- The text I will be preaching on is John 2:1-11, the wedding at Cana. It is the first recorded miracle that Jesus performed. I figure I will jot down some quick thoughts about the reading…
- This story is only told in the Gospel according to John.
- There is mention that the wedding is on the 3rd day, not sure if the day of the week is significant or not
- The wedding was in Cana, in Galilee, again there might be significant in the location, or this just might be information Mary, Jesus and his disciples are invited to the wedding, but we are not given any hint of who is getting married, and why Mary and Jesus (and all his disciples) have been invited. Are we to assume this is a family wedding? Or is this a friend’s wedding?
- There is no mention of Joseph, Jesus’ father either. We are not sure of Joseph’s role in the family at this time, or is he no longer in the picture? (Not too sure if it really has much to do with the story anyway)
- Mary seems concerned about the shortage of wine. Seems to be more than just a typical guests concern, leads me to wonder if it is Mary’s family involved in the wedding in some way.
- Mary tells Jesus about the running out of wine, and it implies she expects him to do something. But Jesus has yet to have performed any miracles, or so we are lead to believe…
- Why does Mary have such confidence that Jesus will be able to “Do something?”
- I think there is some deeper digging that can be done around this…
- Jesus says “My time has not come.” What is he referring to?
- The Jars are huge, 20 to 30 gallons, far larger than typical wine jugs?
- Jesus has the servant take the cup to the “Person in charge of the dinner” to taste.
- Significance of the best wine being held back. Typically the good stuff is served first, so the water that Jesus has turned to wine is suppose to be the best, better than what was served before.
- Who all is aware of what has happened? Mary, and the servants, and the disciples, but has anyone else been made aware of what had happened?
Well those are just a few things that jumped out at me as I did my initial reading. What did you think when you read this passage?
Monday, January 4, 2010
Looking at the Text... John 2:1-11
This blog is suppose to follow my preparation for an upcoming sermon, so now is the time that I will start looking over the text that I will be preaching on. I have looked over the text of the day and I think I will be going with the gospel lesson. I am going to be preaching at my “home church” and figure that sticking with the gospel lesson, especially since it is one that is well known it will be a good one to bring back to the home congregation.
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Peter, given that these were large jars, larger than the norm for typical wine jars...it is possible that these are jars which would have been used for the rites of purification as prescribed by judaism........such large jars would have been present for guests to purify themselves at an event such as a wedding.......I would speculate then that Jesus' act of turn the water into wine, if indeed the wine was from the jars containing water intended for purification, was being used by John to point to Jesus, specifically the fulfillment Jesus brings as represented by the abundance of wine.
ReplyDeleteMonty Luker spent the entire semester speaking of wine, etc., and vineyards..and these all point to the presence of the Messiah, the anointed one of Israel. I speculate that Jesus is not at the wedding of Cana to announce His Messiahship, perhaos spurning the chiding he gives the Blessed VIrgin Mother.......by the wine miracle He does come awfully close to showing Himself to be the fulfillment of the promises God made to ancient Israel....abundance in the presence of the Son of God.
Abundance of wine equals abundance of joy and that equals Jesus the Messiah, no longer, a promise but a reality..........so let's raise a glass high and toast Emmanuel....God with us.