Chapter Two: A Wedding in Cana of Galilee
Somehow Jesus got invited to attend a wedding in a small town by the name of Cana in the region of Galilee. Many believe it was the wedding of a relative because Mary, the mother of Jesus, was also present. The disciples also got the invitation to attend the wedding. Weddings in Jesus' day were big celebrations that lasted for days for the richer of the people, but even the poor would save or go into debt to throw a party to celebrate the special occasion. In Spanish we had the expression "¡no es boda!" (It's not a wedding!) whenever we asked for seconds or thirds on a meal. I never knew what the expression meant until one of my cousins got married and we attended her wedding. They were sharecroppers who lived on a patch of land and there were many tables all laden with food. It was nonstop food! "Ah!," thought I, "Now I know! ¡Esta sî es una boda!(This IS a wedding!). The drink for celebration in Jesus' day was wine and it was usually the product of fermented grapes. The thing that happened was that at this particular wedding the bridal party ran out of wine. This could be a big embarrassment to the bride, her family, the groom and his family; but this proved to be the setting for Jesus' first miracle.
It was Mary who sensed the coming tragedy if wine was not present. It is Mary who tells Jesus that there is no more wine in a, we sense, do-something-about-it tone. Jesus responds with a son-mother response, Why do you want me to get involved in this? Or some say, "What concern is that with you and me?" Jesus did not believe the timing was right to do a miracle. Yet Mary is not concerned because she goes ahead and tells the servants to do whatever Jesus asked of them.
There were six stone jars that were used mainly for ceremonial purposes, namely washing. it was believed that each jar could hold twenty to thirty gallons of water. Jesus orders the jars filled with water. And these were filled to the brim.
Jesus tells the servants to take the water to the person in charge of the banquet. As this person tastes the wine he discovers that it is not water, but a fine wine. He doesn't know where the wine came from but he is impressed. His declaration is that usually the finest wine is provided first, then after enough of that expensive wine is drank, they change it out and serve cheaper wine. The implication is that by that point the quality of the wind does not really matter much anymore.
This was the first of the many signs that Jesus did to reveal his glory. And as that section closes out, the disciples put their faith in Jesus.
With his presence at this wedding a lot is said about having God present in the everyday and special celebrations of humanity. The formal wedding ceremony says something about "With his presence and power, Jesus graced a wedding at Cana of Galilee." And he still does. If invited. I love the sign that says, "Thanks for inviting me to the wedding, now invite me to the marriage."
Jesus returns from Cana to Capernaum with his mother and siblings and disciples. They stayed there for a few days. When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for his participation in this high holy day. What he finds in Jerusalem is what he did not expect: People selling cattle, sheep, doves, and other exchanging money. Some have said they were giving out change for $20 bills and higher so they could drop in a $5 or less. Hmm. Jesus' reaction is to make a whip out of cords which he used to drive out everyone involved in this marketplace that should have been a temple. Jesus' declaration says it, "You have turned my Father's house into a market!" The disciples wrote it down in their hearts that this was a fulfillment of what was contained in the prophets, "Zeal for your house will consume me."
The actions of Jesus upset the Jews. Where do you get this authority to do such a thing? What sign can you do to prove it?
Jesus responds by saying that if they destroyed this Temple, he would raise it up in three days. They did not understand this for the Temple had taken 46 years to complete and no one could re-build it in a mere three days. The disciples later knew that what Jesus was talking about was His body that on the third day would come back from the dead.
Jesus did some signs and wonders and many believed in His name. He knew the hearts of the people and so he did not reveal much about himself for he did not need human testimony from them; he knew what was in them.
