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Two days later there was a wedding in the town of Cana in the country of Galilee. Jesus' mother was there.

Jesus and his disciples were also asked to the wedding.

The people needed more wine. Then Jesus' mother said to him, `They have no wine.'

Jesus said, `Woman, why are you telling me about it? It is not yet the time for me to do something.'

His mother said to the servants, `Do all that he tells you to do.'

Six very large water pots made of stone were standing there. The pots were there because the Jews had a certain law about washing themselves.

Jesus said, `Fill the pots with water.' So they filled them to the very top.

Jesus said, `Now take some out. Carry it to the one in charge of the feast.' They did what he said.

The man in charge of the feast tasted the water that was now turned into wine. He did not know where it came from, but the servants who drew the water knew. When the man had tasted it, he called the man who was being married.

10 He said, `Other people give the good wine at the beginning of the feast. When people have had all they want, then they give the wine which is not so good. But you have kept the good wine until now.'

11 This was the first big work that Jesus did. It was in Cana in Galilee. He showed that he was great. And his disciples believed in him.

12 After this he went to the town called Capernaum. His mother, his brothers, and his disciples also went with him. They stayed there for a few days.

13 The time for the Passover Feast of the Jews was near. So Jesus went to Jerusalem.

14 In the temple he found people buying and selling things. They were selling cows, sheep, and doves. Others were sitting at tables changing money for the people.

15 Jesus tied some pieces of cord together to make a whip. Then he drove out all the people who were buying and selling in the temple. And he drove out the sheep and the cows. He threw down the tables of the money changers and their money.

16 He said to the people who sold doves, `Take these things out of here. Do not make my Father's house into a market place.'

17 His disciples remembered that God's word says, `My love for your house is like a fire burning in me.'

18 The leaders of the Jews said to Jesus, `Who gave you the right to do this? What big work will prove it to us?'

19 Jesus answered them, `Break down this temple and in three days I will raise it up.'

20 The Jewish leaders said, `It took forty-six years to build this temple. Do you say you will raise it in three days?'

21 But Jesus was talking about the temple which was his body.

22 After Jesus died and had been raised from death, the disciples remembered that he had said this to them. Then they believed what the holy writings say. They also believed what Jesus had said to them.

23 Many people believed in Jesus' name when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast. They believed in him because they saw the big works he did.

24 But Jesus would not trust himself to them.

25 He knew what all people are like. He did not need anyone to tell him about any person, because he knew what was in a person's heart.

The Wedding at Cana: Water Turned into Wine

And on the third day, there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. And both Jesus and his disciples were invited to the wedding. And when the[a] wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine!” And Jesus said to her, “What does your concern have to do with me,[b] woman? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Whatever he says to you, do it!”[c]

Now six stone water jars were set there, in accordance with the ceremonial cleansing of the Jews, each holding two or three measures.[d] Jesus said to them, “Fill the water jars with water.” And they filled them to the brim. And he said to them, “Now draw some[e] out and take it[f] to the head steward. So they took it.[g] Now when the head steward tasted the water which had become wine and did not know where it was from—but the servants who had drawn the water knew—the head steward summoned the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Everyone[h] serves the good wine first, and whenever they are drunk, the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!” 11 This beginning of signs Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee, and revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.

Jesus’ First Journey to Jerusalem

12 After this he went down to Capernaum, and his mother and brothers[i] and his disciples, and they stayed there a few[j] days. 13 And the Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

The Cleansing of the Temple

14 And he found in the temple courts[k] those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers seated. 15 And he made a whip of cords and[l] drove them[m] all out of the temple courts,[n] both the sheep and the oxen, and he poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their[o] tables. 16 And to the ones selling the doves he said, “Take these things away from here! Do not make my Father’s house a marketplace!”[p] 17 His disciples remembered that it is written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”[q]

18 So the Jews answered and said to him, “What sign do you show to us, because you are doing these things?” 19 Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up!” 20 Then the Jews said, “This temple has been under construction[r] forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?” 21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body. 22 So when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the scripture and the saying that Jesus had spoken.

Jesus at the Passover

23 Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in his name because they[s] saw his signs which he was doing. 24 But Jesus himself did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people,[t] 25 and because he did not need[u] anyone to testify[v] about man, for he himself knew what was in man.[w]

Footnotes

  1. John 2:3 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“ran out”)
  2. John 2:4 Literally “to me and to you”
  3. John 2:5 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  4. John 2:6 A “measure” was about 9 gallons (40 liters)
  5. John 2:8 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  6. John 2:8 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  7. John 2:8 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  8. John 2:10 Literally “every man”
  9. John 2:12 Some manuscripts have “his brothers”
  10. John 2:12 Literally “not many”
  11. John 2:14 Here “courts” is supplied to distinguish this area from the interior of the temple building itself
  12. John 2:15 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“made”) has been translated as a finite verb
  13. John 2:15 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  14. John 2:15 *Here “courts” is supplied to distinguish this area from the interior of the temple building itself
  15. John 2:15 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  16. John 2:16 Literally “a market house”; or “a house of merchants” (an allusion to Zech 14:21)
  17. John 2:17 A quotation from Ps 69:9
  18. John 2:20 This translation of the aorist verb is based on a very close parallel in Ezra 5:16 (LXX), where it is clear from the following verb that the construction had not yet been completed
  19. John 2:23 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“saw”) which is understood as causal
  20. John 2:24 The Greek term is masculine and thus refers to “all people” rather than “all things” (which would be neuter)
  21. John 2:25 Literally “have need that”
  22. John 2:25 Literally “should testify”
  23. John 2:25 *Here “man” has been retained rather than the generic “people” to maintain the connection with the following verse

Jesus Changes Water Into Wine

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee.(A) Jesus’ mother(B) was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”

“Woman,[a](C) why do you involve me?”(D) Jesus replied. “My hour(E) has not yet come.”

His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”(F)

Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing,(G) each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.[b]

Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.

Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”

They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine.(H) He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”

11 What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs(I) through which he revealed his glory;(J) and his disciples believed in him.(K)

12 After this he went down to Capernaum(L) with his mother(M) and brothers(N) and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.

Jesus Clears the Temple Courts(O)

13 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover,(P) Jesus went up to Jerusalem.(Q) 14 In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves,(R) and others sitting at tables exchanging money.(S) 15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house(T) into a market!” 17 His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”[c](U)

18 The Jews(V) then responded to him, “What sign(W) can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?”(X)

19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”(Y)

20 They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” 21 But the temple he had spoken of was his body.(Z) 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said.(AA) Then they believed the scripture(AB) and the words that Jesus had spoken.

23 Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival,(AC) many people saw the signs(AD) he was performing and believed(AE) in his name.[d] 24 But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. 25 He did not need any testimony about mankind,(AF) for he knew what was in each person.(AG)

Footnotes

  1. John 2:4 The Greek for Woman does not denote any disrespect.
  2. John 2:6 Or from about 75 to about 115 liters
  3. John 2:17 Psalm 69:9
  4. John 2:23 Or in him