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: and 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 verses 1 and 2 suggest that Jesus' mother Mary was already at the wedding, and Jesus' group arrived later. Based only on verse 2, it's not clear if Jesus was directly invited to the wedding. Since Cana was Nathanael's home town, he might have been the main invited guest, and allowed to bring Jesus with him. Jesus might have been there because He was related to Mary, or as Nathanael's friend.

Ancient Jewish weddings typically lasted several days, and 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, so it's not surprising that the married couple didn't have enough supplies to last. At this point, Jesus had only five, perhaps six disciples. These were John, Andrew, Peter, Philip, Nathanael, and possibly James. The upcoming miracle is very subtle—only the servants, Mary, and a few disciples even know that it had occurred.

John 2:1–12 describes Jesus’ first miracle, which is turning water into wine at a wedding. This miracle was very quiet, 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 semeion, 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 is symbolic of His 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 place into a market place.

Chapter 2 begins to show Jesus’ “signs,” or miracles, which will prove that He is the Savior. The miracles will grow more and more spectacular, but they start quietly. Contrast is an important part of the gospel of John. The quiet, joyful miracle at the wedding is very 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.

The gospel of John was written by the disciple John, decades later than the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. 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”—in order to prove that Jesus is, in fact, God incarnate. Some of the most well-known verses in all of the Bible are found here. None is more famous than the one-sentence summary of the gospel found in John 3:16.

Accessed 4/28/2024 7:45:28 PM