Wedding at Cana

[White_Peony]

So, Jesus turns water to wine, the guy drinks it, then says something about using the best wine first and the groom uses the best wine last. Why was what this man had to say that was so important that the Gospel writer put it in? What does it mean?

 

[Romojr50]

I always interpreted it to mean that Jesus did not simply turn water into any old wine but quality wine. This may have been done to help prove a miracle occurred. If the wine was terrible some people may have said that no miracle occurred; the wine was so terrible that some thought it was water.

Another thought is that the good wine foreshadows the Eucharist.

 

[MeganKichler]

Well, it was customary to set out the good wine first so that the guests would get drunk off of it and not really pay too much attention to the wine being low quality later on. It was to keep the costs down I imagine, as people drank a lot of wine. But, by serving the best wine later, it was a great compliment to the guests by showing that you spared no expense. So, because Jesus made amazing wine, is, in my thought, foreshadowing the fact that he would spare no expense by paying for everyone’s sins. Also, something that’s kind of neat: when you compare translations of the Bible, you see that the English versions only have one translation of wine, when in fact there were three. One being super alcoholic, one being moderately so, the third having no alcohol at all. So, we can assume that this discusses 2 different types of wine. Moderately alcoholic and very alcoholic. Then you can go into all different types of conjecture and it just keeps opening doors to new questions and answers! Sorry, I tend to get excited and rant!

 

[Julian0404]

This is the first public miracle of JESUS and it was a miracle of “Transubstantiation” wherein JESUS changes the substance of water into wine. But not just ordinary wine, the “guy” was the head steward, it was his job to “know” the wine and know how to conduct Jewish marriage ceremony and receptions and he declared this wine to be the best and that the wedding party was changing the protocol of accepted behavior within the reception.

In a discussion on Catholic Radio I heard the commentator state that there is a belief that the groom of this wedding was Luke, who upon hearing the head stewards announcement, pursued to know how this came to be and discovered JESUS and become HIS disciple - so just as Andrew was the very first disciple who ran to get his brother Peter and bring him to JESUS, so perhaps this “steward” was used by JESUS to bring Luke to HIM.

However, in HIS very first miracle JESUS “transubstantiates” water into wine and in HIS last miracle during the Last Supper, JESUS “transubstantiates” HIMSELF into unleavened bread. And each time JESUS provides “us” with the “best” and we have through the wedding of Cana the first of two miracles - like bookends of the salvation message - each pointing us to know that JESUS can “change” us if we are open to knowing and loving HIM.

If you ever encounter a Catholic who deny’s the true presence of JESUS in the Host, then ask if they believe in the miracle of the wedding of Cana. How can you accept that JESUS can do the first and not be able to do the later?

 

[StLudmilla]

However, in HIS very first miracle JESUS “transubstantiates” water into wine and in HIS last miracle during the Last Supper, JESUS “transubstantiates” HIMSELF into unleavened bread.

I think you meant to say Jesus transubstantiates unleavened bread into Himself.

 

[amar_patel]

I think you meant to say Jesus transubstantiates unleavened bread into Himself.

No, I don’t think that’s what he meant.

Transubstantiates simply means to change from one substance to another.
From water into wine in this case.

From bread to flesh and wine to blood at the moment of consecration during Mass.

Still transubstantiation, just different context. Kind of a foreshadowing of Last Supper.

 

[animalis]

Why was what this man had to say that was so important that the Gospel writer put it in? What does it mean?

S. Thomas Aquinas in his Catena Aurea quotes S. John Chrysostom in reference to what you ask and this is what he said, “The effects of the miracles of Christ are more beautiful and better than the productions of nature.”

This is a gem in consideration that in the earliest days of the Church they had miracles left and right. So it could of been common knowledge in the Church. And in the early beginnings of Churches in Asia within the 20th century they have also had an occurrence of much miracles. Miracles impress thier existance on minds, and have a lasting beautiful quality.

 

[StLudmilla]

No, I don’t think that’s what he meant.

Transubstantiates simply means to change from one substance to another.
From water into wine in this case.

From bread to flesh and wine to blood at the moment of consecration during Mass.

Still transubstantiation, just different context. Kind of a foreshadowing of Last Supper.

Ummm. Yes change one substance to another…

As originally posted: Jesus changes(transubstantiates) Himself into unleavened bread = Jesus substance becomes bread substance = wrong

OR as I corrected

Jesus changes(transubstantiates) unleavened bread into Himself = bread substance becomes Jesus substance = right.

 

[M-Dent]

So, Jesus turns water to wine, the guy drinks it, then says something about using the best wine first and the groom uses the best wine last. Why was what this man had to say that was so important that the Gospel writer put it in? What does it mean?

(I’ll just add one more thought)

Consider the situation and circumstances. The head steward was responsible for the hospitality and welfare of the guests. It’s reasonable to understand his livelihood depended on knowing how to cater such an event. He better know his food and wine! From a simple taste he discerned this wine was something special. Something of high quality not usual served later in a feast.

The evangelist John noted in his writing this was a “sign”. The disciples saw the event in a fuller light than the oblivious head steward who queried to the groom about saving the quality wine.

The disciples followed Jesus with a growing sense of faith.

This is one important lesson here. The value a sign can have. It gives us a direction to follow.

In the book Life of Christ , Fulton Sheen noted in “Cana, the water was changed into wine; at Calvary, the wine was changed into blood.”

 

[wmw]

Good addition Micheal (M-Dent). I also like your quote: “Science can purify religion from error and superstition. Religion can purify science from idolatry and false absolutes.”
Pope John Paul II

 

[Nelka]

The New Covenant.

Matthew 9:17 Nor do people put new wine into old wineskins; otherwise, the skins burst, the wine runs out, and the skins are lost. No; they put new wine in fresh skins and both are preserved.’

 

[Mintaka]

The world was old by the time Jesus came. It will be older still by the time He comes again.
We have had a hard time in this world. But Jesus is saving the best for last, just for us.

 

[Don_Jackson]

The wines represent the covenants, the old and the new, and the new being the better.

 

[tabycat]

It was Jesus’s first public miracal and it was done at the urging of His Mother.:harp::heaven: