Chronological Life of Jesus XI
John 2:1-25
Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist and then disappeared for forty days, spending that time in the wilderness being tempted by the devil. During this time, John was telling anyone and everyone, that he saw the Spirit of God descend and remain on Jesus. When Jesus returned after passing this difficult test, He is spotted by John as He walked, and John declared “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” For forty days, John had been proclaiming the deity of Jesus and suddenly Jesus is spotted. Two of John’s disciples then leave and begin to follow Jesus. Andrew runs and tells his brother, Simon, that they have found the Messiah and suddenly Jesus has three followers and He heads to Galilee.
This small group heads out and runs into an acquaintance from their hometown, Philip. Philip joins the group and runs and tells his friend Nathanael, who is a student of the Scriptures. Nathanael doubts at first but goes to find out about this man that his buddy is so excited about. When Jesus tells Nathanael what he was doing and what he was pondering, Nathanael immediately believes and joins the small group that now numbers six – Jesus and five disciples.
John 2:1-25
2:1 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. 3 And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, "They have no wine." 4 Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come." 5 His mother said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it."
What a great way to start the ministry of Jesus Christ. The way that God chose to begin this ministry is through a wedding. Is there a reason God might have chosen this particular occasion? There’s not a single reason there are many, many reasons.
We are not going to take a long, drawn out look at Jewish wedding customs but there are a lot of similarities between a believers relationship with Jesus and marriage.
In Jesus’ time, Jewish wedding celebrations lasted for one week, during which time relatives and friends stayed in the home of the bride and groom. It would be a wedding, honeymoon, family reunion, wedding shower, bachelor party all rolled into one. Immediately after the exchange of vows the bride and groom would leave the ceremony and the party would begin and would last for the next seven days. During this time the bride would be hidden away in the far corners of the house and would only be seen by her groom. At the end of the week, she would emerge to great fanfare and celebration.
Isn’t it amazing how God used this event to announce Jesus, so to speak. When the rapture takes place, we - the bride of Christ – will be carried away to heaven for seven years. Just like the bride was tucked away in seclusion with her groom, we will be tucked away with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We will be hidden away from the ribulation that will be unleashed on the earth. After seven years we will emerge to great fanfare.
John 2:1
2:1 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.
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Many take this as being three days after John first spots Jesus but I think it’s later. Not much later but not just three days after John first spotted Jesus. Going from the Jordan River towards Bethsaida and then to Cana would have been a lot of territory to cover, especially when you’re walking.
This very likely was a relative of Jesus that was getting married. Mary, the mother of Jesus is there and is probably helping out, if not in charge, of the catering service that is responsible for the beverage for the week. The Coptic gospels claim that it was Mary that was the aunt of the groom that served as hostess, a Jewish custom. That Mary’s sister, Salome, was the mother of the groom and that the groom was John. It also goes on to say that John left his bride at the altar and followed Jesus. I’m not sure about all that, but interesting.
John 2:2
2 Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding.
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Jesus, Andrew, Simon Peter, Philip, Nathanael, and an unnamed disciple are invited to a wedding. If John was the unnamed disciple, then he was invited to his own wedding. This is the first of many instances that the situation will get better when Jesus shows up.
John 2:3
3 And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, "They have no wine."
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This was a major problem. Of all the things to run out of, the wine was the most important. This was a social disgrace for the family of the bridegroom. In the close-knit community of Jesus’ day, something like this would not be soon forgotten. Wine was a symbol of joy. To run out of wine would be saying that the new couple was not happy. They had run out of joy.
Why did Mary ask Jesus to do something? There are many that take this passage and believe that it was a way for vindication for Mary. I feel very sure that Mary knew what Jesus had just been through, being baptized and then tempted in the wilderness and that it was time for His ministry to begin.
John 2:4
4 Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come."
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This was not a statement of disrespect. The word, gune (goo-nay'); is translated woman and it is a term of respect but not of warmth. Jesus responds to Mary with a gentle rebuke. At first glance this sounds a little harsh. As we said a couple of weeks ago, when Jesus was baptized it was symbol of the old earthly Jesus (the One with an earthly mom) going down into the water and a new Jesus with a heavenly Father emerging from the water. Mary takes no offense but remains obedient.
Seven times John will use the term My hour or His hour. Here Jesus speaks of the beginning of His ministry. The last time John uses it is in chapter 17 verse 1 as Jesus wraps up the Lord’s Supper and He and His disciples soon leave for Gethsemane.
John 17:1
17:1 Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: "Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You,
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John 2:5
5 His mother said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it."
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Mary was in trouble and desperately needed Jesus to intercede. Mary takes her request to Jesus and Jesus says it’s not time yet. I’m afraid that if it was me that was in that position I might not be so nice. Mary had probably been hearing whispers behind her back for the last thirty years or so and here was an opportunity to shut those people up, get the wine problem taken care of and Jesus says “Not Yet”.
Mary’s recorded words are few, but we need to pay attention when they are recorded. They are never about herself but are words of obedience
Luke 1:38
38 Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.
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Mary directs the servants (who were obviously under her authority) to her Son, not herself. Those that believe that you need to go through Mary for Jesus to hear your prayer haven’t really studied the scriptures. Mary was always at His side but her influence in His ministry is minimal. Luke writes
Luke 8:19-21
19 Then His mother and brothers came to Him, and could not approach Him because of the crowd. 20 And it was told Him by some, who said, "Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see You." 21 But He answered and said to them, "My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it."
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After the crucifixion of Jesus, Mary is assembled in an upper room in Jerusalem with the other apostles but she was just there. She wasn’t one of the leaders and didn’t speak or lead the prayers.
Acts 1:12-14
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey. 13 And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James. 14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
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Mary was always obedient, she never questioned, she never balked, she just did as she was instructed. She tells the servants "Whatever He says to you, do it." What great advice. If only we would be like Mary and obey "Whatever He says to you, do it."