On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.2Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding.3When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.”4And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.”5His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”6Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons.7Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim.8He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.” So they took it.9When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the
bridegroom10and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until
now.”11Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
12 After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples; and they remained there a few days.
Jesus Cleanses the Temple
13 The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.14In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables.15Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their
tables.16He told those who were selling the doves, “Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!”17His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”18The Jews then said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?”19Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”20The Jews then said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?”21But he was speaking of the temple of his body.22After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.
23 When he was in Jerusalem during the Passover festival, many believed in his name because they saw the signs that he was doing.24But Jesus on his part would not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people25and needed no one to testify about anyone; for he himself knew what was in everyone.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by
permission. All rights reserved.
11. manifested forth his glory—Nothing
in the least like this is said of the miracles of prophet or apostle,
nor could without manifest blasphemy be said of any mere creature.
Observe, (1) At a marriage Christ made His first public appearance in
any company, and at a marriage He wrought His first miracle—the
noblest sanction that could be given to that God-given institution. (2)
As the miracle did not make bad good, but good better, so
Christianity only redeems, sanctifies, and ennobles the beneficent but
abused institution of marriage; and Christ's whole work only turns the
water of earth into the wine of heaven. Thus "this beginning of
miracles" exhibited the character and "manifested forth the glory" of
His entire Mission. (3) As Christ countenanced our seasons of
festivity, so also that greater fulness which befits
such; so far was He from encouraging that asceticism which has
since been so often put for all religion. (4) The character and
authority ascribed by Romanists to the Virgin is directly in the teeth
of this and other scriptures.