Epiphany
The Second Sunday after the Epiphany
January 18, 2026
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) Working Preacher
Luther Seminary exegesis on the first sign at Cana revealing Jesus' glory so his disciples believed in him.
John 2:1-11 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching
Reformed commentary on the abundance of wine as a sign of the new life Jesus brings.
Enduring Word Bible Commentary John Chapter 2 Enduring Word · David Guzik
David Guzik's verse-by-verse notes on the wedding at Cana and Jesus turning water into wine.
John 2:1 Commentaries BibleHub
Classic commentators gathered on the third-day wedding at Cana of Galilee.
John 2 Commentary (Precept Austin) Precept Austin
A deep resource hub collecting many commentaries, sermons, and word studies on the first of Jesus' signs.
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C (Sunday Connection) Loyola Press · Sunday Connection
Catholic reflection, background, and prayer prompts built on this same John 2:1-11 Gospel.
Background & Word Study
John - Enter the Bible Enter the Bible
Luther Seminary overview of John for reading Cana within the Gospel's book of signs.
Gospel of John Overview (BibleProject) BibleProject
Animated book overview mapping the seven signs and the theology of glory in John's Gospel.
John 2:1 Interlinear BibleHub
Greek word-by-word interlinear with parsing for the opening of the Cana wedding scene.
The Church Fathers
Sermons & Reflections
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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