Jesus performs His first miracle at a wedding; let’s see why.
I understand that miracles do not seem to be a show of power, rather they are a vision of what is to come. When Jesus sets up His kingdom there will be healing and peace. If one meditates on the miracles they can see they have a prophetic nature. Jesus’ first miracle seems to be pointing to something very special.
And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: 2 And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.
John 2:1
The setting was a marriage, but it wasn’t Jesus’ marriage. He was there as a guest and His mother was present also. Marriages are a great time of celebration and this was even more so in Jesus’ day because they lasted much longer than ours do today.
And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.
John 2:3
They wanted wine for the wedding. It seems they had run out. This article is not about wine, but let me say that wine was a word used for the fruit of the vine no matter what state it was in. We have started to use the word wine for grapes juice only when it is in a fermented state. If you want to argue you can but I think anyone who is honest will see this verse demonstrates wine is the fruit of the vine.
And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles.
Mark 2:22
Wineskins don’t make good wine.
What did people put into wineskins? It was new wine, a wine that was ready to be perceived. When the wine ferments it will expand and stretch out the skins. So if you take a stretched-out skin and put more new wine there will be no more stretch in it for the new wine to ferment and the skin will bust losing all the contents. So wine is clearly the fruit of the vine.
Jesus’ response to His mother’s request was His typical spiritual response.
Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.
John 2:4
Mary is important but not special.
At Mary’s request, Jesus responds and it seems course to our ears. The term woman was not a disrespectful term in those days—Mary was a woman. Also for those who hold Mary as a person of great importance, they should note how Jesus refers to her. Mary was a vessel like all people whom God can use to accomplish His will. Mary was a fit to be used by God to bring forth His Son. However, she was just a woman.
Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. 48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
Matthew 12:47-48
It wasn’t time for Jesus’ wedding.
The phrase “what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come” can be understood as “why are you involving me in this, it is not my time.” We need to ask ourselves what time is he talking about. If you were at a wedding and a mother asked her son who was a guest and he made this statement you would probably think he meant, why do I care this isn’t my wedding. So it seems “mine hour is not yet come,” is a reference to His wedding has not yet come. You may be thinking is Jesus going to have a wedding? Well, yes he is.
And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. 7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
Revelation 19:6-9
And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
Jesus told parables about being invited to a wedding that appears to be for Him ( Matthew 22:1-10, 25:1-13). So doesn’t it seem quite likely that Jesus was referring to His wedding when He said “mine hour is not yet come?” If we take His words to mean it is not my time to start doing miracles we must consider whose timing is He referring to. That would be the Father because Jesus was following His Father’s timing. So if Jesus went ahead at did a miracle before the Father had intended Him to, it would have been disobedience, and Jesus would not have done that. Therefore the best conclusion is Jesus was referring to His wedding. It was not His wedding so why should He care?
Jesus did help out as He always did. So He wasn’t saying this to get out of helping. He was saying this so that we can understand that this miracle was to demonstrate what He can do for a wedding and it is just a sample of what His wedding will be like.
And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.
John 2:10
I know this is speculation, and no matter how you understand “good wine” it is speculation. A case does need to be made here. Do wineries use wineskins to ferment wine? No, they don’t. Wine has become much more of an art in the last four hundred years or so since Louis Pasteur discovered the process of fermentation and change the wine industry.1
And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
Revelation 21:5
New wine for the best wedding celebration.
If wine is a word used for the fruit of the vine, then new wine would be fresh juice not aged. I think it would be safe to say that fresh grape juice would be preferred over grape juice that has been fermented in wineskins. When a person has a guest they give them their best and if they are short they start looking for what else they may have to serve. That is what happens at the wedding. They first serve the freshest and best and when they run out of that they go to the next best. Well, do you think Jesus is going to run out of the freshest food and drink at His wedding? Not even! Just as in with the miracle in Cana Jesus is going to give the best.
If this sounds like a feast you would like to be present at then you have to be an invited guest, ready for the wedding.
And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: 12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. 13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
Matthew 22: 11-14
Those words may sound harsh, but the illustration is more than just crashing a wedding. It is about the gospel of the Kingdom of God. Humans have run the show on this earth doing things their own way, and one day Jesus is going to come as a King to rule in righteousness, justice, mercy, and grace. If someone what’s to be part of this Kingdom they have to accept that and let Jesus be LORD. If you are willing to repent, meaning you are going to let Jesus be your LORD instead of yourself then you can be part of the Kingdom and will have a garment fit for the wedding. Do you want this garment?
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. … For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Romans 10:10 & 13