The Gospel According to John

Biblical Research Monthly
June, 1955
Dr. David L. Cooper
(Installment Five)

THE MARRIAGE FEAST AT CANA OF GALILEE

In the preceding article of this series we studied the account of the conversion of Nathanael to the Lord Jesus Christ. The next incident, what we are to study, is the marriage at Cana of Galilee as recorded in John 2:1-11.

The narration begins thus: "And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee…." It is most difficult for us to know what period of time this is. It certainly could not be connected with the four days mentioned in the first chapter. It is immaterial as to what day is here referred to; hence we shall pass it by.

If anyone will study the Gospel Records, he will see that Jesus mixed and mingled in the social life of the country in His day and time. For instance, in this account we see Him attending a social function, a marriage in Cana of Galilee. When He was invited to the home of a Pharisee, as we see in Luke 7:36-50, He accepted the invitation. Again, in Luke 14:1-6, we see that Jesus accepted and invitation to dine with another Pharisee on a given occasion. Once more we see the Lord Jesus attending a great feast which Matthew, the tax-gatherer, made for Him (Matt. 9:10-13). On another occasion He was entertained in the home of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus (Luke 10:38-42). When our Lord went to Jerusalem for the last time, He was entertained in the house of Simon the Leper (Matt. 26:6-13). Notwithstanding the fact that He came primarily to train men to carry on the work of the preaching ministry which He launched, and to give His life a ransom for the sins of the world, our Lord had time for social occasions. He did not withdraw from society, as John the Baptist did, and as many recluses since have done through the centuries. But He mixed with the people—for their good, and their good alone, and not simply for His own personal pleasure and delight.

Nicodemus came by night to interview Jesus. He had a religious motive in view, but it was a social call, nevertheless. Jesus had time to sit at the well of Samaria and talk with a poor, unfortunate, sin-cursed woman. Thus the religion of our Lord was one that does not pull away from contemporary life, but rather makes contacts and seeks to save those who are lost.

Marriage Is a Holy Ordinance of God

The fact that Jesus put His stamp of approval upon the marriage relationship is evident from His attending this marriage at Cana. God originally created all the animals with male and female. The same thing is true with the birds of the heavens and with the marine life teeming in the seven seas. But there was no companion for man. God therefore performed a surgical operation by removing a rib from the side of the man and built a woman out of that which He removed from him. When God had performed that miracle, He brought the woman to Adam who said "She is bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh." Adam was drawn to her immediately. It was a case of love at first sight.

As our Lord was on His way through Peraea, going up to Jerusalem for the last time, He was accosted by the Pharisees who put this question to Him: "Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?" (Matt. 19:3). Jesus replied by calling the attention of His interrogators to the Scripture, declaring: "have ye not read, that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female, 5 and said, For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh? 6 So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder" (Matt. 19:4-6). According to the original design of God in establishing the marriage relationship and the home, it was His plan and purpose that the marriage bond should be inviolate. The Lord did not purpose and does not intend today that men and women shall marry and then divorce. He made them from the beginning male and female. They are one.

But on account of the hardness of the heart of the Israelites, God did permit under certain conditions a marriage to be annulled. But who wants God's second best? We should all desire His first plan and purpose for our lives.

The marriage relationship is typical of that which exists between Christ and the Church. This is most beautifully brought out in Ephesians 5:22,23. Moreover, additional light is thrown upon this subject in the nineteenth chapter of the Book of Revelation, concerning the marriage supper of the Lamb. (See Rev. 19:1-10.)
 

Crises Always Arise

Regardless of what preparations may be made for an occasion, usually there are some unexpected events that turn up. During the festivities of the marriage at Cana, the supply of wine became exhausted. It seems that those in charge of the ceremonies became perturbed at not being able to meet the situation. Mary, the mother of the Lord Jesus, brought the matter to Him. In a kind, gentle manner He reminded His mother that His hour to perform miracles and to demonstrate His divine nature had not yet come. In His language to her He used the common Greek idiom: "Woman what have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not yet come" (John 2:4). The original text, literally translated is, "What is to thee and to me?" In our loose popular English idiom, He said to her: "Why are you bringing this matter to me?"

Notwithstanding the words of the Saviour Mary instructed the servants to do whatever Jesus said for them to do. She had a very good knowledge of Jesus as her own child and was confident that He could and would relieve the situation that had arisen.

Our Lord, being God in human form, was able to meet any emergency or crises that confronted Him. Since He is now in His glorified body, we should not hesitate to bring any and all things that perplex and trouble us to Him for solution, regardless of how large or how small. He is able to meet any and all situations.
 

Jesus Knew His Working Power

Jesus instructed the servants to fill with water the pots that were standing there, after the Jews' manner of purifying. The servants obeyed Him and filled these jars with water. When they had done this, He commanded them: "Draw out now, and bear unto the ruler of the feast." This they did. When the ruler of the feast tasted the water that had become wine, he pronounced it the best. This master of ceremonies then called the bridegroom and said to him: "Every man setteth on first the good wine; and when men have drunk freely, then that which is worse; though hast kept the good wine until now."

The turning of the water into wine was an actual miracle. Someone has called a miracle "the usual done in an unusual manner." This terse saying is quite accurate. In the case of wine, as in that of all plants, the Lord all the time gathers the elements out of the earth, air, and water and compounds them in the proper proportions by the use of the grapevine, which produces and yields fruit. The vine is God's laboratory, figuratively speaking, in which He compounds the various elements entering into the fruit of the vine in the proper proportions. Such is the usual, regular manner of making grape juice over a period of months.

On the occasion of the wedding at Cana of Galilee, the Lord, by the miraculous omnipotent power gathered up the elements and compounded them instantly into the proper proportions. He thus produced the wine. Hence He did the usual thing in an unusual manner and produced the wine, thus meeting the emergency.

Turning the water into wine was the first recorded sign which Jesus performed in His personal ministry. Though there were many miracles wrought by Him, during His earthly sojourn, John mentions only seven of them and calls them signs, proofs, that is, things which prove that He was and is what He claimed to be—the Son of God, the Son of man, the Redeemer of the world, and earth's coming King.

Jesus Always Produces the Best

When God created the universe—the heavens and the earth—the earth was perfect, not a chaos (Isa. 45:18). After the primitive earth was wrecked by some great catastrophic calamity, God took six days in repairing the damage. At intervals in the Genesis account we are told that God "saw that it was good." "The Rock, his works are perfect" (Deut. 32:4). The Lord Jesus could do nothing but that which was perfect, without any blemishes whatsoever.

Let us trust Him to do what which is best for us. If it is necessary for Him to call into play His miraculous power for us, He will do it. He is constantly working all things together for our good. He works all things according to the counsel of His will. Let us, like Abraham, refrain from staggering in unbelief. May we remember that He always does that which is for our good and for the glory of God. Jesus never fails.