John 2:1

¶ And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:

And {G2532} the third {G5154} day {G2250} there was {G1096} a marriage {G1062} in {G1722} Cana {G2580} of Galilee {G1056}; and {G2532} the mother {G3384} of Jesus {G2424} was {G2258} there {G1563}:

On Tuesday there was a wedding at Kanah in the Galil; and the mother of Yeshua was there.

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there,

And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:

Commentary

John 2:1 marks the beginning of Jesus' public ministry as recorded in John's Gospel, setting the stage for His first miraculous sign. This verse places Jesus at a common human event, a marriage celebration in Cana of Galilee, emphasizing His involvement in the everyday lives of people.

Context

Following the calling of His first disciples in John 1:43, this verse precisely notes it was "the third day." This chronological detail is characteristic of John's Gospel, emphasizing historical accuracy. The location, Cana of Galilee, was a small village not far from Nazareth, highlighting Jesus' humble origins and His deep connection to the Galilean region. The presence of "the mother of Jesus" (Mary) at the wedding indicates a family connection to the event, underscoring Jesus' full humanity and His participation in normal social life.

Key Themes

  • The Commencement of Signs: This verse is pivotal as it introduces the setting for what John's Gospel calls Jesus' "first sign" (John 2:11). This initial miracle at Cana would signify the inauguration of His public demonstration of divine power and authority, revealing His glory.
  • Jesus' Humanity and Presence: By attending a wedding, Jesus affirms the goodness of human institutions and social gatherings. It shows Him as approachable and relatable, fully participating in normal life events, not secluded from the world. His presence sanctifies ordinary experiences.
  • Mary's Role: Mary's presence is noted before Jesus' own mention. Her subsequent interaction with Jesus in the following verses (John 2:3-5) highlights her faith and perhaps her expectation of what Jesus might do, even before His public ministry officially began.

Significance and Application

John 2:1 reminds us that God is not distant from our daily lives, our celebrations, or our mundane routines. Jesus' attendance at a wedding underscores the sacredness of marriage and His willingness to be present in our joys and social gatherings. It also serves as a subtle foreshadowing of the "new wine" of the Gospel, indicating that with Jesus' arrival, a new era of God's presence and power has begun, marked by signs that confirm His identity as the Son of God. Believers are encouraged to invite Christ into all aspects of their lives, knowing He is present and active.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • John 4:46

    So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum.

  • Proverbs 31:10

    ¶ Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price [is] far above rubies.

  • Proverbs 31:12

    She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

  • John 21:2

    There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the [sons] of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.

  • John 1:43

    ¶ The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.

  • Matthew 12:46

    ¶ While he yet talked to the people, behold, [his] mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.

  • Proverbs 18:22

    ¶ [Whoso] findeth a wife findeth a good [thing], and obtaineth favour of the LORD.
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