Sunday, December 6, 2015

John 2:1-11 - The Wedding at Cana

1: Wedding feasts typically lasted 7 days, with the best day for the actual marriage on the third day. This is becauase on the third day of creation God said it was good twice. It is the only time he did so. Also the third day represents new life, so this was considered the best day to start a new life together. Jesus miracle here shows he is bringing new life in the New Testament.

2: Jesus approved and participated in marriages and earthly traditions/celebrations.

3: Running out of wine after three days, would be very embarrassing, but even more, the hosts had a social obligation to provide for their guests. There was still four days of the feast left, so this would have been an emergency.

4: In the Greek, the text really means "what has this to do with me and you?", or "what do you and I have to do with this?". He was commenting that they were guests, not responsibility. "Woman", respectful greeting, like ma'am, and the same term as he used with affection on the cross. However, the formality does show some distance. This is the first of many times he says his hour not come, showing his ministry started after his baptism and that he is moving toward the time of his sacrificial death on the cross. 

5: Even though he didn't have to, Jesus helped this family avoid embarrasment. This shows and models living and serving the neighbor, even on mundane things. Mary had great faith and knew he was the messiah. This was right after Jesus' baptism. She put a petition to Jesus and left it at that, being confident it would be done. On the flip side, this shows Jesus' obedience to his mother, as always.

6: Stone jugs were ceremonial for washing. Stone was thought to be "clean". Guests would dip fingers in like holy water as a symbolic act of cleansing from sin, or purifying (Numbers 19). This shows Jesus' power to purify and provide. It also shows Jesus' wine (blood, when looking forward to the Lord's Supper), is replacing the old testament ceremonies. His blood now cleanses us, not a tradition.

7: Jesus didn't even touch the water, but turned it into wine with his words. Jesus had the authority to tell servants what to do. Jesus also made the servants witnesses of the act. This shows Jesus is okay with drinking.

8: The master/host was the first served. The chief steward was in charge of the physical needs of the guests. The jars were too big to pour, but were reservoirs. This shows God'said abundance.

9: Jesus was the fulfillment of the "type" of Moses, whose first public miracle was changing water to blood (Ex. 7:20). This highlights Law vs. Gospel, that instead of blood he made something regular something better. This also foreshadows when he would wine into blood. Doing it of his own authority shows Jesus is master over creation. Lastly, this verse is obvious evidence against teetotalism.

10: The fact that the best wine was served last, was backward because usually the good wine was first. After a few days of drinking, people would notice the quality less. Also saving the best for last points to salvation, and that this life (and communion) are foretastes of the feast to come. Also the New Covenant is better than old because it is based on Jesus' actions, not the people's. It is based on better promises (Jesus, not mine).

11: This first miracle, was a sacrament type, the appearance of Jesus himself, who is the good wine. There was prophecy of blood a d wine for coming of the messiah of Jews (Gen. 49:10, Amos 9:13). John always talks of Jesus miracles as "signs", emphasizing the action and the fulfillment of prophecy, rather than the marvel. Everything in old testament is a type pointing toward Jesus. John later states that "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 20:21

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