|
Quotes
& Notes
-
Mary seems to have no doubt that Jesus will intervene and is uncertain
only about the manner of intervention.
Raymond E. Brown, Anchor
Bible, Vol. John I-XII, p.100
-
As "woman" Mary symbolizes the believing church (cf. Rev. 12:1-6)
Massey H. Shepherd, Jr., Interpreter's
One-Volume Commentary, p. 712
-
Though the evangelist accepts the reality of the miracle, it has for him
a further, symbolic significance, pointing toward what Jesus is to accomplish
on the cross. There the old order will be replaced by the new.
This what the changing of the water into wine symbolizes. The real,
final epiphany is the cross.
Reginald H. Fuller, Preaching
the Lectionary, p. 451
-
These words [whatsoever he saith unto you, do it] perfectly surrender the
matter to him, with blended submission and faith; which probably
hastened the arrival, or at least the fulness of the hour, and completed
the possibility of the miracle.
D.D. Whedon, Commentary on
the Gospels, Vol. Luke-John, p. 243
-
John Wesley's Notes:
And the third day-After he had said this.
In Cana of Galilee-There were two other towns of the same name, one in
the tribe of Ephraim, the other in Caelosyria
-
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge:
* A.M. 4034. A.D. 30. the third. Joh 1:43
* a marriage. Ge 1:27; 2:18-25; Ps 128:1-4; Pr 18:22; 19:14; 31:10-12
Eph 5:30-33; 1Ti 4:1-3; Heb 13:4
* Cana. Joh 4:46; 21:2; Jos 19:28
* Kanah.
-
Adam Clarke's Commentary:
Cana of Galilee] This was a small
city in the tribe of Asher, Jos 19:28, and by saying this was Cana of
Galilee, the evangelist distinguishes it from another Cana, which was in
the tribe of Ephraim, in the Samaritan country. See Jos 16:8; 17:9.
Some suppose that the third day, mentioned here, refers to the third day
of the marriage feast: such feasts lasting among the Jews seven days.
See Jg 14:12,17,18, and Bishop Pearce.
The mother of Jesus was there] Some of the ancients have thought that
this was the marriage of John the evangelist, who is supposed to have
been a near relative of our Lord. See the sketch of his life prefixed to
these notes.
-
Family Bible Notes:
The third day; after the events recorded in the last chapter. Cana of
Galilee; a town west of the sea of Galilee, a few miles north of
Nazareth; so called to distinguish it from Cana, near Sidon.
-
1599 Geneva Bible Notes:
Christ, declaring openly in an assembly by a notable miracle that he has
power over the nature of things to feed man's body, leads the minds of
all men to consider his spiritual and saving strength and power. (a)
After the talk which he had with Nathanael, or after his departure from
John, or after he came into Galilee.
-
People's New Testament Commentary:
And the third day. After the conversation with
Nathanael. Immediately after it he departed into Galilee (Joh 1:43).
A marriage in Cana. The site of Cana is not certainly known. Dr.
Robinson, Giekie and other authorities place it at a ruin now called
Kana, twelve miles north of Nazareth.
The mother of Jesus was there. Reasons are suggested from the narrative
that follows for believing that Mary was related to the family. As
Joseph is never mentioned as living after Jesus entered upon his
ministry, he is supposed to have died before this time.
-
Robertson's Word Pictures:
The third day (têi hêmerâi têi tritêi). "On the day the
third" (locative case), from the start to Galilee when Philip was found
(Joh 1:43), seven days since Joh 1:19. There was a marriage (gamos
egeneto). "A wedding (or marriage festival) took place." See on Mt 22:8.
In Cana of Galilee (en Kana tês Galilaias). This town, the home of
Nathanael (Jos 21:2), is only mentioned again in Joh 4:46 as the home of
the nobleman. There was a Cana in Coele-Syria. It is usually located at
Kefr Kenna (3 1/2 miles from Nazareth), though Ain Kana and Khirbet Kana
are also possible. Bernard thinks that it was probably on Wednesday
afternoon the fourth day of the week (usual day for marriage of
virgins), when the party of Jesus arrived. And the mother of Jesus was
there (kai ên hê mêtêr tou Iêsou ekei). When they arrived. John does not
mention her name, probably because already well known in the Synoptics.
Probably Joseph was already dead. Mary may have been kin to the family
where the wedding took place, an intimate friend clearly.
-
Albert Barnes' Commentary:
And the third day. On the third day after his conversation with
Nathanael.
Cana. This was a small town about 15 miles north-west of Tiberias and 6
miles north-east of Nazareth. It is now called Kefr Kenna, is under the
government of a Turkish officer, and contains perhaps three hundred
inhabitants, chiefly Catholics. The natives still pretend to show the
place where the water was turned into wine, and even one of the large
stone water-pots.
"A Greek church," says Professor Hackett (Illustrations of Scripture, p.
322), "stands at the entrance of the town, deriving its special
sanctity, as I understood, from its being supposed to occupy the site of
the house in which the marriage was celebrated to which Jesus and his
friends were invited. A priest to whom we were referred as the custodian
soon arrived, in obedience to our call, and unlocked the doors of the
church. It is a low stone building, wretchedly neglected and out of
repair."
"The houses," says Dr. Thomson (The Land and the Book, vol. 2. p. 126),
"were built of limestone, cut and laid up after the fashion still common
in this region, and some of them may have been inhabited within the last
fifty years. There are many ancient cisterns about it, and fragments of
water-jars in abundance, and both reminded us of the beginning of
miracles. Some of my companions gathered bits of these water-jars as
mementoes--witnesses they could hardly be, for those of the narrative
were of stone, while these were baked earth."
"The place is now quite deserted. Dr. Thomson (ibid.) says: "There is
not now a habitable house in the humble village where our blessed Lord
sanctioned, by his presence and miraculous assistance, the all-important
and world-wide institution of marriage."
It was called Cana of Galilee to distinguish it from another Cana in the
tribe of Ephraim, Jos 16:9. This was the native place of Nathanael, Joh
21:2.
The mother of Jesus. Mary. It is not improbable that she was a relative
of the family where the marriage took place.
{a} "Cana of Galilee" Jos 19:28; Joh 4:46
-
Jamieson-Faussett Brown:
third day--He would take two days to reach Galilee, and this was the
third.
mother there--it being probably some relative's marriage. John never
names her [BENGEL].
-
Spurgeon Commentary:
Marriage was thus honored. Jesus would not have his people despise
social joys and duties.
-
William Burkitt's Notes:
The former part of this chapter acquaints us with the first miracle
which our Saviour wrought, in turning water into wine; the occasion of
it was, his being invited to a marriage-feast.
Here note, 1. That whenever our Saviour was invited to a public
entertainment, he never refused the invitation, but constantly went; not
so much for the pleasure of eating, as for the opportunity of conversing
and doing good, which was meat and drink unto him.
Note, 2. What honour Christ put upon the ordinance of marrige; he
honours it with his presence and first miracle. Some think it was St.
John that was now the bridegroom; others, that it was some near relation
of the virgin mother's; but whoever it might be, doubtless Christ's
design was rather to put honour upon the ordinance than upon the person.
How bold is the church of Rome in spitting upon the face of this
ordinance, by denying its lawfulness to the ministers of religion! When
the apostle affirms that marriage is honourable among all. Heb 13:4.
Neither the prophets of the Old Testament, nor the apostles of the New,
(St. Peter himself not excepted,) did abhor the marriage-bed, or judge
themselves too pure for an institution of their Maker.
Note, 3. That it is an ancient and laudable institution, that the rites
of marriage should not want a solemn celebration. Feasting with friends
upon such an occasion is both lawful and commendable, provided the rules
of sobriety and charity, modesty and decency, be observed, and no sinful
liberty assumed. But it must be said, that feasting in general, and
marriage-feasts in particular, are some of those lawful things which are
difficultly managed without sin.
Note, 4. That our Saviour's working a miracle when he was at the
marriage-feast, should teach us, by his example, that in our cheerful
and free times, when we indulge a little more than ordinary to mirth
amongst our friends, we should still be mindful of God's honour and
glory, and lay hold upon an occasion of doing all the good we can.
Note lastly, As Christ was personally invited to, and bodily present at
this marriage-feast when here on earth; so he will not refuse now in
heaven to be spiritually present at his people's marriages. They want
his presence with them upon that great occasion, they desire and seek
it; he is acquainted with it, and invited to it, whoever is neglected;
and where Christ is made acquainted with the match, he will certainly
make one at the marriage. Happy is that wedding where Christ and his
friends (as here) are the invited, expected, and enjoyed guests.
-
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary:
It is very desirable when there is a marriage, to have Christ own
and bless it. Those that would have Christ with them at their marriage,
must invite him by prayer, and he will come. While in this world we
sometimes find ourselves in straits, even when we think ourselves in
fulness. There was want at a marriage feast. Those who are come to care
for the things of the world, must look for trouble, and count upon
disappointment. In our addresses to Christ, we must humbly spread our
case before him, and then refer ourselves to him to do as he pleases.
-
The Fourfold Gospel:
And the third day. From the calling of Philip (Joh 1:43). The days
enumerated in John's first two chapters constitute a week, and may
perhaps be intended as a contrast to the last week of Christ's ministry
(Joh 12:1). It took two days to journey from the Jordan to Cana.
There was a marriage in Cana of Galilee. In Palestine the marriage
ceremony usually began at twilight. The feast after the marriage was at
the home of the bridegroom, and was sometimes prolonged for several days
(Ge 29:27; Jg 14:12); but in this case it seems likely that poverty
limited the wedding feast to one day. The site of Cana is disputed. From
the eighth century a place called Kefr-Kenna (village of Cana), lying a
little over three miles northeast of Nazareth, has been regarded as
John's Cana of Galilee. But recently some ruins called Khurbet-Cana,
twelve miles north of Nazareth, which doubtfully are said to have
retained the name of Kana-el-Jilil (Cana of Galilee), have been
preferred by some as the true site. In our judgment Kefr-Kenna has the
stronger claim. It is situated on a westward slope of a hill, with a
copious and unfailing spring adjoining it on the southwest.
The mother of Jesus. John never called our Lord's mother by her name. He
assumes that she is known to his readers. This is one of the many points
tending to show the supplemental character of John's Gospel. He avoids
repeating what is found in the first three Gospels.
-
Word Study
-
Unto the servants (toiß diakonoiß). See on Matthew 20:26 for
this word (our "deacon," but not that sense here). Whatsoever he
saith unto you, do it (Hoti an legh umin poihsate). Indefinite relative
sentence (oti an and present active subjunctive, general statement) with
aorist active imperative of poiew for instant execution. Mary took comfort
in the "not yet" (oupw) and recognized the right of Jesus as Messiah to
independence of her, but evidently expected him to carry out her
suggestion ultimately as he did. This mother knew her Son.
Robertson's
Word Pictures
-
DO
-
POIEO signifies (a) to make, (b) to do, i.e., to adopt a way of expressing
by act the thoughts and feelings. It stands for a number of such
acts, chiefly to make, produce, create, cause.
W.E. Vine, Expository Dictionary
of New Testament Words, p. 322
-
Greek Dictionary
Selected
Writings
Resource
Collections
Commentary
Texts
Gospel Reading (Common, Catholic, & Episcopal)
John
2:1-11
Calvin
| Clarke
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Henry
| Jamieson
| Johnson
| McGarvey
| Robertson
| Wesley
 Collins
| Cramer
| Daniel
| Guzik
| Marsh
| Roberts
| Smith
| Spurgeon
Blue
Letter Bible | World
Wide Study Bible | Bible
Notes
Assorted Links
Pre-defined
Search Links
Bill's
Starting Point
The First Rule for Obtaining a Miracle
"His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you,
do it."
John 2:5
-
Do whatever God says.
-
Servants
-
Obedience
-
Miracles
-
Are you following the instructions God is giving you?
-
Rich symbolism: Third Day, Water, Wine, Servants, Wedding, Feast
-
Replacement theme & Book of Signs (see Anchor Bible)
-
Sermon on the Mount concludes: "If ye know these things, happy are
ye if ye do them."
|
