White Robed Monks of St. Benedict

Chapter 3
Water into Wine
 (John 2:1-11)

     It was at this wedding feast in Cana that Jesus performed his first miracle which began to establish his authority as the Son of God. This is also the first recorded miracle for approximately four hundred and fifty years , the last was in Daniel 6. (one of Jesus's last acts will be him, the Bridegroom, meeting his bride in the Air!) The following information will shed some light on the marriage customs at the time of Christ, and God's timing and intervention in order to fulfill His will.

Verses 3-5:
And when they wanted wine, the
mother of Jesus saith unto him, they
have no wine.
Jesus saith unto her, Women, what
have I to do with thee? Mine hour is
not yet come.
His mother saith unto the servants,
whatsoever he saithvunto you, do it.

     At the wedding, there are relatives of ether the bride or groom who supply the wine.
These people sit down in a line according to age. The women escorted by donors of wine carry money with them to the wedding. (Women carry the money with them in the East because no one will rob a women wearing a veil. The veil is a symbol of God's protection given to the woman.) These women sit in a circle, not far from the men. A servant comes up to the oldest man, who says he wants "two gallons of wine". He looks to his women and she pays for it. Then the oldest man serves the people. Jesus, about 30 or 31, sat in his place waiting his turn.
     In verse 3 his mother reminded Jesus that his turn was coming up. Jesus answered his mother, "Woman, what have I to do with thee? This is a very affectionate term which means: "Gracious mother, what concern is it of yours or mine if they have no wine? My turn has not come yet!"
     It is important to note that even thought the timing of the wedding producers were occurring, Mary's comment to Jesus prompted the revelation of a future event that jesus spoke of . Also the words in verse 5 indicated future prophecy rather than the custom of Mary paying for the wine . (Mary prophesied earlier in Luke 1, why not again here?).
On one hand the marriage customs were being played out , yet God's intervention by revelation was pointing to future events and the establishing of the authority of the Son of God!.
     The comments of Mary were those of a concerned mother who was informing her son,
yet God was working in her by way of prophecy at that very moment. Jesus's reply were words dealing with the immediate situation and yet became words of prophecy concerning hid future death!.
     It is astounding to see men and women speaking by way of prophecy regarding future events, yet in their hearts they were relating to something else A good example of this is found in John 11:47-53.

John 11:47-53:
Then gathered the chief priests and
the pharisees a council, and said
"What do we? For this man doeth
many miracles.

If we let him thus alone, all men will
believe on him: and the Romens shall
come and take away both our place
and nation."

And one of them, named Caiaphas
being the high priest that same year,
said unto them, "we know nothing at all,

Nor consider that it is expedient for
us,that one man should die for the
people, and that the whole nation
perish not."

And this spake he not of himself, but
being high priest that year, he
prophesied that Jesus should die for
that nation;

And not for that nation only, but that
also he should gather together in one
the children of God that were
scattered abroad.

Then from that day forth they took
council together for to put him to death.

     The chief priest prophesied of Jesus's death, and yet at the same time was taking council with the Pharisees to put Jesus to death.
     How God works in those situations should astound us. Just as Mary was trying to keep the marriage customs regarding the wine, yet speaking of a future event. And Jesus responding to the immediate event and prophesying of the future, "my time is not yet come." referring to his death!
     The significance of grape wine was symbolic of the prosperity and joy of God. Mary's command to Jesus "They have no wine," signifies that Israel had that need and only the Messiah could supply that need!
     The six "water pots as used in the purifying of the jews" only manifested the truth that Israel  was destitute of all idea of true worship, only watered down into religion.

Isaiah 1:22:
Thy silver (pureness of God's Word)
is become dross, thy wine (the joy of
true worship with God) mixed with water:

     The ruler of the feast said that Jesus had kept the good wine until last instead of the watered down wine. As the marriage feast draws closer to the end, it was their nature to have the servants buy a lesser quality wine which would cost them less money. However, it was the Massiah that provided the best wine of joyful worship to the nation of Israel.

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