John Bible Study ~ John 2:1-12 – Jesus’ Glory at a Wedding

The Apostle John’s account of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection include his focus on seven specific signs Jesus’ performed. Each of them individually are like facets of a single diamond that reveals Jesus to us for one simple purpose: that we would believe in him. 

The first of Jesus’ signs takes place at a wedding. The normal tradition was interrupted by a social tragedy, running out of wine! This set the stage for Jesus to respond to the need in a way that revealed his power to perform miracles and his compassion for people in need. It also showed that he who was the Creator of the heavens and the earth, the one who made man in his own image as male and female, honored the very marriage relationship he himself established in the beginning. 

Whatever we may think of weddings, and whatever place wine has or has not played in our lives, God’s word invites us back in time to a tradition that was everyday life for the people involved. On that stage can see how the same Savior who helped them then is here to help us now with issues much greater than the one he met that day. 

John Bible Study ~ John 2:1-12 – Jesus’ Glory at a Wedding[1] 

1 On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. 3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 

6 Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. 9 When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” 11 This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him. 

12 After this he went down to Capernaum, with his mother and his brothers and his disciples, and they stayed there for a few days. (John 2 ~ ESV) 

This section introduces us to something John calls, “the first of his signs”. As with any other sign, the purpose is always to direct us somewhere. In this case, the signs Jesus performed are intended to turn our hearts to believe in him, something his disciples followed. As we explore this account, we are invited to do the same. 

Part 1: A Need Presented 

Jesus now has a small band of disciples beginning to “come and see” who he is and what he is about. This sets the stage for Jesus to respond to a need in a very gracious way that also teaches us something of how he responds to our needs to this day, particularly how he responds to our greatest need of all. 

1 On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. 3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” (John 2) 

1.     Because Jesus was the Word of God, full of grace and truth, we know that he never did anything contrary to his Father’s will. What is Jesus’ presence at this wedding affirming about God’s institution of marriage? 

 

2.    Wine was a basic part of the diet and custom of these people. What is communicated in the way Jesus becomes attached to this need? 

 

3.    What does Jesus remind his mother about regarding the distinctiveness of his place in the world? 

 

4.    What does Jesus’ mother communicate about Jesus that matches what she knows about who he really is? 

 

Part 2: God’s Words of Response 

When Jesus responds to our needs, he shows how he can do extraordinary works with ordinary things. This section identifies the ordinary things in this scene of the good news and how Jesus used this stage to respond to the need. It invites us to welcome Jesus into the ordinary things of our lives, trusting him to use whatever he pleases to meet all our needs according to his good, acceptable and perfect will. 

6 Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. (John 2)  

1.     What does this description make clear about the things Jesus had to work with to respond to the need?  

 

2.    What becomes clear about how Jesus is directing the situation?  

 

3.    What becomes clear that Jesus does NOT do in response to the need? 

 

4.    How does this set the stage for the disciples to see this as a sign of Jesus’ glory? 

 

Part 3: The Glory of a Need Met 

In all the descriptions of Jesus’ life and ministry, we repeatedly come to the end of an encounter with a sense of, “what am I to do with this?” As we see what people did to respond to Jesus then, we are invited to agree with them in our response to Jesus today. 

9 When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” 11 This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him. (John 2) 

1.     What did the people at the wedding discover about Jesus’ response to the need that had been presented to him? 

 

2.    What does it mean to you that this was a sign that revealed Jesus’ glory? 

 

3.    How does the disciples’ response to Jesus show how the “come and see” relationship to Jesus develops? 

 

4.    What effect is it having on you that Jesus reveals his glory to you in such practical ways as meeting this need? 

 

Conclusion: Hearing, Seeing, Joining 

After seeing the way Jesus revealed his glory in the meeting of a need: 

1.     What do you hear God speaking to you about? 

 

2.    What do you see God doing in you through this part of his word? 

 

3.    How are you going to join God in his work? 

 

© 2021 Monte Vigh ~ Box 517, Merritt, BC, V1K 1B8

Email: in2freedom@gmail.com

Unless otherwise noted, Scriptures are from the English Standard Version (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.)

 

[1] A .doc version to use for prayer-journaling can be found here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/lk9vdb7ssf9bib6/0009%20-%20John%202_1-12%20-%20Jesus%27%20Glory%20at%20a%20Wedding.docx?dl=0 

A .pdf version to print out can be found here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ie5x80t9p1o0j54/0009%20-%20John%202_1-12%20-%20Jesus%27%20Glory%20at%20a%20Wedding.pdf?dl=0