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Daily Devotions

John

John 
Day 
Day 30

Jesus at a wedding?

Text: John 2:1-12

JESUS AT A WEDDING?

John recorded an incident where Jesus attended a wedding in Cana of Galilee. None of the Synoptic Gospel writers mentioned this occasion. This occasion was remembered probably because John was there personally. He hid his presence in the word “disciples”.

“On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee,
and the mother of Jesus was there.
Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding.”
John 2:1-2

Jesus attending a wedding? The disciples might have been puzzled as to why Jesus accepted the invitation to a wedding. He was after all the “King of Israel” as Nathanael had declared. Was He not also the “Son of God”? What was He doing at the wedding?

Jesus became one of the wedding guests. He did not make Himself known to anyone in any special way. The wedding couple invited Him only as a relative. Quietly, Jesus blended in with the other party guests.

Were the bride and groom believers? Probably not, for if they had been believers they would surely have treated Jesus as THE Guest of Honour. Nevertheless Jesus attended the wedding. Was He going to preach at the wedding? Was He going to win more disciples at the wedding? The Disciples must have been quite surprised that Jesus did none of the things that they thought He might do. This was One special Person whose responses they could not predict! They had already been surprised by Jesus. He had almost seemed unlikely to be the Messiah of Israel, yet there was no mistaking the fact that He fulfilled Biblical prophecies concerning the Christ!

MARRIAGE IN NEW TESTAMENT TIMES

How were marriages transacted in the days of Jesus? Edersheim in his book, “The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah” offers some interesting insights.

1. The bethrothal

“A special formality, that of bethrothal, preceded
the actual marriage. At the bethrothal, the bridegroom personally,
or by a deputy, handed to the bride a letter, it being expressly
stated that the man thereby espoused the woman. From that
moment of bethrothal both parties were regarded, and treated in
law, as if they were actually married…”
(Edersheim, p. 245)

2. The Actual Marriage

“On the evening of the actual marriage, the bride was led from her
Paternal home to that of her husband.
Arrived at her new home, she was led to her husband.
Then a formal legal instrument, called the Kethubah was signed.”
(Edersheim, p. 247)

3. The Marriage Supper

“After the prescribed washing of hands and benediction,
The marriage supper began – the cup being filled,
And the solemn prayer of bridal benediction spoken over it.
And so the feast lasted – it might be more than one day-”
(Edersheim, p. 247)

A PROBLEM AT THE WEDDING

A wedding was almost a community event. Invitations were given out quite freely. Relatives were certainly invited, and close friends would also be included in the celebration of an important rite of passage.

Sometimes it is impossible to fully estimate just how many guests would turn up, and just how much food and wine would be consumed. Suddenly an embarrassment loomed. The wine supply was running out. What were they to do? They could never replenish their stock of wine at short notice.

Mary came to Jesus at this juncture and shared with Him the problem that the wedding couple had. She said simply,

“They have no wine.”
John 2:3

What did Mary mean when she shared this problem with Jesus? Was this how Mary always dealt with her problems? Did she come to Jesus directly and then trusted that He would deal with whatever problem she had brought to His attention?

Perhaps that may have been the case, in times past. Jesus was the eldest in the family. He had brothers and sisters. Usually, the head of the family would deal with problems. However, the lack of mention of Joseph might be indicative of the fact that he had passed on. Jesus now assumed the role as the head of the family. Thus Mary turned to Him for help.

A STRANGE REPLY

How did Jesus reply to Mary, His mother? If anything at all, Mary must have been surprised at His words.

“Jesus said to her,
‘Woman, what does your concern
have to do with Me?
My hour has not yet come.'”
John 2:4

Was Mary puzzled by what Jesus said? What did He really mean by these words? Jesus kept surprising people by His actions. This was one of those surprises!