Epiphany Season · Second Sunday after the Epiphany · Year C
John 2:1-11
Jesus Changes Water to Wine
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
A Luther Seminary commentary on abundant wine as a sign of Epiphany's overflowing grace.
John 2:1-11 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching
A Reformed preaching commentary reading Cana within John's larger pattern of water as a sign of God's goodness.
John 2 Commentary Enduring Word · David Guzik
A verse by verse evangelical commentary on the miracle at Cana and the cleansing of the temple.
John 2 Commentary Precept Austin
A deep study page gathering Greek word studies, cross references, and many expositors on John 2.
Classic commentaries on John 2 BibleHub
A classic aggregator stacking Barnes, Gill, Ellicott, and other historic commentators verse by verse.
Come and Dine, Epiphany 2 (C) Sermons That Work · Episcopal Church
An Episcopal Sermons That Work model sermon on the Wedding at Cana.
Background & Word Study
John Enter the Bible
A Luther Seminary book introduction to the structure and theology of the Gospel of John.
Overview: John BibleProject
An animated overview of John's design and its use of signs to reveal Jesus' identity.
John 2 interlinear BibleHub
The Greek text of John 2 word by word with parsing and Strong's numbers for the wedding at Cana.
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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