Epiphany Season · Year C
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
January 16, 2028
Overview & Insights
“This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory.” (John 2:11)
The journey home to Galilee is not described. The writer focuses instead on a single incident that took place after the group arrived. Debates about whether one could reach Galilee from Bethany in two days are pointless, first, because the exact location of Bethany is unknown (see note on 1:28), and second, because the phrase on the third day could sometimes be used to express a short indefinite period of time (like “a couple of days” in colloquial English). Strictly speaking, the phrase means “the day after tomorrow” (cf. Luke 13:32), that is, the third day after Jesus met Nathanael. This would be Day Six. But the Gospel writer may not be speaking strictly, and in any case, the number he has assigned to this day is not six but three! He is surely more precise here than in verse 12 (“a few days”), and there is nothing wrong in counting a six-day sequence. But the emphasis is on the sequence , not on the total of six.
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Commentary
Commentary on John 2:1-11 Working Preacher
Luther Seminary commentary on Jesus as the true bridegroom who ushers in God's abundant grace.
John 2:1-11 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching
Reformed preaching commentary on the sheer abundance of the miracle, roughly 900 bottles of the finest wine.
John 2 Commentary Enduring Word · David Guzik
David Guzik's verse by verse exposition of the wedding at Cana and Jesus' first sign.
John 2:1 Commentaries BibleHub
Aggregated classic commentary on the wedding, the six stone jars, and the abundance of good wine.
John 2 - Barnes' Notes StudyLight
Barnes' Notes verse by verse on Jesus' first miracle and its meaning for his disciples' faith.
John 2 Commentary Precept Austin
Deep verse by verse study notes gathering many conservative scholars on the sign at Cana.
John 2 Word on Fire · Bishop Barron
Bishop Barron's Catholic reflection on the wedding wine as a sign of the Eucharist to come.
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C Loyola Press · Sunday Connection
Loyola Press background and reflection questions on Mary noticing the need and Jesus responding.
Background & Word Study
John 2:1 Interlinear BibleHub
Greek word by word with parsing for sign, glory, and believed.
John 1-12 Overview BibleProject
Animated literary overview of John's first half, tracing the sign narratives that reveal Jesus' identity.
Enter the Bible: John Enter the Bible
Luther Seminary background on John's structure of signs and Jesus' glory.
The Church Fathers
Worship & Prayers
Questions preachers ask
Why is the wedding at Cana an Epiphany reading?
Turning water into wine is the first of Jesus' signs, revealing his glory so that his disciples believe; the season of Epiphany traces how Jesus is made manifest.
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