John 2:1-11

1. Cana (modern name KafrKanna; also known as Khirbet Cana) is a Galilean town five miles northeast of Nazareth.

2. John 2:1-11 • John 2:1-11 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." 4 And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come." 5 His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." 6 Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to them, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim. 8 He said to them, "Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward." So they took it. 9 When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, "Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now." 11 Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

3. Bible Study • Imagine you were the hosts of the wedding and the wine had run out. What is your reaction? • Why did the mother of Jesus come to him about the wine problem? • What did Jesus mean when he said “my time has not yet come?”

4. The Franciscan Wedding Church at CanaHistory records that a church was built in Cana by Empress Helena (mother of Constantine) in the 4th century, and this was identified with the remains of a large building found by travellers to KafrKanna in the 17th century. The Franciscans became established here in 1641 and began building the present church over an older church in 1879. It was consecrated in 1883.

5. Stone JarThe Jars were for the purpose of Jews washing their hands before they begin to eat and for other purification purposes. Each stone jars, can approximately contain 20 gallons of water. So, its about 120 gallons of water (~450 liters).

6. In Eastern cultures, wedding was like a social event, family, friends, distant relatives, neighbors are all invited. Wedding celebration can go upto 2-3, even 7 days. Lots of time to drink the wine!

9. We went at night so did not take this picture, but this is the market that surrounds the church