Primary Education www.GodsAcres.
org
Church of God
Sunday School
THE WEDDING AT CANA: THE FIRST MIRACLE
John 2:1-11
Standing nearby were six empty stone waterpots.
These were not regular waterpots. These waterpots
were used for the ceremonial washes (Mark 7:3). Each
waterpot was big enough to hold 2 or 3 firkins (about
20 or 30 gallons) of water. When filled, these water-
pots would have been too heavy to pick up. These
waterpots were not usually used for wine.
Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the waterpots with
water." So they filled them up to the brim with water!
(If there were 6 waterpots and each held 20 gallons,
The village of Cana (KAY-nuh) in Galilee was how much wine did Jesus provide for the wedding?)
located a few miles northeast of Nazareth, the town Then Jesus told the servants to draw some out and
where Jesus grew up. It was on the road to Capernaum take it to the governor of the feast, the one in charge of
(kuh-PUHR-nee-uhm), the city where the ancient the wedding festivities. The governor did not know that
synagogue was. No doubt, Jesus had been through the wine had been water—but the servants knew! No
Cana many times. doubt, they were waiting to see what the governor
Sometime after Jesus had chosen His disciples, a would do!
wedding took place in Cana. Jesus and His disciples When the governor tasted the water that was
were invited to it. We are not told whose wedding it turned to wine, he called for the bridegroom and said
was, but it was apparently a Jewish wedding. A Jewish to him, "Every man at the beginning doth set forth
wedding feast lasted for several days, and all the good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that
friends and neighbors of the couple were invited. which is worse [or not as good]: but thou hast kept the
In order to have such a large wedding reception, good wine until now."
much food had to be prepared. Sometime during the The bridegroom might not have known where the
wedding feast though, the wine ran out (it was not the wine had come from or what the governor was talking
alcoholic kind that makes one drunk). The people about, but remember, the servants knew! They knew
wanted more wine, and they began to whisper among they had filled those stone pots with plain, ordinary
themselves that there was no more wine. Had everyone water. Even though they did not know how it had
been served? What an awful thing to have happened at happened, they knew that the water had changed into
a wedding—to run out of some of the refreshments! wine because Jesus had been involved. He was the One
Mary, the mother of Jesus, heard that there was no who worked the miracle. Sometime after the waterpots
more wine. She turned to Jesus and said, "They have were filled with water and before the governor tasted
no wine." it—the water had turned to wine!
Jesus said, in so many words: "Dear woman, what This was the very first miracle that was done by
is that to you and to Me? Why do you involve Me? My Jesus. It manifested, or showed plainly and clearly,
time to act is not come yet." Jesus' great power and glory. It also caused Jesus'
Mary might not have understood what Jesus meant, disciples to believe on Him. Jesus did many more
but she was trusting Him to fill the need. Although miracles after that. Each one manifested His great
Mary was the earthly mother of Jesus, He was also her power and glory, but Jesus gave the glory right back to
Lord. She told the servants to do whatever Jesus the Father. He said He could do nothing of Himself;
instructed them to do. Mary knew that He would He only did that which He saw the Father do (see John
provide the wine that was needed. 5:19).
C opyright © 2008 C hurch of God, Inc. 1 The Wedding at Cana: The First Miracle
Primary Education www.GodsAcres.org
MEMORY VERSE:
"For great is the LO R D , and greatly to be praised: he also is to be feared above all gods."
—1 Chronicles 16:25
"Thou hast kept the good wine until now."
Fill in the Blanks
Jesus and His disciples were invited to a ____________________________.
Sometime during the wedding feast, the ________________________ ran out.
_________________, the mother of Jesus, told Jesus, "They have no wine."
Jesus told the servants to fill the ________________________________ with
water. The _________________________ tasted the wine. He said, "Thou hast
kept the good wine until ________________."
This was Jesus' first _______________________. Jesus gave all the glory
to _______________________________.
wine Mary God miracle
wedding now governor waterpots
C opyright © 2008 C hurch of God, Inc. 2 The Wedding at Cana: The First Miracle
Primary Education www.GodsAcres.org
C opyright © 2008 C hurch of God, Inc. 3 The Wedding at Cana: The First Miracle
