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 2:5 mean?

Explanation

The verse John 2:5 is part of the passage that describes the miracle of turning water into wine during a wedding at Cana.

Jesus, His mother (the Virgin Mary), and His disciples were guests at this wedding.

When the wine ran out, Mary approached Jesus to inform Him of the situation, subsequently giving the instruction to the servants mentioned in the verse.

Her statement, "Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it," reflects her faith in Jesus' ability to address the concern, and it suggests her expectation of Jesus' willingness to intervene.

The deeper meaning herein is her implicit recognition of Jesus' divine authority and the trust she places in Him.

This verse showcases the beginning of Jesus' public ministry with an act of obedience and the display of His glory through a miraculous sign.

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Historical Context

The wedding at Cana incident is considered the first public miracle performed by Jesus according to the Gospel of John.

It took place in Cana, a town in Galilee, likely in a Jewish context where weddings were significant social events that lasted several days.

The lack of wine would have been a social embarrassment for the hosting family, to which Mary shows sensitivity.

Historical context is essential to understand the significance of Mary's role in this narrative and the weight her words carried for the servants.

Furthermore, this text reflects the Jewish custom at the time, where the words of a mother in a family were respected and often heeded.

Theological Insights

Different theological perspectives have pondered the implications of John 2:5:

From a Catholic point of view, this verse is often seen as validating the intercessory role of Mary, suggesting that she can present needs to Jesus on behalf of others.
Protestant interpretations typically emphasize the display of Jesus' divine power and the beginning of His ministry, rather than Mary's intercessory role.
The Orthodox tradition also values this verse but often places it within the broader context of Jesus' life and miracles which affirm His divine nature and authority.
Additionally, this verse underscores the principle of obedience to Jesus' words, a theme that is integral to Christian doctrine.

Practical Applications

The instruction given by Mary, "Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it," underlines the importance of obedience to Jesus' teachings. This has practical applications in the Christian life, such as:

Being attentive and responsive to the guidance of Jesus as found in the Scriptures.
Exhibiting trust in Christ's ability to work through difficult and seemingly impossible situations.
Enabling God's works and miracles through acts of obedience and faith.

Cross-References

John 2:11 - "This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him."
Luke 11:28 - "But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it."
John 14:15 - "If ye love me, keep my commandments."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the word "Whatsoever" translates to "ὅ,τι" (hoti), which emphasizes an unrestricted scope in terms of Jesus' instructions.

The phrase "he saith" is from "λέγει" (legei), which is in present active indicative form, showing an authoritative and direct command.

The word "unto you" is "ὑμῖν" (hymin), which is a pronoun in the dative case, indicating the recipients of the communication. Lastly, "do it" translates to "ποιήσατε" (poiēsate), which is an imperative aorist active verb, lending a sense of urgency and mandate to the action required.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In other ancient cultures, like the Greco-Roman mythologies, wine was commonly associated with deities, such as Dionysus/Bacchus, the god of wine.

Miracles surrounding wine might have a resonance in these stories, though Jesus' miracle reflects a very different theological significance.

In Judaism, wine is a symbol of joy and blessing, making the miracle at Cana deeply meaningful within the Jewish religious tradition as an act that preserved the joy and social harmony of the wedding celebration.

Scientific Perspectives

Scientifically, the transformation of water into wine by Jesus would be considered an event that defies the natural laws of chemistry as understood today.

No particular scientific perspective or process can account for the instantaneous conversion of water into a complex substance such as wine, which typically requires the fermentation of grape juice over time.

As such, this miracle invites believers to consider the supernatural or divine intervention in the natural world.

commentaries

Various biblical commentators offer differing insights into John 2:5:

Matthew Henry's commentary highlights the implicit faith of Mary in Christ's ability to address the problem and her deference to Him as he begins His public ministry.
The MacArthur Study Bible notes that this event signifies the start of Jesus revealing His divine power and asserts that Mary's instruction to the servants reveals her expectation that Jesus would act.
The Pulpit Commentary discusses Mary's expression of faith as well as Jesus' willingness to honor His mother's request, setting a pattern for His ministry of responding to human needs with divine resources.

John 2

John 2

What does John 2:5 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 2:5 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?