The Gospel According to Saint John
John 2
Chapter II · Vol. IV, pp. 206–208
1 Christ turneth water into wine, 12 departeth into Capernaum, and to Jerusalem, 14 where he purgeth the temple of buyers and sellers. 19 He foretelleth his death and resurrection. 23 Many believed because of his miracles, but he would not trust himself with them.
1 And the athird day there was a marriage in Canab of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:1
a ch.1.43.
b Jos.19.28. ch.4.46.
1 Cana of Galilee, situated on a low hill on the side of a rich upland plain, is about seven miles north of Nazareth. It is now ruined and deserted.—P.
4 Jesus saith unto her, gWoman,3 whath have I to do with thee? imine hour is not yet come.
† Woman was no name of disrespect, but a name of truth, without flattery.—What have I to do with thee in this matter?—leave it to me when 'my hour is come'—when all their wine is so exhausted that there can be no question about the reality of my miraculous power.—C.
e ch.7.3, with Lu.1.35. Mat.3.17.
g ch.19.26. De.33.9.
3 See note † in first column.
h Jos.22.24. Ju.11.12. 2 Sa.16.10; 19.22. 2 Ki.3.13. De.33.9.
i ch.7.6. Ec.3.1-11.
6 And there were set there six water-pots of stone, kafter the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins4 apiece.
7 Jesus saith unto them, Fill the water-pots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.
8 And he saith unto them, lDraw out now, and bear unto the ngovernor of the feast. And they bare it.
9 When the ruler5 of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the oservants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,
5 Perhaps a Levite who was chaplain to them.
o ch.7.17. Ps.119.100.
10 And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have pwell drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the qgood wine until now.
11 rThis beginning of miracles6 did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples sbelieved on him.7
‡ His disciples believed on him—not merely as a reforming teacher, such as John had been, but as a worker of miracles, placing him far above John, ch.10.41.—C.
r ch.1.50,51,14; 3.2; 14.11. Ps.90.16,17; 102.16.
6 It is not improbable that the only wine miraculously produced was the quantity drawn, the contents of the vessels still remaining water—thereby rendering the miracle so much the more palpable.—C.
s 1 Jn.5.13.
7 See note ‡ in first column.
12 After this he went down to tCapernaum,8 he, and uhis mother, and his 9brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days.
t Mat.4.13; 11.23. Lu.4.14,31; 10.15.
8 Cana was among the mountains, Capernaum on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, which has a depression below the level of the ocean of about 700 ft. The evangelist is therefore minute and accurate in his description when he says that Jesus went down.—P.
9 Cousins.
13 And the Jews' passoverv was at hand, and xJesus went up to Jerusalem,1
v Ex.12.6-14; 23.14-17; 34.23. De.16.1. Nu.28.16. Lu.2.41.
x ver.23; ch.5.1; 6.4; 11.55.
1 This was the first passover after our Lord's baptism, and consequently his first official visit to Jerusalem. On this visit, as well as upon his last, three years afterwards, our Lord exercised his authority in cleansing the temple, Mat.21.12.—P.
14 And yfound in the temple those that sold oxen2 and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:
A.M. cir. 4034. A.D. cir. 30.
y Mat.21.12. Mar.11.15,16. Lu.19.45,46. De.14.23-26.
2 According to Josephus, there were ordinarily at the passover 256,500 sacrificed victims, so that the market must have been very great; and as the priests sold licenses to the venders, this profanation must have been a large source of their revenue.—C.
15 And zwhen he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;
16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; amake not my Father's house an house of merchandise.
18 Then answered the Jews and said unto him, cWhat sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?
19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy3 this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.Cited in WLC 145
20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six4 years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
4 The rebuilding of this temple was commenced by Herod the Great, sixteen years before our Lord's birth. He began to preach the kingdom of God in his thirtieth year, which gives the exact amount, forty-six, and fixes this cleansing of the temple at the beginning, so that of Matthew and Mark was certainly at the close of his ministry.—C.
22 When therefore ehe was risen from the dead, his disciples gremembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.
23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast-day, many hbelieved in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.
h Mat.13.5,6,20,21. ch.6.14. Ac.8.13.
24 Buti Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because jhe knew all men,6Cited in WLC 11
i Pr.14.15. Mat.10.16,17.
j Mat.9.4. Mar.2.8. Lu.5.22. ch.16.30; 6.64. 1 Sa.16.7. 1 Ch.28.9; 29.17. Je.17.9,10. Ac.1.24. Re.2.23. He.4.13.
6 The meaning is that those referred to were astonished at his miracles, and had consequently some vague belief in his divine power and mission. But their faith was not true. Our Lord knew this. He read their hearts, and therefore would not treat or receive those men as genuine disciples.—P.
Notes
Ver. 1. The third day from that on which Jesus had departed from Bethany 'beyond Jordan,' not Bethany near Jerusalem (so called according to high authority of MSS.), but called Bethabara, ch. 1. 28 of the received text. There is no difficulty in concluding that both names may have been given to the same town. C.
Ver. 9. Ruler of the feast. Some think the chief guest; others, the chief domestic who, in either capacity, did not sit at table, but attended to the supply of the others. That an evidently poor family had not any chief domestic to preside, appears probable; the ruler was therefore a friend, as his familiarity with the bridegroom seems to imply, one part of whose duty was to taste the wine, and then send it to the guests. C.
Ver. 15. He drove them all—that is, the dealers, whom he expelled merely by authoritative injunction, ver. 16, the cattle only he would drive with the scourge. These dealers, being very unpopular because of their extortions, and conscious that they were profaning the temple and violating the law, and seeing Jesus surrounded by so many zealous followers, yield to an authority which otherwise their avarice and self-interest would have prompted them to resist. It is, moreover, not improbable that there was something so commanding in our Lord's manner, and in his character for working miracles, which must by this time have become public, that the most reluctant felt compelled to yield implicit obedience.—Note, It is matter of question whether our Lord cleansed the temple once or twice. Matthew (ch. 21. 12) and Mark (ch. 11. 15) certainly record such a cleansing near the end of his ministry, which same act some think John has also recorded, without reference to order of time. The narratives, however, are accompanied by such notes of difference as seem clearly to indicate two distinct cleansings—the one at the opening, the other at the close of our Lord's ministry. See note on ver. 20. C.
**Reflections.—**Happy are those weddings which are directed by Christ's law, graced with his presence, and ratified by his blessing! With innocent pleasures friends may feast together, if they act as under his eye. Religion requires us not to be unsocial, but to rejoice with them that rejoice. In the very height of earthly comforts there is indeed something still wanting. But there are no wants in which Christ cannot supply us. And if we wish to receive his blessings, we must not prescribe to him, but follow his directions. Nor need we be discouraged by rebukes and delays; his mercies come soon enough if they come large and sweet in the end. And the more we see of his glory, the more firmly shall we believe in him, and desire to be with him. Jesus makes but a short stay where he is signally contemned. And the most heaven-daring corruptions are introduced into churches by the love of filthy lucre. But wisely Jesus manifests his glory, vindicates the honour and maintains the purity of divine ordinances, without injuring civil property.—He knows what is in man, and can overawe the spirits of his most powerful and presumptuous enemies. And he had a sovereign power over his own natural life, as God equal with his Father. Alas! how ill understood, much hated, or but feignedly believed, are his words of truth! Corrupt hearts little relish reforming authority. Even believers slowly comprehend the nature of Christ's kingdom. And sometimes it is not till long after they are heard that divine truths are remembered, understood, and believed. There is great need to avoid trusting in men, and to be careful whom we take for our friends. And studiously should we beware of hypocrisy, as Jesus hath an exact knowledge of our hearts.