Jesus Turns Water into Wine

The in-depth summary of each bible study is much different from the small group bible study laid out before the leader and the students.  The small group studies are intended to be interactive, provide a learning atmosphere for students, and open discussions allowing for interpretations of what the gospels’ witnessed.  The in-depth summary is designed to help the leader with expansive information, much more than what is in the text notes found at the bottom of every bible page.  An exhaustive search was completed on each verse to help the Leader answer questions that may come up during the study.

The biblical account of Jesus turning water into wine is a fascinating story that offers insight into the character of Jesus and his mission. Written by the disciple John and found in John 2:1-12, the second chapter covers two events that are quite different in nature. The first event is the miracle of turning water into wine, which is a joyous and quiet occasion. The second event is Jesus driving the money-lenders out of the temple complex, which is a scolding and public event.

John's gospel is known for its use of contrast, and the two stories in this chapter are a perfect example of that contrast. The miracle at the wedding is the first of seven "signs" that John uses to prove that Jesus is God. Wedding celebrations in that era were spread out over several days, and it was the host's responsibility to provide enough food and drink for all the guests who came. Jesus' act of turning water into wine was not just a gift; it was a profound display of his compassion, a way to save the newlyweds from extreme embarrassment.

The miracle was done in a quiet, almost secretive way, and only a few of the disciples, Jesus' mother Mary, and the servants knew it happened. John's gospel is the only one that records this miracle. The changing of water into wine was also a powerful symbol of Jesus' purpose. The six water jugs were used for purification from sin, and six is the biblical number of man and imperfection. Wine is symbolic of blood, and the miracle's meaning was as much about Jesus replacing ritual purification with divine blood as anything else.

John 2:1 Events leading up to the wedding. (read the verse outlined in black): “On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.” 

What significant events happened on day one and two?
“On the third day” – This is timeline of days one, two and three: 

Day 1:  The baptism:  John 1:29. In the Gospel of John, chapter 1, verse 35, there has been some confusion among scholars and readers alike regarding the omission of two crucial words in some versions of the text. The words "again" and "stood" are omitted in some translations, which significantly changes the meaning of the verse.

The original verse, as written in the King James Version, reads: "Again, the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples." The word "again" is translated from the Greek word "palin," which means "probably from the same as" or "furthermore." This word implies that the events of this verse took place on the same day as the previous day's events, which were the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist and the identification of Jesus as the Lamb of God.

In this verse, John the Baptist is standing with two of his disciples when he sees Jesus coming towards him. He identifies Jesus as the Lamb of God, and then proceeds to baptize him. After this, Jesus recruits two disciples who are not named.  Jesus then recruits two more disciples Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.

Day 2: John 1:43-51.  According to John 1:43, on the next day after calling Andrew and Peter, Jesus recruited Philip to become his disciple and asked him to follow him. The act of Jesus recruiting more disciples highlights his mission to spread the word of God and bring more people into his fold. Furthermore, in John 1:44-50, we see Philip telling Nathanael about Jesus, and Nathanael initially expressing doubt about Jesus being the Son of God. However, when Jesus reveals his knowledge of Nathanael's character, Nathanael's doubt is dispelled, and he acknowledges Jesus as the Son of God. While there is no specific verse that mentions Nathanael following Jesus or being asked to follow him, it is inferred from these verses that Nathanael became a disciple of Jesus. This passage underscores the way in which Jesus chose his disciples and how he was able to identify and bring those who would spread his message and continue his teachings. It also illustrates how faith can be kindled and grow, even in those who initially have doubts.

Day 3: The wedding.  According to John 2:1, on the third day after Jesus recruited Philip and Nathanael, there was a wedding in the village of Cana in Galilee. Cana is mentioned four times in the bible, and each time, John specifies that it is located in Galilee. The exact location of Cana is disputed, with some historians suggesting it could be Kana el-Jelîl, Khurbet Kânet, Kefr Kenna or Kerra Kenna. After performing a miracle at the wedding, Jesus and his followers went down to Capernaum, which is located at a lower elevation than Cana of Galilee, as described in John 2:12. The water pots that were used by Jesus are said to be in Kefr Kenna today.

It's interesting to note that Kânet el-Jelîl is the Arabic version of the name, as recorded by Saewulf, the first English pilgrim to visit Jerusalem after its conquest in the First Crusade. We have included a paragraph from pages 46-47 of his book, "The Travels of Sæwulf, A.D. 1102 and 1103," for reference.

“The city of Tiberias stands on the seashore on one side, and on the other side are Corozaim and Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. About four miles to the north-east of the city of Tiberias is the castle of Gennesareth, where the Lord appeared to the disciples when fishing, as we learn from the Gospel. About two miles to the east of Gennesareth is the mount on which our Lord Jesus fed five thousand men with five loaves and two fishes. This mount is called by the inhabitants our Lord's table; and at its foot stands a very beautiful church of St. Peter, but deserted. Six miles to the north-east of Nazareth, on a hill, is Cana of Galilee, where our Lord converted water into wine at the marriage feast. There nothing is left standing except the monastery called that of Architriclinius'!'. About half way between Nazareth and Galilee is a castle which is called Roma, where all travelers from Accaron to Tiberias are lodged, having Nazareth on the right, and Galilee to the left.”

“The mother of Jesus was there,” Why do you think it was necessary to mention the mother of Jesus was there at the wedding?  According to the narrative, it can be inferred that Jesus' mother was a regular guest at the wedding. It is possible that she was related to the hosts or had a close friendship with them. Her presence at the event was probably to assist with the preparations, as weddings in that time and culture were elaborate and required a lot of planning.  Furthermore, this assumption is supported by the incident mentioned in John 2:3, where Jesus' mother was made aware of a problem that had arisen during the wedding. It is not clear whether she was informed of the issue or was already aware of it, but her involvement suggests that she was an integral part of the wedding preparations.  Overall, these details give us a better understanding of the cultural and social context of the event and help us appreciate the significance of Jesus' actions in the subsequent events.

John 2:2: (read the verse outlined in black): “Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding.”   It is not entirely clear whether Jesus was directly invited to the wedding that took place in Cana, a small town in Galilee. However, it is believed that since Cana was Nathanael's hometown, he may have been the primary guest and allowed to bring Jesus along. Alternatively, Jesus may have been there because He was related to Mary or as Nathanael's friend.

Which disciples were probably with Jesus at the wedding?  It's worth noting that Jesus had only recently acquired five, perhaps six, disciples at this point. These disciples were John, Andrew, Peter, Philip, Nathanael, and possibly James.  The first two disciples not named who were following John the Baptist were probably John (the writer of this book) and James (John 1:35-37); Andrew and Peter (John 1:40-41). Philip (John 1:43); and Nathanael who was from Cana (John 1:47-51).

The upcoming miracle that took place during the wedding is subtle and not many people were aware of it. Only a few individuals, including the servants, Mary, and a few disciples, knew that it had occurred. It was during the wedding that Jesus performed his first miracle, which was to turn water into wine. However, the miracle was not widely known, and many of the guests at the wedding did not realize what had happened. It was only later that word of the miracle began to spread, and people began to realize the significance of what had taken place. 

John 2:3: (read the verse outlined in black): And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.”  Weddings were a significant event in ancient times. Relatives and guests would travel from faraway places, often taking days to arrive. To accommodate the guests, the wedding celebration would last several days, and for larger families, it could extend up to a week. It was customary to have enough food and drink to last throughout the event. Running out of food or wine during the wedding would have been a major embarrassment for the bride and groom. Usually, it was the groom's family who provided the feast for the wedding ceremony.

It is highly probable that Jesus and his mother, Mary, came from a poor community and, therefore, would have associated with similar people. They may have needed more funds to cover the expenses of the extended wedding celebration. This was a very interesting time for Mary as she knew that the wedding ceremony was in jeopardy because they had run out of wine. Her only solution to this dilemma was to reach out to her son, Jesus.

John 2:4: Lost is translation: (read the verse outlined in black):  Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.”  Jesus' response to his mother, calling her "Woman," is often perceived as rude or disrespectful. However, it is actually a firm stance. The King James Version of the Bible translates the word "Woman" at the front of the sentence. In Greek, the word "woman" is placed between the two statements. Additionally, some versions of the Bible omit part of the verse: "ἐμοί" meaning "to me" and "σοί" meaning "to you," "me and you." The complete verse translates and should read:  John 2:4 (create link)

Καὶ λέγει αὐτῇ ὁ Ἰησοῦς Τί ἐμοὶ καὶ σοί, γύναι; οὔπω ἥκει ἡ ὥρα μου.

And says to her – Jesus, What to Me and to you, woman? Not yet is come the hour of Me.

This more accurately translates: “Jesus said to her, ‘What is that to me and you, woman? My hour has not yet come.’” This response is slightly softer. Without the words "and you," the responsibility is solely on Jesus.

Jesus' response to his mother is twofold. Firstly, he questions what their concern about running out of wine has to do with both of them. Secondly, he reminds her that his time has not yet come. By doing this, Jesus is proclaiming his time to reveal himself to the world with miracles, and that time has not yet come.  For over 500 years the King James Version stated “Woman, what have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not yet come.”  Since Jesus includes his mother in the question, what are your thoughts about the new information?

John 2:5: Jesus implies to Mary He will furnish wine. (read the verse outlined in black): “His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”  Mary had just informed Jesus that they had run out of wine for the guests. As a mother, how would Mary know Jesus would furnish wine?  Although it is not mentioned, Jesus must have given some sort of acknowledgement to his mother, perhaps with a smile or a nod, indicating that she should trust in God, who provides for us.  Concurrently, Jesus indicates to Mary that he is willing to furnish wine at the proper time.  Since Jesus had never performed a miracle before, Mary did not know what to expect.  She commands the servants to do whatever Jesus tells them to do.

John 2:6: The six vessels Jesus uses to turn water into wine. (read the verse outlined in purple) “Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece.”  The waterpots used for ceremonial purification by Jews were made of stone and filled with the cleanest water available at the time. They were used for washing hands, feet, utensils, and cookware. It was necessary to have a substantial amount of water available, especially when a large number of guests were expected. The original Greek version mentions that the waterpots could hold two or three measures, which the King James Version translates to "firkins". The term "metrçtes" in Greek is equivalent to firkins, with each measure equaling 9 gallons or 34 liters. If each vessel contains either 2 or 3 measures, how many gallons or liters would each vessel hold?  Each of the six vessels would contain 18 to 27 gallons, or 68 to 102 liters.

John 2:7: Jesus begins his first miracle. (read the verse outlined in gray) “Jesus said to them, ‘Fill the waterpots with water.’ And they filled them up to the brim.”  In John 2:7-8, there is no specific reference to Jesus performing the miracle of turning water into wine. However, since John wrote this section, we can safely assume that he was a witness to the event.  Who filled the waterpots with water?  John saw and heard Jesus order the servants to fill the waterpots with water. Jesus must have performed the miracle of turning the water into wine sometime between verses 7 and 8.

It's worth noting that the servants had no power or inclination to fill the waterpots with wine. By filling the waterpots to the brim, the servants demonstrated their care in following Jesus' orders. Moreover, by having the servants fill the waterpots instead of the disciples, Jesus provides more evidence that the disciples did not fill them with wine.

The miracle between John 2:7 and John 2:8:  It is likely that Jesus was alone in a room with six waterpots when he performed his first miracle. Considering Jesus' close relationship with God, it is safe to assume that he had prayed to his Father before performing the miracle. One can imagine the scene: Jesus closes his eyes, prays to his Father, takes a deep breath, opens his eyes, and reaches his hand into one of the waterpots. It is unclear whether he touched the water pots or the wine, but confirmation would be expected.  If he did, he would then pull out some wine with his hand, which drips back into the pot. A smile on Jesus' face shows his satisfaction that he has successfully performed his first miracle.

John 2:8: Miracle achieved to be tested. (read the verse outlined in black) And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it.  Jesus performs a miraculous act by turning water into wine at a wedding feast in Cana. This act is significant in that it demonstrates Jesus' divine power and his capacity to help people in need. Following the miracle, Jesus provides an opportunity for others to participate in the celebration of this miraculous event. The text mentions a particular individual referred to as “the master of the feast” or “the master of the banquet,” whose role was to oversee the festivities and ensure that everything went smoothly. The master would typically taste the wine first to ensure that it was of good quality before it was served to the guests by the servants. This role is only mentioned in the New Testament in this particular context, making it a unique feature of this story.

John 2:9: The master of the feast tests the new wine.  (read the verse outlined in red) When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom.  During weddings in the past, it was customary to have a master of the banquet or feast who would oversee all the arrangements. This person would be responsible for testing all the food and wine before it was served to the guests. The master of the feast would have already tasted the wine that was served earlier, so he would be familiar with what the guests were drinking.

In continuation with the previous verse, John 2:8, when a new batch of wine was served, the servants brought a sample to the master of the feast for testing. This was a common custom. After tasting the wine, the verse states that the master of the feast "did not know where it came from," indicating that his judgment was unbiased. He had no idea that the wine he was tasting was once water turned into wine by Jesus. Even after the ceremony, he likely never knew that the water was turned into wine.

After tasting the new wine, the master of the feast's immediate called on the bridegroom, as he had something important to say to him.

John 2:10:  (read the verse outlined in orange) And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!”   At the wedding banquet, the head servant, who was responsible for overseeing the food and beverages, was taken aback by the amazing quality of the wine being served to the guests.   The custom of serving good quality wine at the beginning of a banquet has been practiced for centuries. This is because when a person first begins to drink, their taste buds are more sensitive, and they are able to appreciate the subtle flavors and nuances of a high-quality wine. As the guests continue to drink throughout the evening, their taste buds become less sensitive, making it harder for them to distinguish between different types of wine. This is why, towards the end of the evening, the host may serve a cheaper and inferior quality wine.

The phrase "when men have well drunk" in the Bible does not necessarily mean that the guests are intoxicated. It can mean that they have had enough to drink or that they are satiated. It may also mean that they have drunk enough to produce a sense of hilarity or to loosen their inhibitions. However, even if the phrase means that the guests are intoxicated, it does not promote drunkenness.

The reference to "poorer wine" uses the Greek word elasso, which means "inferior, younger, or lesser." This suggests that the wine served towards the end of the banquets is of a lower quality and may have been cheaper to produce. In contrast, the reference to the "good wine" uses the Greek word kalon, meaning "beautiful, excellent, or superior." This suggests that the wine served at the beginning of the banquets was of a higher quality and may have been more expensive.  However, at this wedding, the good wine was served later in the ceremony.  The wine was remarkably flavorful and rich, and the head servant was impressed by its exceptional quality. However, little did he know that the wine was not a product of normal winemaking but had been miraculously created by Jesus, who had transformed water into wine at the request of his mother.

Despite the fact that the head servant was unaware of the miracle that had taken place, he was convinced that the groom had saved the best wine for last. In his estimation, the groom had deliberately chosen to serve the most extravagant and flavorful wine to his guests at the end of the feast. The head servant assumed that this was a sign of the groom's generosity and his desire to make his guests feel special. In reality, however, it was Jesus who had performed the miraculous act, turning water into the finest wine for the wedding guests to enjoy.

John 2:11:  (read the verse outlined in green) This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.  John refers to Jesus’ miracles as “signs.” The Greek word “σημείων,” pronounced “semeion,” is translated to English as “signs.” The Greek word “θαύμα,” pronounced “thávma,” is translated to English as “miracle.” In John’s account, he clearly states that this is the beginning of Jesus’ signs. 

What is the significance John states in this verse? 

This is the only verse where one of the disciples states the beginning of Jesus’ “signs” or “miracles.” This is why we consider this Jesus’ “first miracle.” The gift was for the bride and groom, but the miracle was for the disciples so they would believe in Him.

This was Jesus’ first public miracle. For there to be proof of miracles, two conditions need to be satisfied: proof that the miracle event has occurred and proof that the miracle event violated the laws of nature. Evidence of the miracle:

 1. A third party placed water into the vessels: the servants – John 2:7.

2. The water was placed into the stone vessels that would typically be used to keep wine, which had an enormous volume: 108 – 162 gallons, or 408 – 612 liters. John 2:6.

3. These six waterpots were not the same vessels used for distributing wine to the guests. John 2:6 clearly states that these waterpots were used for purifying the Jews.

4. It is also highly improbable that wine was not nearby and was replaced by the water in the six waterpots. If the wine were nearby, the servants would have used that wine for guests. If Jesus somehow poured out the water from the six waterpots, water would be everywhere. There have also been suggestions that wine was diluted with water in the waterpots. Notice in John 2:7 that the servants filled them up to the brim. This means there was no room to add liquid to the waterpots. There is no mention of any of these alternatives.

5. A third party judged it as good wine without knowing where it came from or how it was created. – John 2:10.

The proof that the miracle occurred was provided by the witnesses who tasted the water turned into wine: The disciples, Jesus’ mother Mary, and some servers. The second qualification is to violate the laws of nature. Turning the molecular structure of water into wine would indeed qualify as a change in the laws of nature.

John 2:12: (read the verse outlined in blue)  After this He went down to Capernaum, He, His mother, His brothers, and His disciples; and they did not stay there many days.  Galilee is a region situated both to the north and west of the Sea of Galilee, and also west of the Jordan River. Nathanael, one of Jesus' disciples, hailed from Cana. However, historians are still trying to determine Cana's exact location. According to many scholars, Cana was originally located approximately 15 miles southwest of Capernaum. The phrase "went down" to Capernaum does not necessarily mean south; it simply means that Capernaum was situated at a lower elevation than Cana. In verse 12, Jesus' "brothers" are mentioned as a separate group from His disciples, indicating that they were also Mary's children. Who were Jesus' brothers? James, Joses (usually Joseph), Simon, and Judas (usually Jude) – (Mark 6:3) (Matthew 13:55). Which disciples were most likely with Jesus at that time? Simon Peter, Andrew, James, John (Matthew 4:18-22, Mark 1:16-20, Luke 5:4-11), Philip and Nathanael (John 1:43-51).

He didn't stay there for long because the Passover was approaching. They went to Jerusalem to attend it.