John 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.

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.

His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.

And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.

Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.

And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.

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.

This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.

After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days.

And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,

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;

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.

Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?

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.

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.

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.

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.

What does John 2:10 mean?

Explanation

John 2:10 speaks to an event at a wedding in Cana, where Jesus performed his first public miracle by turning water into wine.

In the verse, the master of the feast (or headwaiter), who likely was responsible for food and beverage service, addresses the bridegroom after tasting the wine Jesus had just miraculously produced.

The master of the feast notes that the common practice is to serve the best wine first and then, once the guests have had enough to drink and have become less discerning, to serve inferior wine.

However, Jesus defies this expectation by providing wine that is superior even to what was initially served towards the end of the feast.

On a literal level, this verse describes the reaction of a party official to the quality of the wine.

On a deeper level, it may allude to Jesus' role in ushering in a new covenant, which is superior to the old, thus 'saving the best for last.' Additionally, it suggests a transformative aspect of Jesus' ministry, turning the ordinary (water) into something extraordinary (wine).

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Historical Context

The scene takes place in the setting of a Jewish wedding feast in the town of Cana, in Galilee, during the time of Jesus.

Wedding feasts during this era were significant social events and could last for multiple days.

The provision of wine was crucial for hospitality and celebration; failure to provide adequately for guests could bring shame on the host family.

The historical context underscores the social importance of the miracle that Jesus performed.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, different viewpoints can be derived from this verse.

Traditional Christian interpretation may see the wine as a symbol of joy and the abundant life that Jesus offers.

It can also hint at the Eucharist, the Christian rite involving wine that symbolizes Jesus' blood, with the good wine representing the new covenant through Jesus' sacrifice.

Furthermore, the quality of the wine at the end being better than at the start can reflect the view that Jesus' ministry brings fulfillment and surpasses the revelations that came before him (fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets).

Practical Applications

The verse implies the importance of generosity and quality, suggesting that in daily life, individuals should strive to offer their best at all times, rather than give what is less valuable only after the best has been spent.

Additionally, the transformative nature of Jesus' miracle teaches that with faith, one can experience profound changes and improvements in life through divine intervention and support.

Cross-References

John 2:1-11 (the entire account of the wedding at Cana)
Matthew 26:27-29 (Jesus refers to the wine as His blood of the new covenant)
Luke 22:20 (the cup of the new covenant in Jesus' blood)
2 Corinthians 5:17 (the old has gone, the new is here)

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the word for "wine" is "οἶνος" (oinos), which simply refers to grape wine.

The Greek phrase rendered as "when men have well drunk" is "ὅταν μεθύσθωσιν" (hotan methysthōsin), suggesting that guests have consumed a significant amount but not necessarily to the point of drunkenness.

The word "worse" is translated from "ἐλάσσων" (elassōn), meaning "inferior" or of "less quality."

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In various ancient cultures, including Greek and Roman, wine was a common feature in religious rituals and social gatherings, symbolizing joy, divinity, and abundance.

Comparing this to other religious interpretations, the transformation of water into wine by Jesus can be seen as a sign of transcending traditional rites and revealing a deeper spiritual truth unique to Christianity.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific viewpoint, the transformation of water into wine involves a complex fermentation process that cannot occur instantaneously by natural means.

As such, the account in John 2:10 is considered a miracle, an event that defies natural law, from a scientific perspective.

This passage does not align with scientific understandings of nature but is rather seen as a narrative element with symbolic significance.

Commentaries

Different Bible commentators offer various insights about John 2:10.

For instance, some suggest that the master of the feast may not have been aware of the origin of the new wine.

Matthew Henry's commentary emphasizes the idea of Jesus bringing joy and blessing to human relationships and social functions.

Other scholars, like William Barclay, note the symbolic importance of wine in representing the joy that Jesus brings, which is not meant to be hoarded but shared abundantly.

Many agree that this passage is rich in symbolic meaning and reflects the transformative power of Jesus' ministry.

John 2

John 2

What does John 2:10 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does John 2:10 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?