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 2:11 mean?

Explanation

John 2:11 refers to the event in which Jesus performed His first recorded miracle at a wedding in Cana of Galilee. Specifically, Jesus turned water into wine after the feast had run out of wine, which would have been a social embarrassment for the hosts.

The verse notes that this miracle served as a manifestation of His divine glory, and as a result, His disciples' faith in Him was strengthened.

The reference to the miracle as a "beginning" implies that this was the first of many signs that Jesus would perform, each designed to reveal more about His identity and mission.

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

The Gospel of John is the fourth book in the New Testament and was written to present Jesus as the Son of God.

The wedding at Cana event occurs early in Jesus' public ministry.

During this time, weddings were significant social events, lasting several days, with wine being an important element for celebration.

The lack of wine would have been a major dishonor to the host family.

The setting of Galilee also indicates that Jesus began His public ministry in a region that was somewhat removed from the religious hub of Jerusalem.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this passage has been interpreted in several ways.

Some view the transformation of water to wine as symbolic of the transformation that Jesus brings into the lives of believers, changing the mundane into something divine.

Others see the use of the vessels meant for Jewish purification rites as an indication of Jesus bringing a new covenant, replacing old rituals with His message.

The manifestation of His glory through the miracle ties into the broader theme of the Gospel of John, which emphasizes Jesus as the incarnate Word of God, revealing God's glory.

Practical Applications

In daily life, this verse can be used to reflect on Jesus' concern for human needs and social situations.

It encourages believers to trust in Jesus' power to provide and His awareness of our difficulties.

It also calls for faith in Jesus' timing and methods, knowing that He has the ultimate authority over nature and circumstances.

Cross-References

John 4:54: "[This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judaea into Galilee.]"
John 20:30-31: "[And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:] [But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.]"
Matthew 9:6: "[But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.]"

Language Study

The phrase "manifested forth his glory" in the original Greek text uses the word "ἐφανέρωσεν" (ephanerōsen) which comes from "phaneroō," meaning to make manifest or to reveal.

It is a significant term in Johannine writings, often relating to revealing divine truths or characteristics.

The word "glory" in Greek is "δόξαν" (doxan), which in this context refers to the splendor or divine nature of Jesus.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The miracle of turning water into wine has invited comparisons with other ancient mythologies where gods perform miracles at feasts or weddings.

For example, in Greek mythology, Dionysus is a god associated with wine, fertility, and revelry, often depicted as having the power to turn water into wine.

However, in the Christian context, Jesus' miracle is not about revelry but is a sign of His divine authority and a foreshadowing of the transformative impact of His ministry.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific perspective, instantaneous transformation of water into wine defies natural laws as we understand them, such as the process of fermentation which is how wine is naturally produced.

This passage is therefore seen as a supernatural event, a miracle that operates outside the boundaries of established natural science.

commentaries

Commentators over the centuries have offered various interpretations of this miracle.

Some, like Matthew Henry, see it as a significant sign of Jesus' divine authority over nature and an encouraging testament to His care for human joy.

Others, like William Barclay, suggest it represents a symbol of the new joy that Jesus brings to life, contrasting with the empty ceremonial washings of the Jewish law as represented by the water jars.

Modern scholars often debate the symbolism in the passage, but generally agree on the importance of the miracle as a key sign in John's Gospel that reveals Jesus’s identity and divine mission.

John 2

John 2

What does John 2:11 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 2:11 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?