365 Days in the Gospels and Spirit of Prophecy
Water to Wine — January 31 [Description]
Bible discovery
1 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 365D 31.2
2 Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. 365D 31.3
3 And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.” 365D 31.4
4 Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.” 365D 31.5
5 His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it. ” 365D 31.6
6 Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. 365D 31.7
7 Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 365D 31.8
8 And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it. 365D 31.9
9 When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. 365D 31.10
10 And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!” 365D 31.11
11 This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and [a] manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him. 365D 31.12
12 After this He went down to Capernaum, He, His mother, His brothers, and His disciples; and they did not stay there many days. 365D 31.13
Spirit of Prophecy Reading
The Desire of Ages pp.144-146: 365D 31.14
This chapter is based on John 2:1-11. 365D 31.15
Jesus did not begin His ministry by some great work before the Sanhedrin at Jerusalem. At a household gathering in a little Galilean village His power was put forth to add to the joy of a wedding feast. Thus He showed His sympathy with men, and His desire to minister to their happiness. In the wilderness of temptation He Himself had drunk the cup of woe. He came forth to give to men the cup of blessing, by His benediction to hallow the relations of human life. 365D 31.16
From the Jordan, Jesus had returned to Galilee. There was to be a marriage at Cana, a little town not far from Nazareth; the parties were relatives of Joseph and Mary; and Jesus, knowing of this family gathering, went to Cana, and with His disciples was invited to the feast. 365D 31.17
Again He met His mother, from whom He had for some time been separated. Mary had heard of the manifestation at the Jordan, at His baptism. The tidings had been carried to Nazareth, and had brought to her mind afresh the scenes that for so many years had been hidden in her heart. In common with all Israel, Mary was deeply stirred by the mission of John the Baptist. Well she remembered the prophecy given at his birth. Now his connection with Jesus kindled her hopes anew. But tidings had reached her also of the mysterious departure of Jesus to the wilderness, and she was oppressed with troubled forebodings. 365D 31.18
This answer, abrupt as it seems to us, expressed no coldness or discourtesy. The Saviour's form of address to His mother was in accordance with Oriental custom. It was used toward persons to whom it was desired to show respect. Every act of Christ's earthly life was in harmony with the precept He Himself had given, “Honor thy father and thy mother.” Exodus 20:12. On the cross, in His last act of tenderness toward His mother, Jesus again addressed her in the same way, as He committed her to the care of His best-loved disciple. Both at the marriage feast and upon the cross, the love expressed in tone and look and manner interpreted His words. 365D 31.19
At His visit to the temple in His boyhood, as the mystery of His lifework opened before Him, Christ had said to Mary, “Wist ye not that I must be about My Father's business?” Luke 2:49. These words struck the keynote of His whole life and ministry. Everything was held in abeyance to His work, the great work of redemption which He had come into the world to accomplish. Now He repeated the lesson. There was danger that Mary would regard her relationship to Jesus as giving her a special claim upon Him, and the right, in some degree, to direct Him in His mission. For thirty years He had been to her a loving and obedient son, and His love was unchanged; but He must now go about His Father's work. As Son of the Most High, and Saviour of the world, no earthly ties must hold Him from His mission, or influence His conduct. He must stand free to do the will of God. This lesson is also for us. The claims of God are paramount even to the ties of human relationship. No earthly attraction should turn our feet from the path in which He bids us walk. 365D 31.20