The second chapter opens with a striking miracle—the water turned into wine. It is only given here. Jesus is God, the God of creation. He had shown His omniscience to Nathanael, now His omnipotence to others. It was the third day, probably the third since He had first seen Nathanael; but the passage is so significant that one does not feel disposed to question the thought that the Spirit may also have meant figuratively the type of a day yet future when glory will appear, as distinguished from the day of John the Baptist's testimony, and that of the Lord and His disciples.
“And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee: and the mother of Jesus was there: and Jesus also was invited and his disciples to the marriage."(Ver. l, 2) It is the figure of things on earth: there is no picture of the heavens opened here. Hence we find the mother of Jesus brought forward. It was no more than a figure however, for the wine fell short. “And the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.” (Ver.3.) The first Adam always fails, and fails most where most is wanted. But Jesus will meet all wants, though His time is not yet come. Faith however never looks to Him in vain, and Jesus says to her,” What have I to do with thee, woman?” (Ver. 4.) It is a remarkable answer, which Romanist theologians find very difficult to square with their doctrine and practice. He does not say, mother. It is no longer a question of the first Adam: not that there was disrespect, but that Mariolatry is unfounded and sinful. Jesus was here to do the will of God. “His mother saith to the servants, Whatever he shall say to you, do. Now there were there six waterpots of stone lying according to the purification of the Jews, holding each two or three measures.” (Ver. 5,6.) The Jewish system was a witness of defilement; and its ordinances could do no more than sanctify to the purifying of the flesh. This was human: Jesus was here for divine purposes—then in testimony—by and by in power. “Jesus saith to them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he saith to them, Draw now and carry to the master of the feast. And they carried. But when the master of the feast had tasted the water that had become wine (and he knew not whence it was, but the servants that had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom and saith to him, Every man at first setteth forth the good wine, and when they have drunk freely, then the worse; thou hast kept the good wine until now.” (Ver. 7-10.)
So will Jesus do on the richest scale in the day that is coming. He will reverse the sorrowful history of man. The wine will not fail when He reigns. There will be joy for God and man in happy communion together. Jesus will finish all to the glory of God the Father. In that day, too, He will be the bridegroom and the master of the feast, and the joy of that day will find its root not only in the glory of His person, but in the depth of that work of humiliation already wrought in the cross. There will be no secrets then. It will not be the servants only who will know, but all from the least to the greatest. “This beginning of miracles did Jesus at Cana of Galilee, and he manifested his glory, and his disciples believed on him.” (Ver. 11.) Faith grows where real. (2 Thess. 1:33We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; (2 Thessalonians 1:3).)
It will be noticed that our Gospel gives us most important particulars, unnoticed by all the others, what took place before His Galilean ministry commenced when John was cast into prison.