5. John 2:1-12 Jesus Turns Water into Wine

March 6th, 2025
by Jongseung Park

1. SCRIPTURE

1 On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. 3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6 Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. 9 When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” 11 This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him. 12 After this he went down to Capernaum, with his mother and his brothers and his disciples, and they stayed there for a few days.

2. OBSERVATIONS :

What does this passage reveal about God?
Jesus cares about both the big and small needs in our lives. He provides abundantly, and His timing is always perfect. His miracles are not just about solving problems but revealing His glory and pointing to who He truly is—the One who brings true joy and transformation.

What does this passage reveal about human nature?
a. Mary recognizes the need and brings it to Jesus, showing faith in His ability to act.
b. The servants obey Jesus completely, even when His instructions seem unrelated to the problem.
c. The disciples witness the miracle, and their faith in Jesus grows. When people trust and obey Jesus, they experience His power and provision.

What did this passage mean to its original audience?
This miracle confirmed Jesus’ divine authority and identity as the Messiah. The mention of ceremonial water jars being used for the miracle could symbolize the transition from the old religious system to the new life Jesus brings. It also reinforced the idea that faith and obedience lead to experiencing God’s work firsthand.

3. APPLICATION:

How does this passage impact my attitude?

Mary didn’t try to fix the problem herself—she went straight to Jesus. This reminds me that instead of stressing or trying to handle everything on my own, I need to turn to Him first. I want to develop a heart that trusts that Jesus cares, no matter how big or small my situation is. His timing may not always be what I expect, but He always knows what’s best. I want to believe that He is able to work in ways beyond what I can see. The more I trust Him, the deeper my love and appreciation for Him will grow.

How does this passage challenge my actions?
The servants followed Jesus’ instructions without knowing how it would all turn out. That challenges me to step out in faith, even when what God asks of me doesn’t make sense at first. Whether it’s making time for prayer, stepping into a new opportunity, or simply being kind when it’s hard, I want to respond with a heart that says, “I’ll do whatever He tells me.”

Instead of worrying, Pray first!

4. PRAYER:

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for revealing Your power and love through this miracle. Help me to see You not just as someone who meets my needs, but as my Lord and Savior who brings true transformation. I surrender my plans, my worries, and my desires to You, trusting that Your ways are always greater than mine.

Lord, I don’t always understand Your plans, but I want to follow You with obedience, Give me a heart that says, “I will do whatever You tell me.” Strengthen my faith and help me recognize Your presence in my daily life. Help me to trust You with every need, no matter how small or overwhelming it seems. Strengthen my faith, deepen my love for You, and lead me to live in a way that reflects Your glory.

In Your name, I pray. Amen.

Posted in The Gospel of John

Jongseung Park

2 Comments

Add Your Comment

Tiffany Grant - March 11th, 2025 at 8:59pm

John 2:4 intrigues me. I understand that Jesus refers to his mom as “woman” out of respect for her. I’m confused as to why after she tells him they ran out of wine he says, “why do you involve me. My time has not yet come” but then he went ahead and performed the miracle anyways. I thought his question and statement to his mom meant he wasn’t going to do anything about it yet he did. But I guess “my time has not yet come” refers to his death??

Jongseung Park - March 17th, 2025 at 10:23am

Great question!

nYes, when Jesus calls Mary “Woman,” it was actually a respectful and polite way to address someone in that culture. When Jesus says, “Why do you involve me?”, the original Greek phrase is an idiom, kind of like saying, “Why is this my concern?” It doesn’t necessarily mean He was refusing to help, but rather that He was questioning whether this was the right moment for Him to act.

n

n “My time has not yet come,” He’s talking about something much bigger than just this miracle. In John’s Gospel, “His time” (or “His hour”) usually refers to His crucifixion and resurrection—the moment when He would fully reveal His glory (see John 7:30, John 8:20, John 12:23).

n

nSo, Jesus wasn’t saying He wouldn’t do anything, but He was making it clear that this wasn’t the moment for His full public mission. Still, in His kindness, He went ahead and performed the miracle in a quiet way, pointing forward to His future glory.