_CHRIST TURNETH WATER INTO WINE: DEPARTETH TO CAPERNAUM, AND ALSO TO JERUSALEM WHERE HE PURGETH THE TEMPLE OF THE BUYERS AND SELLERS: HE FORETELLETH HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION. MANY BELIEVED BECAUSE OF HIS MIRACLES, BUT HE WOULD NOT TRUST HIMSELF WITH THEM._ _Anno Domini 30._... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE THIRD DAY THERE WAS A MARRIAGE— On the third day after Jesus and his disciples arrived in Galilee, they went to a _marriage feast_ (see on Matthew 22:1.) in _Cana;_ which is mentioned, Joshua 19:28, as situated in the possession of the tribe of Asher not far from thecity of Sidon, and by con... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS WAS CALLED, AND HIS DISCIPLES,— _Was invited,_ &c. The persons called _his disciples,_ who were with him at this marriage, as also at Jerusalem, and who accompanied him to the distant parts of Judea, and baptized those who offered themselves to his baptism, (see Ch. 2 John 1:1 2 John 4:1.) see... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THEY WANTED WINE, &C.— The _wine beginning to fail;_— υστερησαντος. But a small stock possibly was provided at first, as the persons were not in the highest circumstances; and that began to fail the sooner, as greater numbers of guests attended than were expected, probably on account of Jesus,... [ Continue Reading ]
WOMAN, WHAT HAVE I TO DO WITH THEE?— The compellation with which Jesus addressed his mother, sounds harsh in our language, because with us it is never used, where respect is meant to be shewn. Nevertheless, _woman_ anciently was a term of honour, being used in speaking to persons of the first qualit... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER THE MANNER OF THE PURIFYING OF THE JEWS,— Besides the purifications appointed by the law of God, there were a multitude of others then practised, in compliance with the tradition of the elders. Possibly this clause is thrown in by St. John, by way of explanation, as he wrote this gospel for th... [ Continue Reading ]
FILL THE WATER-POTS WITH WATER:— Mary was without doubt blameable for presuming to direct her Son in the duties of his ministry, her parental authority not extending to those matters; therefore he very justly gave her the gentle rebuke, John 2:4 in which he insinuated that his miracles were not to b... [ Continue Reading ]
BEAR UNTO THE GOVERNOR OF THE FEAST.— Among the Greeks, Romans, and Jews, it was usual at great entertainments, especially at marriage feasts, to appoint a master of the ceremonies, who not only gave directions concerning the form and method of the entertainment, but likewise prescribed the regulati... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GOVERNOR OF THE FEAST CALLED THE BRIDEGROOM,— The governor's application to the bridegroom, and not to Jesus, shews him to have been ignorant of the miracle; and could have proceeded from no other reason than his persuasion, that this wine had been provided at the expence of the bridegroom. Surp... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MANIFESTED FORTH HIS GLORY:— That is, demonstrated his power and character to the conviction of the disciples, and in some sense and degree to that of all the guests. This being the first miracle that they had ever seen Jesus perform, it tended not a little to the confirmation of their faith, an... [ Continue Reading ]
AND FOUND IN THE TEMPLE— Moses, in Deuteronomy 14:24 from considering the necessity of the Jews resorting to the capital of their country, and the inconveniences which would attend the driving the cattle which were to be offered, and could be offered only there, gave them liberty, under the directio... [ Continue Reading ]
A SCOURGE OF SMALL CORDS,— It has been very justly observed, that this circumstance, seemingly slight, is inserted to shew that the instrument could not have been the cause of so wonderful an effect.... [ Continue Reading ]
MAKE NOT MY FATHER'S HOUSE, &C.— It is remarkable, that at this ejection of those who profaned the temple, our Saviour says, _Make not my Father's house,_ &c. but when he repeated this miracle towards the close of his life, when he had proved his divinity by a variety of miracles, he says _My house,... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HIS DISCIPLES REMEMBERED, &C.— In the apprehension of the disciples, their Lord exposed himself to great danger by turning out a body of factious and interested men, whom the priests and rulers supported. On this occasion, therefore, they called to mind that text in the Psalms, where it is said,... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN ANSWERED THE JEWS, &C.— A fact so public and remarkable as this, could not but immediately come to the knowledge of the priests and rulers of the Jews, whose supreme council sat in a magnificent chamber belonging to the temple; a fine rotunda, called from its beautiful pavement, _Lishcath Hagaz... [ Continue Reading ]
DESTROY THIS TEMPLE,— The miracle which our Lord had already performed, in driving the buyers and sellers out of the temple, was sufficient to convince them of the authority by which he made this reformation, if they were to have been convinced by any miracle at all. Therefore our Lord, instead of s... [ Continue Reading ]
FORTY AND SIX YEARS WAS THIS TEMPLE, &C.— _Hath this temple been in building._ Heylin. Though Herod finished what he proposed in eight or nine years, yet the Jews continued to beautify and adorn the temple for many years afterwards, even to the year 65.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY BELIEVED THE SCRIPTURE,— They yet more firmly believed the scripture in all its prophesies concerning the Messiah's kingdom; and their faith in him was confirmed by the word which Jesus had spoken; for such a wonderful event as the resurrection of Christ, considered in its connection with t... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE FEAST-DAY,— _At the festival,_— εν τη εορτη. Dr. Heylin renders it _at the festival of the passover._ See on Matthew 26:5. The miracles here spoken of, as well as those Ch. John 3:2 and John 4:45 plainly refer to some miracles wrought by Christ, the particulars of which are not transmitted to... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS DID NOT COMMIT HIMSELF UNTO THEM,— Did not discover himself to be the Messiah. He did not trust to those who believed merely on account of his miracles.—_Because he knew all men._ He had perfect knowledge of their dispositions, and was assured, on the present occasion, that the belief of many... [ Continue Reading ]