Cana of Galilee

"Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now." This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him. (John 2:10-11)

Cana means "place of reeds" suggesting something of the beautiful countryside of lower Galilee. It is distinguished from the other biblical Cana in Lebanon mentioned in Joshua 19:28, by the designation "Cana of Galilee". Cana survives today as a small town on the tourist road between Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee, just as it was when Jesus took his mother and family and friends 'down' to the lakeside at Capernaum, perhaps for a few day's rest (John 2:12).

Cana was the home of Nathanael, one of the Apostles (John 21:2). Although Cana is only mentioned in John's gospel, it is remembered above all as the place where Jesus performed his first great miraculous 'sign' (John 2:1-11). On another occasion Jesus visited the town, and encountered a royal official desperate for Jesus to heal his son who was dying. Although Jesus rebukes the people for seeking 'miraculous signs and wonders' (John 4:48), in compassion and simply by the spoken word, he performs a second miracle in Cana and the boy is healed instantaneously even though he is many miles away in Capernaum.

How appropriate that the divine 'Bridegroom' (Isaiah 62:5; John 3:29; Matthew 9:15), should reveal his glory at a humble wedding. In the days of Jesus, the bridegroom would walk to the house of his bride and they would walk back together to his house followed by their families. The whole town was involved in the procession. When the couple arrived at the groom's house, the reception would take place with plenty of food and wine. Usually the party would last for several days. That is why it was always possible to run out of food or wine. Jesus turned the water into wine, not just to save the couple from embarrassment. It was a sign of what Jesus had come to do for us all.

Jesus blessed the couple and their community in three specific ways. First, Jesus blessed them with his presence but first he needed to be invited. Second, Jesus blessed them with his provision. The six stone water jars held between 120 and 180 gallons which is a lot of wine and very good wine at that. Jesus blessed them with quantity and quality but Mary had to ask him. Third, Jesus blessed them with his power for this was not simply an act of compassion or generosity. It was a supernatural miracle and John points out that as a consequence, 'his disciples put their faith in him'. I wonder about the bride and groom. They must have also known where the wine had come from. Perhaps they too became disciples of Christ, at least after the honeymoon.

Jesus' power to turn water into wine, is a picture of His work in us, the Church, his 'Bride'. Jesus has the power to change our ordinary lives into something special by his presence, his provision and power. The Bible uses the word "metamorphosis" to describe this amazing transformation (Romans 12:1-2). The 'sign' miracles of Jesus, and this was the first, were not performed to trick or entertain, but to prove that God had come in the person of Jesus to share his joy and love and enable us to know him as our friend and Saviour.