Before we dive into chapter 2 I want to bring out that we are going to see 8 signs in this book of John.  The marriage in chapter 2 being the first.  The first and the last sign are linked.  We will cover that more when we get to the last sign.

John 2:1:  And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:

This is the third day after Christ gathered his disciples making this the 7th day of the week.  Spiritually this will point to the wedding Christ will have when he returns.

John 2:2:  And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.

This is important to note who is called to the wedding

John 2:3:  And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.

Again you have to turn on your spiritual eyes and see what it is this sign is showing us.  Israel at this time didn’t have wine.  That is to say the blood of Christ.  They had the law without grace.

John 2:4:  Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.

In English this sounds a bit pompous or rude, but really Christ is being respectful and it’s like saying Ma’am.

John 2:5:  His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.

Disciplined students.  Follow Christ.

John 2:6:  And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.

These are some big stone pots.  A firkin is just under 9 gallons.  So we have each one anywhere from 18 to 27 gallons a piece.  This tells us it is a large party.

Also note the number 6 here.  Six is the number for man or the weakness of man.

John 2:7:  Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.

First thing to note here is that the vessels were empty.  Just as without Christ man is empty.

Second and this is something often overlooked when reading the bible, is this took some work.  Just because it is contained in one verse didn’t mean it didn’t take time.  Imagine having to fill 6 bathtubs full of water by drawing it from a well.

Remember when Christ gave the loaves and fishes?  Well it was the disciples that handed out the loaves and fish not Christ.  Christ gave it to them and they in turn gave it to the people.  Now look at this, Christ tells the disciples to fill the pots with water.

John 2:8:  And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.

Now symbolicly God is the governor of the feast or the father of the bridegroom (Christ).

John 2:9:  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,
John 2:10:  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.

See most parties gave out the good stuff at first and when everyone is liquorered up they hand out the crap.

John 2:11:  This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.

So what do we have.  The disciples filling the empty pots, but it is Christ that turns it into wine and makes it acceptable.  Two things I want to call to mind.

First think about the parable of the sower, how the seed is the word of God and how it pertains to this verse: 1 Corinthians 3:6:  I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.  Here we see that it is our job to spread the word, but it is God that causes that seed to grow.

Second note that the wine was complete.  It wasn’t new wine.  Let’s examine the the following verses.

Matthew 9:15:  And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.

There is a lot here on this verse but for the time being let’s only look at the bridegroom reference.

Matthew 9:16:  No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.

Clothes shrink when they are washed.  Take a pair of jeans.  If you take an old pair of jeans and put a new chunk of denim over the hole the new piece will shrink and it will pucker up.

Matthew 9:17:  Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.

Here is why I brought you here.  Wine bottles of the day were wine skins made from animals and new wine skins were flexible, but as they aged they lost their elasticity.

Christ is that new wine.

Wine is made from crushed grapes and yeast.  The yeast takes the sugar from the grape and converts it to carbon dioxide and alcohol.  If a wine skin wasn’t flexible it couldn’t withstand the expanding of the carbon dioxide.  The alcohol removes any foreign bactria etc.  Christ likened this to accepting his word and him working (growing) within us.

The wine at the wedding if ready.

Matthew 9:18:  While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.

Note Christ is still talking thus the topic has not changed.
Remember Christ does not perform side show miracles.  Let’s try to ascertain the purpose of this upcoming miracle.

We have a daughter that is dead.  Israel at this time is dead. Take note of Ezekiel 37 (the dry bones) and Jeremiah 3:8 where God divorced Israel.

Note the faith the man has at the end of the verse.

Matthew 9:19:  And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples.
Matthew 9:20:  And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:

Here is another woman.  Note the 12 years and compare it to the 12 tribes of Israel.  God is reinforcing the idea that he is talking about the state of Israel and how Christ was sent to the lost sheep of the tribe of Israel.

Matthew 9:21:  For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.

Again Faith.

Matthew 9:22:  But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.

What will save Israel?  What is it the Christ wants from us?  It isn’t bubble-gum cards.

Matthew 9:23:  And when Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise,

back to the dead girl.

Matthew 9:24:  He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.
Matthew 9:25:  But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.

Again Ezekiel 37 when he preaches to the dry bones. READ IT!