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"By changing the water into wine, Jesus was showing that the kingdom of Heaven was at hand
and also the new covenant which was sealed by His blood. Therefore Jesus proclaimed His
hour that was yet to come by this miracle in Cana. And just as God the Father is well
pleased with His Son, the master of the wedding feast was well pleased with the new wine!"
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Mary In The Bible Part One: The Wedding Feast in Cana
Brian Culliton
A question was asked recently to a Catholic priest. The question was, "Did Mary know that
her Son would rise on the third day after His crucifixion?" The answer from the priest:
"Absolutely!" Why did he answer affirmatively with such enthusiasm? Because, he said,
"she wasn't mentioned as being present at the tomb." He went on to say that Mary knew
Jesus would rise from the dead because she had perfect faith. This is a typical example
of the extra-biblical assertions made by Catholic leaders in their effort to support
unbiblical doctrines.
It's amazing just how much Catholic doctrine is based on the desire to fill in where the
Bible is silent. No doctrines are more indicative of this fact than those concerning Mary.
Could this be because Mary is only mentioned or referenced about six times in the Gospels
and not at all in any of the letters? Think about it: Mary is a central figure in the
Catholic Church and hardly anything is written of her. So how did Mary become a primary
object of devotion in the Catholic Church?
The first mention of Mary in the Gospels is in the infancy narratives. Luke's Gospel,
chapter one, verses 28-56, tells us of the angel's visit, Mary's response, her words of
worship, and her visit to her cousin. There is no mention of her life up to this point -
no mention of her parents; no mention of any "sinless conception." Yet some how, Catholic
doctrine emphatically states she was conceived without sin. What we do know about Mary is
that she was a faithful servant of God who was blessed because she believed what the angel
told her.
The Wedding Feast in Cana
The next time Mary is mentioned is at a wedding feast in Cana. Here, John tells us, is
where Jesus performed His first miracle - changing water into wine. John tells us that
Jesus and His disciples were invited to a wedding feast in Cana. His mother was likely at
the wedding feast when they arrived. When the wine ran out, Mary told Jesus there was no
wine. Jesus answered her: "Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has
not yet come." John then tells us that Mary commanded the servants to do whatever Jesus
told them to do.
Now this is where the Catholic Church makes a heretical assumption. The notion they
propagate is that Mary desired that Jesus change water into wine, and in obedience to His
mothers wishes He performs the miracle. This is the premise for the Catholic doctrine of
petitioning Mary in prayer to intercede for people. Does the text really support this
idea?
It is possible that Jesus delayed His arrival until it was certain they were out of wine
(However, it is impossible to tell from the text whether or not this is true). This He
would do in order that He might perform the miracle as a witness to His disciples who had
yet to see His miraculous works. John declared that this was His first miracle and His
glory was manifested, and His disciples believed in Him because of it.
Some may protest my reasoning by pointing out that Jesus told Mary that His hour had not
yet come. By putting forth this argument they suggest that Jesus was saying His time for
performing miracles had not yet come. Therefore, the fact that He did the miracle suggests
He did it because Mary asked Him to. But the real meaning of this miracle is much deeper and
much more hidden from the carnal mind then they may ever know.
Jesus told His mother: "My hour has not yet come." On two other occasions John tells us
that the Jews tried to seize Jesus but could not because "His hour had not yet come."
(7:30, 8:21) John later explains what he meant by "His hour." "Now before the feast of
the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world
to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end."
(John 13:1) There are several occasions in John's gospel where Jesus said, "The hour has
come," but "His hour," or "My hour" is specific to His passion, death, and resurrection.
If what I say is true, why did Jesus declare that His hour had not yet come at this wedding
feast? What is the significance of His proclamation? The wedding feast itself is the
significance. As I mentioned before, Jesus may have timed His arrival for the precise
moment that they ran out of wine. This situation then became an opportunity for Jesus to
teach His disciples something that would take years for them to understand - the wedding
of the Lamb (which is Christ and His church).
From Matthew's account of the last supper when Jesus gave them the cup to drink, He said,
"For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of
sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that
day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom."
In the Jewish culture when a man and woman were betrothed, the man would sign a contract
with the father of the woman. If the woman agreed to the contract, she (the bride) and he
(the bridegroom) would both drink from a cup of wine thus sealing the contract. From that
moment on they would be considered husband and wife. The bridegroom would then go and
prepare a place for them at his father's house. When the work was complete and the
preparations for the wedding feast were finished, the bridegroom would return with a
company of men for his bride. He would take her back to his father's house and there all
who were invited would celebrate the wedding feast.
When we celebrate communion together as Christians, we show forth our commitment to
Christ, our bridegroom, whom will one day soon return for His bride the church. When we
return to Him, all things will be new. Thus, the wedding feast in Cana was a model of the
wedding feast that will take place in heaven.
It's important to understand this wedding feast as representing two distinct time periods -
before the new covenant and after. First, the wedding feast was held with common wine
representing the old covenant. Then, at the appointed time, Christ came and cleansed us
with His blood. The water in the pots used for the purpose of purifying represents this.
Consider Paul's command to Christian husbands:
"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,
that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might
present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but
that she should be holy and without blemish." (Ephesians 5:25-27)
By changing the water into wine, Jesus was showing that the kingdom of Heaven was at hand
and also the new covenant which was sealed by His blood. Therefore Jesus proclaimed His
hour that was yet to come by this miracle in Cana. And just as God the Father is well
pleased with His Son, the master of the wedding feast was well pleased with the new wine!
No doubt Mary was blessed; after all, she was chosen to be the mother of our Lord. But
does this mean she intercedes for us? Consider what Jesus said about John the Baptist:
"Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than
John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he."
(Mat. 11:11)
This is just one occasion where Jesus emphasized the blessings of being in the Kingdom of
Heaven over any blessings that have come before. Nothing can compare to the blessing of
being in Christ, not even being chosen to be His mother. The miracle Jesus performed in
Cana was by no means a response to the request of Mary, but rather a sign to His disciples
that showed His glory with a definite meaning.
Go to part Two of this article: The Three Scenarios of The Brethren of The Lord
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