The Wedding at Cana

John 2:1-12

Now on the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, [Note]
and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding.
When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no wine left.”
Jesus replied, “Woman, why are you saying this to me? My time has not yet come.”
Mary then said to the servants, “Do whatever Jesus tells you to do.”
Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.
Jesus told the servants, “Fill the water jars with water.” So they filled them up to the very top
Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the head steward,” and they did.
When the head steward tasted the water that had been turned to wine, not knowing where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), he called the bridegroom
and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the cheaper wine when the guests are drunk. You have kept the good wine until now!”
Jesus did this as the first of his miraculous signs, in Cana of Galilee. In this way he revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.
After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples, and they stayed there a few days.

Weddings in Jesus’ day were week-long festivals. Banquets would be prepared for many guests, and the week would be spent celebrating the new life of the married couple. Often the whole town was invited, and everybody would come—it was considered an insult to refuse an invitation to a wedding. To accommodate many people, careful planning was needed. To run out of wine was more than embarrassing; it broke the strong unwritten laws of hospitality. Jesus was about to respond to a heartfelt need.
My Personal Note:
The “third day” could refer to the third day of the Lord’s stay in Galilee, or it could refer to the third day after his interview with Nathanael. It could also refer to the third day of the wedding feast. [←Back]