John 2

"On the third day there was a wedding..." that is how chapter 2 begins, but I immediately have a question. The third day from what? There are at least 3 "next days" in chapter 1 so it doesn't seem it can be the third day of the narrative. I guess it must be Tuesday!

At any rate, we find Jesus and his new disciples and his mom attending a wedding at Cana of Galilee. Cana is in the northern part of Israel between Capernaum and Nazareth (wanna go see it with me next February?). While the party went on and on the unthinkable happened -- the wine ran out. This would be a humiliating disaster for any new bride and groom, a disappointment to the crowds and a shadow over the beginning of their marriage. Jesus' mother calls his attention to the problem and he answers with a line that was acceptable in his culture but might get most sons in trouble with their moms. He says "Woman, what concern is that to you and to me?" The Greek word translated woman here is goonay. I remember that because when I first studied this carefully at 18 I was horrified that Jesus spoke that way to his mother. Obviously Mary did not take this as a rebuke or a slight as she turns to some servants and instructs them to do whatever Jesus asks. She was completely at peace and expectant here that Jesus would come to the rescue. And he did. The six stone water jars used for purification held probably held over 150 gallons of water one minute and choice wine the next. End of crisis, party on!

Many explanations of this event have been offered by theologians, some comparing the water of Judaism and tradition that Jesus was about to change into the new wine of the Christian era. Perhaps. But maybe it just shows Jesus concern and care for even the lesser perceived "emergencies" in our lives.

Next in Jerusalem at the first of the Passovers in John's Gospel Jesus cleanses the Temple. If this seems out of place to any of you - congratulations! When we read Matthew's Gospel just a few weeks ago the cleansing of the Temple occurred during Holy Week after the triumphal entry. Again, many opinions about this discrepancy. The other three gospels (the Synoptics) only have Jesus in Jerusalem for one Passover, and some theologians wonder if the other gospels included events from the probable three Passover visits by Jesus and the disciples. Another opinion is that there were two separate Temple cleansing events, one here at the beginning of Jesus ministry as an expression of prophetic enthusiasm and the second as an expression of messianic power.

As this chapter closes I am struck by a painful truth that John notes. John says that many believed in Jesus during the passover, "But Jesus on his part would not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to testify about anyone; for he himself knew what was in everyone." John 2:24&25 NRSV. I am thankful that even though Jesus may not be able to entrust himself to humanity, we may entrust ourselves to Jesus.