John 2:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples.

NIV: and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding.

NASB: and both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding.

CSB: Jesus and his disciples were invited to the wedding as well.

NLT: and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration.

KJV: And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.

NKJV: Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding.

The wording of these verses (John 2:1) suggests that Jesus' mother Mary was already at the wedding. Jesus' group would have arrived later. Based only on these words, it's not clear if Jesus was directly invited to the wedding. Since Cana was Nathanael's hometown (John 21:2), he might have been the main invited guest. Jesus might have been there because He was related to Mary, or as Nathanael's friend. At this point, Jesus had only five, perhaps six disciples. These were John, Andrew, Peter, Philip, Nathanael, and possibly James (John 1:35–51; Matthew 10:2).

Ancient Jewish weddings typically lasted several days. They included a great number of guests. Hospitality was a major concern in this culture, so any blunder would be embarrassing for the bride and groom. Neither Jesus, His family, nor His friends were wealthy. It's no surprise that the married couple didn't have enough supplies to last. The upcoming miracle (John 2:9–10) is very subtle; only the servants, Mary, and a few disciples even know it has occurred.

John 2:1–12 describes Jesus' first miracle, which is turning water into wine at a wedding. This miracle was discreet and known only to a few people. Changing water meant for purification into wine, symbolic of blood, is a reference to Jesus' role as Messiah. Instead of rituals, we are purified by the miraculous blood of Christ. John specifically uses the Greek word sēmeion, or "sign," for these miracles, since they are meant to prove that Jesus is God. This is the first of seven such signs in the gospel of John.

Jesus attends a wedding where He performs His first miracle: turning water into wine. This symbolizes a transformation of human rituals into divine sacrifice. Few people are even aware that a miracle has occurred. Jesus then drives crooked businessmen out of the temple, scolding them for turning a sacred area into a crass marketplace.

Chapter 2 begins to show Jesus' "signs," or miracles, which will prove that He is the Savior. The miracles will become more spectacular over time, but they start quietly. Contrast is an important part of the gospel of John. The quiet, joyful miracle at the wedding is starkly different from the loud public spectacle of clearing the temple. Jesus' first miracle symbolizes His mission. During the temple clearing, He also predicts His death and resurrection. This sets the stage for Jesus' private discussion with Nicodemus, a respected and influential man.

The disciple John wrote the gospel of John decades after the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke were written. The author assumes that a reader is already familiar with the content of these other works. So, John presents a different perspective, with a greater emphasis on meaning. John uses seven miracles—which he calls "signs"— to prove that Jesus is, in fact, God incarnate. Some of the most well-known verses in the Bible are found here. None is more famous than the one-sentence summary of the gospel found in John 3:16.

Accessed 11/23/2024 5:15:16 AM