2 1Two days later there was a wedding in the town of Cana in Galilee, and Jesus' mother was there. 2Jesus and his followers were also invited. 3At the wedding there was not enough wine, so Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine."4Jesus answered, "Dear woman, why are you telling me this? It is not yet time for me to begin my work." 5His mother said to the servants, "Do what he tells you." 6There were six large stone waterpots there that were used by the Jews in their washing ceremoniesa. Each one held about 20 or 30 gallonsb. 7Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the waterpots with water." So they filled them to the top. 8Then he said to them, "Now dip out some water and take it to the man in charge of the feast." So they did what he said. 9Then the man in charge tasted it, but the water had become wine. He did not know where the wine had come from, but the servants who brought the water knew. He called the bridegroomc 10and said to him, "People always serve the best wine first. Later, when the guests are drunk, they serve the cheaper wine. But you have saved the best wine until now." 11This was the first of all the miraculous signsd Jesus did. He did it in the town of Cana in Galilee. By this he showed his divine greatnesse, and his followers believed in him. 12Then Jesus went to the town of Capernaumf. His mother and brothers and his followers went with him. They all stayed there a few days. 17When this happened, his followers remembered what was written in the Scripturesi:
19Jesus answered, "Destroy this temple and I will build it again in three days." 20They answered, "People worked 46 years to build this Temple! Do you really believe you can build it again in three days?" 21But the temple Jesus meant was his own body. 22After he was raised from death, his followers remembered that he had said this. So they believed the Scriptures, and they believed the words Jesus said. 23Jesus was in Jerusalem for the Passover festival. Many people believed in him because they saw the miraculous signsd he did. 24But Jesus did not trust them, because he knew how all people think. 25He did not need anyone to tell him what a person was like. He already knew. a2:6 washing ceremonies The Jews had religious rules about washing in special ways before eating, before worshiping in the Temple, and at other special times. b2:6 20 or 30 gallons Literally, “2 or 3 metretas,” about 80 to 120 liters. cbridegroom A man who is getting married. dmiraculous sign An amazing act that demonstrates the power of God. edivine greatness Literally, “glory,” a word that refers to the special qualities of God. See “glory.” fCapernaum A town on the northern shore of Lake Galilee where Jesus often spent time and taught. gPassover A very important holy day for the people of Israel and their descendants. They ate a special meal on this day every year to remember that God made them free from slavery in Egypt in the time of Moses. The name may come from the word in Ex. 12:13, 23, 27 that means “to pass over” or “to protect.” hTemple The permanent building in Jerusalem that replaced the portable “Holy Tent” that was used by the Israelites from the time of their wandering in the desert to the reign of King Solomon, when the first Temple was built. Like the Holy Tent, the Temple was the center of Israelite worship, although provision was made for it to be “a house of prayer for all nations” (Isa. 56:7). iScripture Part of the Scriptures or “Holy Writings” - the Old Testament. jPsalm 69:9 kmiracle An amazing act done by the power of God. |