Water Into Wine: A Taste of What’s To Come | Jn 2:1-11 Lesson [Slideshow]

Did Jesus Just Want to Keep the (Wedding) Party Going?

Or was there perhaps more significance to this miracle sign (Jn 2:1-11)? Given the context and Old Testament allusions, I argue that Jesus is giving a messianic taste of what’s to come. As one scholar notes, “He changes water of Judaism into the wine of Christianity” (Morris, 155).

In doing so, He gives a preview of the new messianic wine (Jer 31:12; Joel 3:18; Amos 9:13-14; Is 25:6; Hos 14:7).  and the messianic wedding/wedding banquet (OT: Hos 2:19f.; Is 54:4-8; Is 62:5; NT: Mt 22:1f., Mt 25:1f.; Mk 2:19-20; Rev 19:7-9; Eph 5:25)  — which, in the end times, will be enjoyed by all who put their faith (i.e., active trust) in Christ (cf. Jn 3:16. etc).

Please see the main points, video, slideshow, Greek text, author’s translation, and sources below. Please let me know if you have any questions/comments!

Main Points

  • More than just a miraculous account; it’s an epiphany of Jesus’ glory
  • Jesus is not going to let anyone – no matter how close – interfere with His mission and His coming hour. His relationship with the Father is primary
  • Scripture does not necessarily condemn drinking (cf. 1 Tim 5:23), but drunkenness (Eph 5:18; Prov 23:20-21)
  • Jesus’ first sign demonstrates how The Old is fulfilled by the New (grace in place of grace cf. Jn 1:16)

Video

During the presentation, I embedded an edited version of this clip of a mother hitting her child with a sandal from a distance with pinpoint accuracy. I was referring to how my mother would probably beat me as a child if I ever referred to her as “Woman” ?. Of course, calling someone “woman” (Jn 2:4) (γυνή | gynē)1 did not have the same sting as it does in our culture.

In any case:

Slideshow

Update (5.18.19) with SlideShare upload that uses .PDF and therefore better preserves the original format. To download the original PowerPoint — along with any other C4C Lesson — please visit the C4C DropBox

 

Greek Text (UBS5)

2 Καὶ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ τρίτῃ γάμος ἐγένετο ἐν Κανὰ τῆς Γαλιλαίας, καὶ ἦν ἡ μήτηρ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ ἐκεῖ 2 ἐκλήθη δὲ καὶ ὁ Ἰησοῦς καὶ οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸν γάμον. 3 καὶ ὑστερήσαντος οἴνου λέγει ἡ μήτηρ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ πρὸς αὐτόν, Οἶνον οὐκ ἔχουσιν. 4 [καὶ] λέγει αὐτῇ ὁ Ἰησοῦς, Τί ἐμοὶ καὶ σοί, γύναι; οὔπω ἥκει ἡ ὥρα μου. 5 λέγει ἡ μήτηρ αὐτοῦ τοῖς διακόνοις, Ὅ τι ἂν λέγῃ ὑμῖν ποιήσατε.

6 ἦσαν δὲ ἐκεῖ λίθιναι ὑδρίαι ἓξ κατὰ τὸν καθαρισμὸν τῶν Ἰουδαίων κείμεναι, χωροῦσαι ἀνὰ μετρητὰς δύο ἢ τρεῖς. 7 λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς, Γεμίσατε τὰς ὑδρίας ὕδατος. καὶ ἐγέμισαν αὐτὰς ἕως ἄνω. 8 καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς, Ἀντλήσατε νῦν καὶ φέρετε τῷ ἀρχιτρικλίνῳ οἱ δὲ ἤνεγκαν.

9 ὡς δὲ ἐγεύσατο ὁ ἀρχιτρίκλινος τὸ ὕδωρ οἶνον γεγενημένον καὶ οὐκ ᾔδει πόθεν ἐστίν, οἱ δὲ διάκονοι ᾔδεισαν οἱ ἠντληκότες τὸ ὕδωρ, φωνεῖ τὸν νυμφίον ὁ ἀρχιτρίκλινος 10 καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ, Πᾶς ἄνθρωπος πρῶτον τὸν καλὸν οἶνον τίθησιν καὶ ὅταν μεθυσθῶσιν τὸν ἐλάσσω· σὺ τετήρηκας τὸν καλὸν οἶνον ἕως ἄρτι.

11 Ταύτην ἐποίησεν ἀρχὴν τῶν σημείων ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐν Κανὰ τῆς Γαλιλαίας καὶ ἐφανέρωσεν τὴν δόξαν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐπίστευσαν εἰς αὐτὸν οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ.2

Translation

1 On the third day, there was a wedding in Canaan of Galilee. 2 The mother of Jesus was there and both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.” 4 Jesus said to her, “What’s it to me and you, Woman? My time has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.”

6 Now there were six stone jars of water for the Jewish purification rites there, each holding 20 to 30 gallons. 7 Jesus said to them, “Fill the water jars with water.” They filled them to the brim. 8 And He said to them, “Now draw some water out and take it to the master of the banquet.” So they brought it.

9 When the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine, and he did not know from where it came (though the servants who had drawn out the water knew), the master of the banquet called the bridegroom over. 10 He said to him, Everyone serves the good wine first. Then, when people become buzzed, they serve the inferior wine. You have saved the good wine till now.

11 This was the first of the signs Jesus performed in Canaan in Galilee. He revealed His glory, and His disciples believed in Him

Sources

  • Arndt, William, Frederick W. Danker, Walter Bauer, and F. Wilbur Gingrich. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000.
  • Balz, Horst Robert, and Gerhard Schneider. Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 1990–.
  • Beasley-Murray, George R. John. Vol. 36. Word Biblical Commentary. Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 2002.
  • Burge, Gary M., and Andrew E. Hill, eds. The Baker Illustrated Bible Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2012.
  • Carson, D. A. The Gospel according to John. The Pillar New Testament Commentary. Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; W.B. Eerdmans, 1991.
  • Gangel, Kenneth O. John. Vol. 4. Holman New Testament Commentary. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000.
  • Guthrie, Donald. “John.” In New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition, edited by D. A. Carson, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, and G. J. Wenham, 4th ed., 1021–65. Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994.
  • Keener, Craig S. The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993.
  • Keener, Craig S. The Gospel of John: A Commentary & 2. Vol. 1. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2012.
  • Klink, Edward W., III. John. Edited by Clinton E. Arnold. Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2016.
  • Kruse, Colin G. John: An Introduction and Commentary. Vol. 4. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2003.
  • Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains. New York: United Bible Societies, 1996.
  • Milne, Bruce. The Message of John: Here Is Your King!: With Study Guide. The Bible Speaks Today. Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993.
  • Morris, Leon. The Gospel according to John. The New International Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1995.
  • Osborne, Grant, Philip W. Comfort. Cornerstone Biblical Commentary, Vol 13: John and 1, 2, and 3 John. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2007.
  • Silva, Moisés, ed. New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology and Exegesis. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2014.
  • Whitacre, Rodney A. John. Vol. 4. The IVP New Testament Commentary Series. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1999.

 

Sources

  1. like gynecology (though in Greek, the upsilon (υ) sounds like “ooo” as in two but is transliterated into English with a “y”).
  2. Barbara Aland et al., eds., The Greek New Testament, Fifth Revised Edition (Stuttgart, Germany: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 2014), Jn 2:1–11.
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