The Wedding at Cana (Jn. 2:1-12)

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 [And] Jesus said to her, “Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6 Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings, each holding twenty to thirty gallons. 7 Jesus told them, “Fill the jars with water.” So they filled them to the brim. 8 Then he told them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.” So they took it. 9 And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine, without knowing where it came from (although the servers who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Everyone serves good wine first, and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the good wine until now.” 11 Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs in Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him. 12 After this, he and his mother, [his] brothers, and his disciples went down to Capernaum and stayed there only a few days. 

Jesus performed two signs in Cana of Galilee.  The first was at the wedding feast (Jn. 2:1-12) and the second when he cured the royal official’s son (Jn. 4:46-54).  In John, Jesus’ public ministry began in Cana where “he revealed his glory and his disciples began to believe in him (v. 11).”  The wedding took place on the Jewish feast of Pentecost which, for the Jews, originally marked the end of the harvest.  It was called the feast of Weeks.  Later, it became a celebration of the covenant and the giving of the Torah.  There is the biblical backdrop of a messianic wedding feast and an abundance of fine wine (Is. 25:6).  

There are several interpretations of “On the third day (v. 1)" one of which is the third day after John the Baptist gave witness about Jesus (Jn 1:35-42), but it could also be a reference to the day God gave Moses the 10 Commandments (Ex. 19:16) which would tie in with Pentecost.  At that point Jesus had just chosen the disciples and their faith was weak. Throughout his ministry Jesus pointed out that faith based on signs could not be trusted (Jn. 2:23-25).  

It would have been shameful for the groom to run out of wine at his wedding feast.  Jesus’ mother said to Jesus, “They have no wine (v. 3).”  The decision as to what to do about it was left to Jesus. There is no clear explanation of his reply although he made a veiled reference to his crucifixion and glorification (v. 4).  Mary’s response “Do whatever he tells you (v. 5),” is reminiscent of the Israelites response to Moses, “Everything the Lord has said, we will do (Ex. 19:8).”  Jesus commanded the servants, and they did as commanded and filled the stone jars used for Jewish purification rituals with water (v. 7-8) and took some to the headwaiter (v. 9).  The messianic time had arrived as the headwaiter confirmed the abundance and good quality of the wine (v. 10).  The servants, the disciples, and Mary could attest to the miracle.  The true groom at that messianic banquet was Jesus ‘inaugurating’ his bride the church (Mk. 3:29-30).  

Almighty God, your plan of salvation began the moment Adam and Eve disobeyed you and reached its fulfillment in the death and resurrection of Jesus.  We do not understand your ways but rely on your mercy to lead us out of our darkness into the light of our redemption.  This we pray through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

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References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.