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"Jesus knew that His hour was come."--His departure from the world spoken of (13: 1).
"Father - the hour is come."--The work finished (John 17: 1).
To this list might be added John 12: 27 and 16: 25 or 32.
Whatever view we may take, it is clear from her caution to the servants, which
immediately follows, that Mary did not feel altogether set aside: "Whatsoever He saith
unto you, do it."
Before proceeding it is necessary to notice the material with which the Lord worked.
"And there were set there six water pots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of
the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece."
Authorities differ as to the exact amount of water a firkin represents. The LXX uses
the word to translate the Hebrew measure of a "Bath" (II Chron. 4: 5). Josephus in his
Antiquities says, "Now a bath is able to contain 72 sextaries" (Ant. 8: 2, 9). As a
sextarie was a little under an English pint, a firkin was probably about eight or nine
gallons. The Companion Bible gives for "Bath", "About six English gallons", and for
"Firkin", "About nine gallons". If we take the highest figures, that is six water pots at
three firkins, and each firkin reckoned as nine gallons, we have a total of one hundred and
sixty-two gallons; if we take the lowest figures, six water pots at two firkins and each
firkin reckoned as six gallons, we have the total seventy-two gallons, which gives us a
mean of one hundred and seventeen gallons. This amount of water may seem excessive,
but we have checked our findings with other commentators and find that there is general
agreement. Alford makes the amount one hundred and twenty-six gallons; a figure
endorsed by Bloomfield. Theodoret, born at Antioch A.D.386, says, "Follow in these
things Josephus, who well understood the measures of the nation".
It was the ceremonial necessities of the Jews that brought into requisition such large
quantities of water. For instance, we learn from a rabbinical writer, that
"They allot a fourth part of a log (a log is two-thirds of a pint) for the washing of one
person's hands, it may be of two; half a log for three or four; and a whole log for five or
ten, to a hundred; with the provision, said Rabbi Jose, that the last that washeth, hath no
less than a fourth of a log to himself" (Jadaim Ca. 1: pat. 1).
It will thus be seen that so large a quantity of water as has been considered would not
be at all out of place for a festival lasting seven days, and at which a number of guests
were present.
The question that now arises is "Why was so enormous a quantity of wine provided at
the end of the feast?" To this question all sorts of answers have been given. Unbelievers
and critics have caviled at it or made unseemly fun of it. Devout commentators have
sought to justify the superfluity by various conjectures. Before we attempt a solution let
us first make sure from Scripture that the Lord made such a quantity. The general belief
is that the whole six water pots were converted into wine. This however we hope to show
is not the case. Our attention was drawn to this, many years ago, by a writer whose name