured waste….He asked them to collect all leftovers remember? Anyway that was the first sign he gave(though out of sheer intervention of Mary his mother no doubt} and we know many developed faith…but such faith may be not good enough till our hearts our converted as we see later that Jesus himself affirms that people come only for eating bread and not see through the miracle though………..For me this is only a case of Mary interceding for others and that God accepts intercession through Mary(alive now in God’s kingdom) even now as He did so many years ago through Jesus.
‘The Conscious water saw its God and blushed’. A fantastic comment on this miracle. It is notable that Jesus has not commanded for change of water to wine. In the Scriptures it is written that He has only told to serve it to the guests. Those guests who tasted it could notice that it is a best quality wine and asked the host where he kept such a good wine to be served at latter stage of the function. So it surprising. When actually the miracle occurred. So the above comment is meaningful. Water, a creation of God saw its Master and changed to His desire. All of us know that this was His first miracle. And it is a lesson to all. ‘Submit yourself wholeheartedly, He will change you to be the best’.
Please read as’Host’ instead of ‘ghost’ in the 4th line of my comments given above. Sorry for the mistake.
Thanks…corrrected…
Jesus from the word go… knew whom he was serving, for Mary to intervene was just but a role she was doing and that is why his answer was quite clear. Great information in here..
Jesus had to do the miracle at cana wedding because he knows the intention of the couple in getting married. Jesus and Mary knows well their tradition (as Jews) in their time on how to get married. So when Mama knew that wine to serve is running out, she told Jesus with intention and knowing what He can do to the couple who have planned their wedding well and their intention of doing it (getting married) from public disgrace. There a miracle happen….
I am preparing a lesson for this Sunday 7/17/11 Adult Sunday School class. I ran across your lesson in my research. I have been so very blessed by this lesson and learned a great deal. It sparked many great thought for me. Thank you so very much. God’s blessing on you and your work in Him.
Jean
It was inspiring reading all the comments. I take the six jars and teach eg. Six things Jesus is looking for in women. SALVATION, SERVICE, COMITMENT, etc
Thank all for your comments much to learn. I applied this passage to my life as we have to go more, not just knowing the word, salvation but to keep the joy of our salvation to experience the filling of the Holy Spirit that will give us the strengh and power to overcome every aspec of our life. And as those servents take the jairs to those who are thristy of the true water. Blessings
it is very helpful to learn Bible.
I looked at the miracle and thought that whilst the guests were enjoying the wine and the day was saved unknown to any of them. The disciples witnessed the miracle and put their faith in Jesus. they received the greatest benefit.
iS IT ALL RIGHT IF I USE YOUR STATEMENT IN A STORY I AM WRITING?
“JESUS CARES FOR THE INSIGNIFICANT”
[…] are many other instances where this word is used for ceremonial cleansing, notably in 2 King […]
great sermon all i denoted was that Jesus turned their shame into fame, the lesson also explain that you need a step of faith to be taken in getting any miracle in life.
Thank you Oyewole.
I agree, Jesus turned their shame into fame. Wonderful insight.
very good exposition on the miracles of Jesus.