The first prophetic day mentioned here was John’s testimony (chap. 1:1-36).
The second day is the Lord Jesus gathering the godly remnant of the Jews to Himself.
The third day is when the Lord publicly owns His people Israel.
Verses 1-10. The marriage in Cana of Galilee is a foreshadowing of it. The mother of Jesus was there. And both Jesus was called, and His disciples, to the marriage. The Lord honors such an occasion with His presence. It is a happy occasion. We are not told who the marriage parties were. It is intended to picture another time yet to come. But nature’s joy does not endure, and when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto Him, “They have no wine.” She knew that it had only to be mentioned. But it was not the time to own Israel yet, as figured by the mother. He replied, “Woman, what have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it.” And there were set six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three measures apiece—evidently empty, or had to be emptied. They were used to hold water to wash things in according to the manner of the Jews—Jewish washings (baptisms, Heb. 6:22Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. (Hebrews 6:2)). Jesus saith unto them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them to the brim. And He saith unto them, “Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast.” And they bear it. It is a mysterious scene; the bridegroom is not seen. Jesus takes the place in the foreground, as the main feature; the Host, and the Bridegroom, providing the joy and gladness for the blessing of all. And so will it be in Israel’s nuptial day, when He will say in a fuller way, “Eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved.” (Song of Sol. 5:11I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse: I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk: eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved. (Song of Solomon 5:1)).
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, 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.”
Little did they know that this marriage scene had been pre-arranged long ago in the purposes of God as a mystic foreshadowing of the blessing of God’s earthly people Israel.
At other times men had well drunk to satisfy their desires. But the wine, the joy, that Jesus supplies, does not intoxicate, but delights and strengthens the heart (Psa. 104:1515And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart. (Psalm 104:15); Prov. 31:66Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. (Proverbs 31:6)); does not satiate the soul, but satisfies the heart (Song of Sol. 7:9, 10; 1:29And the roof of thy mouth like the best wine for my beloved, that goeth down sweetly, causing the lips of those that are asleep to speak. 10I am my beloved's, and his desire is toward me. (Song of Solomon 7:9‑10)
2Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine. (Song of Solomon 1:2)).
Verses 11, 12. This beginning of signs did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth His glory; and His disciples believed on Him. It showed to them that He was the Messiah. Then He went with His company to Capernaum.
Verses 13-16. Then the Passover was at hand. Jesus went up to Jerusalem, and going into the temple He found those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting. This might be a business convenience to those coming from foreign countries, but the Lord of the temple is there, and shows His authority. He made a scourge of small cords, and drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; and said unto them that sold doves, “Take these things hence; make not My Father’s house an house of merchandise.”
Verse 17. And His disciples remembered that it was written, “The zeal of Thine house hath eaten Me up.” This scene foreshadows the purging of the kingdom in the latter days before the Lord can take possession of and own it.
Verses 18-22. The Jews said unto Him, “What sign showest Thou unto us, seeing that Thou doest these things?” Jesus answered, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” Then said the Jews, “Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt Thou rear it up in three days?” But He spake of the temple of His body, and of the resurrection from the dead, that declared Him to be the Son of God according to the Spirit of holiness (Rom. 1:44And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: (Romans 1:4)). But it was a sign too late for their unbelief, for they rejected and crucified their Messiah. But His disciples after He was risen from the dead, remembered that He had said this unto them: and they believed the Scripture, and the word which Jesus had said, and rejoiced in the blessing of a Christ risen and glorified, who could send down the Holy Spirit, that other Comforter, to make good to them all that He had said.
Verses 23-25. With this verse a new section of the gospel begins. There seemed to be a great work going on at that Passover feast in Jerusalem, for “Many believed in His name when they saw the miracles that He did. But Jesus did not commit Himself unto them, because He knew all men.” He could read their hearts, and what He saw there was just the sincerity at the best of the natural heart. It was their own faith, wrought by seeing, and not souls who had found out their need of a Saviour. They had not learned the first lesson.