The Wedding at Cana
Study note
At a wedding feast in Cana, Jesus performs his first miracle by transforming water in Jewish purification jars into the finest wine. His mother's faith prompts the miracle despite Jesus saying his hour has not yet come. The master of the feast marvels that the best wine was saved for last. This sign reveals Jesus' glory and deepens his disciples' belief in him.
1 Two days later, there was a wedding celebration in the town of Cana in Galilee. Jesus's mother was there. And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:
2 Jesus and his followers had also been invited to come to the wedding. And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.
3 During the celebration, the wine ran out. Jesus's mother came to him and said, "They do not have any more wine." And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.
4 Jesus replied, "Woman, why are you telling me about this? It is not yet time for me to act." Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.
5 But his mother turned to the servants and said, "Do whatever he tells you to do." His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.
6 Six big stone jars were sitting there, the kind used for Jewish washing ceremonies. Each one could hold twenty to thirty gallons. And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.
7 Jesus told the servants, "Fill those jars all the way up with water." They filled every jar right to the top. Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.
8 Then he said, "Now scoop some out and bring it to the man in charge of the feast." They did exactly that. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.
9 The man in charge took a sip. The water had turned into wine! He had no idea where it came from, though the servants who had poured the water knew. He went over to the groom. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,
10 "Most people bring out the best wine first," he said, "and then serve the cheaper things once everyone has had plenty to drink. But you saved the very best for last!" And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.
11 This was the very first miracle Jesus ever performed, and it happened in Cana of Galilee. Through it, he revealed his glory, and his followers put their trust in him. This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
12 After the wedding, Jesus traveled to Capernaum along with his mother, his brothers, and his followers. They stayed there for several days. After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days.
Jesus Cleanses the Temple
Study note
During Passover in Jerusalem, Jesus drives out merchants and money changers from the temple, declaring zeal for his Father's house. When challenged for a sign, Jesus enigmatically prophesies, 'Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up,' speaking of his body rather than the physical building. Though many believe because of the miracles they witness, Jesus knows the fickleness of the human heart and does not entrust himself to them.
13 When the time for the Jewish Passover was getting close, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,
14 Inside the temple area, he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves. Money changers had set up their tables there too. And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:
15 So he made a whip out of cords and chased them all out of the temple area, sheep and cattle included. He knocked over the money changers' tables and scattered their coins everywhere. And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;
16 To the people selling doves he said, "Get all of this out of here! Stop turning my Father's house into a marketplace!" And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.
17 Later, his followers remembered the scripture that says, "My deep love for your house will burn inside me like a fire." And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.
18 The Jewish leaders spoke up and said, "Show us a miracle to prove you have the right to do this." Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?
19 Jesus gave them this answer: "Tear down this temple, and I will rebuild it in three days." Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
20 They scoffed at him. "This temple took forty-six years to build, and you think you can put it back up in just three days?" Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
21 But the temple Jesus was talking about was his own body. But he spake of the temple of his body.
22 After God raised him from the dead, his followers remembered that he had said this. Then they believed what the scripture said and the words Jesus had spoken. When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.
23 While Jesus was in Jerusalem during the Passover feast, many people saw his miracles. They believed in him. Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.
24 But Jesus did not fully trust them, because he understood people too well. But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,
25 Nobody needed to explain human nature to him. He already knew exactly what was going on inside every person's heart. And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.