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It was customary for a Jewish wedding to last for a week of celebration. We find
Laban saying to Jacob at the marriage of Leah and also at his request for Rachel, "Fulfil
her week". It will easily be understood that at a festivity extending over a period of
seven days the supply of wine might prematurely run out. Such an experience would be
embarassing to the host. Mary certainly realized that in such a difficulty she could turn to
her Son for assistance. She had learned too that the former relationship of family life had
changed. The Lord had now been endued with the Holy Spirit and commenced His
public ministry. In this the Father's will alone was supreme and must take the first place
over family ties.
His words to her may sound rough to the modern ear, but there is no disrespect in the
original. Instead of "woman" (A.V.) it could be rendered "lady". His words "My hour
has not yet come" were significant. There are 8 occurrences of this or similar expressions
(see 2: 4; 7: 6, 8, 30; 8: 20; 12: 23; 13: 1; 17: 1 note also 12: 27; 16: 25, 32).
The phrase marks a crisis wherever it occurs. The advice Mary gave was wise, "do
whatever He tells you", and this is true for all time.
"Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing,
each holding from twenty to thirty gallons" (2: 6, N.I.V.).
The servants, remembering Mary's directions, followed the Lord's instructions and
filled them with water. Then He told them to draw some more water from the well and
carry it to the master of the feast. The usual view is that it was the water in the six jars
that was turned into wine, which would have been around 120 gallons. But the Lord said
"draw out now" and He used the word antleo, which means to draw water from a well,
not from the jars. It was this second drawing from the well that the Lord turned into
wine, which is more reasonable. The chief steward was amazed at the superior quality of
the wine and remarked about it (2: 9, 10).
"This, the first of His miraculous signs Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He thus
revealed His glory, and His disciples put their faith in Him" (2: 11, N.I.V.).
Christ had indeed come to change the old wine of "law" into the new wine of His
earthly kingdom, and this miracle led to faith in Him (2: 11), which is the very object of
the writing of this Gospel (20: 30, 31).