The First Sign: Turning Water into Wine

On the third day a wedding took place in Cana(A) of Galilee.(B) Jesus’ mother(C) was there, and Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding as well. When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother told Him, “They don’t have any wine.”

“What has this concern of yours to do with Me,[a](D) woman?”(E) Jesus asked. “My hour[b] has not yet come.”

“Do whatever He tells you,” His mother told the servants.

Now six stone water jars had been set there for Jewish purification.(F) Each contained 20 or 30 gallons.[c]

“Fill the jars with water,” Jesus told them. So they filled them to the brim. Then He said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the chief servant.”[d] And they did.

When the chief servant tasted the water (after it had become wine), he did not know where it came from—though the servants who had drawn the water knew. He called the groom 10 and told him, “Everyone sets out the fine wine first, then, after people have drunk freely, the inferior. But you have kept the fine wine until now.”

11 Jesus performed this first sign[e] in Cana(G) of Galilee.(H) He displayed(I) His glory,(J) and His disciples believed in Him.

12 After this, He went down to Capernaum,(K) together with His mother, His brothers,(L) and His disciples, and they stayed there only a few days.

Cleansing the Temple Complex

13 The Jewish Passover(M) was near, so Jesus went up to Jerusalem.(N) 14 In the temple complex(O) He found people selling oxen, sheep, and doves, and He also found the money changers sitting there. 15 After making a whip out of cords,(P) He drove everyone out of the temple complex with their sheep(Q) and oxen. He also poured out the money changers’ coins and overturned the tables. 16 He told those who were selling doves, “Get these things out of here! Stop turning My Father’s(R) house(S) into a marketplace!”[f](T)

17 And His disciples remembered that it is written: Zeal(U) for Your house will consume(V) Me.(W)[g]

18 So the Jews replied to Him, “What sign of authority will You show us for doing these things?”

19 Jesus answered, “Destroy this sanctuary,(X) and I will raise it up in three days.”(Y)

20 Therefore the Jews said, “This sanctuary took 46 years to build, and will You raise it up in three days?”(Z)

21 But He was speaking about the sanctuary of His body.(AA) 22 So when He was raised from the dead,(AB) His disciples remembered that He had said this.(AC) And they believed the Scripture(AD) and the statement Jesus had made.

23 While He was in Jerusalem(AE) at the Passover Festival,(AF) many trusted in His name(AG) when they saw the signs He was doing. 24 Jesus, however, would not entrust Himself to them, since He knew them all 25 and because He did not need anyone to testify about man; for He Himself knew what was in man.(AH)

Footnotes

  1. John 2:4 Or You and I see things differently; lit What to Me and to you; Mt 8:29; Mk 1:24; 5:7; Lk 8:28
  2. John 2:4 The time of His sacrificial death and exaltation; Jn 7:30; 8:20; 12:23,27; 13:1; 17:1
  3. John 2:6 Lit 2 or 3 measures
  4. John 2:8 Lit ruler of the table; perhaps master of the feast, or headwaiter
  5. John 2:11 Lit this beginning of the signs; Jn 4:54; 20:30. Seven miraculous signs occur in John’s Gospel and are so noted in the headings.
  6. John 2:16 Lit a house of business
  7. John 2:17 Ps 69:9

Miracle at Cana

On (A)the third day there was a wedding in (B)Cana of Galilee, and the (C)mother of Jesus was there; and both Jesus and His (D)disciples were invited to the wedding. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus *said to Him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus *said to her, [a](E)What business do you have with Me, (F)woman? (G)My hour has not yet come.” His (H)mother *said to the servants, “Whatever He tells you, do it.” Now there were six stone waterpots standing there (I)for the Jewish custom of purification, containing [b]two or three measures each. Jesus *said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” So they filled them up to the brim. And He *said to them, “Draw some out now and take it to the [c]headwaiter.” And they took it to him. Now when the headwaiter tasted the water (J)which had become wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter *called the groom, 10 and *said to him, “Every man serves the good wine first, and when the guests (K)are drunk, then he serves the poorer wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.” 11 This beginning of His [d](L)signs Jesus did in Cana of (M)Galilee, and revealed His (N)glory; and His disciples believed in Him.

12 After this He went down to (O)Capernaum, He and His (P)mother, and His (Q)brothers and His (R)disciples; and they stayed there a few days.

First Passover—Cleansing the Temple

13 (S)The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus (T)went up to Jerusalem. 14 (U)And within the temple grounds He found those who were selling oxen, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. 15 And He made a whip of [e]cords, and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables; 16 and to those who were selling (V)the doves He said, “Take these things away from here; stop making (W)My Father’s house a [f]place of business!” 17 His (X)disciples remembered that it was written: “(Y)Zeal for Your house will consume me.” 18 (Z)The Jews then said to Him, “(AA)What sign do You show us [g]as your authority for doing these things?” 19 Jesus answered them, (AB)Destroy this [h]temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 (AC)The Jews then said, “It took (AD)forty-six years to build this [i]temple, and yet You will raise it up in three days?” 21 But He was speaking about (AE)the [j]temple of His body. 22 So when He was raised from the dead, His (AF)disciples (AG)remembered that He said this; and they believed (AH)the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken.

23 Now when He was in Jerusalem at (AI)the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name as they (AJ)observed His signs which He was doing. 24 But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, because (AK)He knew all people, 25 and because He did not need anyone to testify about mankind, (AL)for He Himself knew what was in mankind.

Footnotes

  1. John 2:4 Lit What to Me and to you (an ancient idiom)
  2. John 2:6 About 18 or 27 gallons each; or 68 or 102 liters
  3. John 2:8 I.e., manager of the banquet
  4. John 2:11 I.e., confirming miracles
  5. John 2:15 Or pieces of rope
  6. John 2:16 Lit house
  7. John 2:18 Lit that You do these
  8. John 2:19 Or sanctuary
  9. John 2:20 Or sanctuary
  10. John 2:21 Or sanctuary