The Wedding at Cana

By: N. P. Lasovich

I have heard many dissertations from the pulpit about the first miracle our L-rd performed from the writings of St. John chapter two and even more jokes, all addressing the fact that our L-rd turned water into wine, but have you ever asked yourself, truly asked or questioned; why was this so significant, o.k. granted, the fact that the L-rd made the water into wine was his first miracle, but beside the obvious, on first reading this passage of scripture it seems as though the L-rd is almost put off by the fact His Mother asked Him to do something. We read in the fourth verse he states Woman, what have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not yet come. I find it very interesting that John put this little bit of information in there for us because I think it is very significant in what he was saying, but well touch on that in a little bit. I have found in the fifty years of reading and studying the Bible that it is such a living word, its alive and it quickens the spirit when read and it has so many layers that I shiver every time I discover another layer and not of my own but through the eyes being opened through the Holy Spirit that dwells in me. I cant help but go to Hebrews chapter four verse twelve; For the word of G-d is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and morrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart , man thats power! But if you have studied scripture you are well aware of the deepness Im speaking of. And it seems to me no matter how many times I have read a certain passage something new always pops out at me and I always think, wow! How alive my L-rd is to reveal this to me! All you can do is say Praise His name!!! As I mentioned earlier, have you ever questioned or seen the deeper meaning of the wedding at Cana and why the L-rd made the remark to His Mother the way He did. There is so much symbolism involved in this passage I wish to bring out, I hope Im capable of doing so and with the help of the Spirit of the L-rd Ill be able to. First let us look at verse one. It is saying that the third day (Tuesday), which is Greek : the third day, (equivalent to Hebrew yam shishi ), that this was three days after John the Baptist had baptized Yeshua (Jesus) and that the L-rds Mother was there at the wedding in Cana. Verse two, Yeshua too was invited to the wedding along with His talmidim (disciples). Verse three,

the wine ran out and the L-rds Mother said to Him, they have no more wine, Yeshua replied, Mother, why should that concern me? ------ or you? My time hasnt come yet. His Mother said to the servants, Do whatever He tells you. Now Im going to stop at this point and try to begin explaining some of what is going on here. This is a wedding, a Jewish wedding! Did you know that before the groom could wed that he had to have a dwelling place and it had to be furnished and ready for the bride to move into, complete in every way, so as she would want for nothing! How many could do that today? Few Im sure! We often forget that our forefathers had many traditions that have been cast aside, and how many young Jews today bypass tradition because we no longer teach or pass down to our own to carry on the traditions of our forefathers. But I digress, what was that again? The Groom had to have a dwelling place complete in every way before he could be wed! Sound familiar? St. John 14:2 says, In my Fathers house are many places to live. If there werent, I would have told you; because I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3. Since I am going and preparing a place for you, I will return to take you with me; so that where I am, you may be also. 4. Furthermore, you know where Im going; and you know the way there. It was also the custom for that time period for the son to be given property by his Father or to add on to the house of his father if the father had property. Again we are talking Jewish tradition here and we are talking about tribal people and a very close knit community. Now we have established that we have a traditional Jewish wedding going on here and that the groom has a dwelling place all set up, (which is a picture of us, the Church, having a place in Heaven with the Groom, the Christ, Yeshua, and that we as the bride will be presented to the Father of the Groom spotless and whole at the wedding feast in heaven.) Now, why did the L-rd say what he did? And why did His Mother say what she did? We see Mary coming to Yeshua in verse three of John and saying, The wine is run out, and His reply was, Mother why should that concern me for my time has not yet come. This I believe is a prophetic view for which was to come for he would soon enough pour out His blood and spirit. As we have seen in scripture in our studying that wine was used at the last supper to depict His blood and generally speaking throughout scripture we see this over and over again as well as is water is generally portrayed as the spirit of the L-rd, or the Holy Spirit, then we can put into context that which was said of the L-rd to His Mother and also see what is

going to take place and how all of this can be seen in its entirety by putting it all together. If we go back to St. John chapter two we will continue to see the unfolding of all these symbols that can be gleaned from just this simple passage about a wedding in Cana that our L-rd attended with His Mother and His talmidim. Mary went and told the servants, do what ever He tells you to do, continuing on to verse six, now six stone water jars were standing there for the Jewish ceremonial washings, we must stop here and look at this passage. First what is the number of man? Six! What kind of pots were they? They were made from the earth, like us! After all, doesnt scripture point out that all we are, are earthen vessels? 2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. Then in verse 7. Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. Again we have to stop and look at what is going on here. Water is generally a symbol of the Holy Spirit! So here we have earthen vessels, the symbol of man, being filled to the brim with the Spirit of the L-rd! What a picture for us my beloved! I love the picture of the pots being filled to the brim! Thats just about to overflowing! It wasnt almost to the top, but to the very top! He didnt want any to overflow, but He wanted them filled to their full capacity! What a wonderful picture this should be to us! And then of course as we continue to read verse 8 And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. 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, 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. Isnt that what G-d has done, saved the best for last! Here we see that the symbol for His blood, the wine, which washes away our sins; Him being the last sacrifice; that as we the bride of our L-rd is presented to the Father spotless and whole through His blood, but while here in these earthly vessels are filled to the brim with His Holy Spirit! Praise His name! What we have here in this passage is just a small part of this great picture and Im sure there are some of you reading this now that can even bring more out of this great passage, beside it being our L-rds first miracle. But going back to my original question, we have broken down some of the elements of this passage and were allowed to see a deeper meaning of what was going on, beside the obvious. To break it down into

the modern vernacular I almost think the L-rd was kind of saying but Mom, do I gotta! You see its not like Mary didnt know who her son was, I mean after all didnt the Holy Spirit tell her? We see in Luke 1: 28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. 29. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. 30. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. So Mary knew who her son was and what he was capable of and one has to wonder, here you have this young Jewish man being told to do something by his Mother! His reply was not in anger or of any malice towards her, I really think it was more of a I dont want to show my full hand just yet type of thing. After all he had just been baptized by John and had a small following and was just starting out! Again being our L-rd and Savior and a young Jewish man who we know loved his Mom, you think hes going to tell her no? I dont think so. And even though we see this as a simple miracle, I see it as something much deeper with much meaning! Amen!