John 2

 

 1 And (1) the (a) third day, was there a marriage in Cana a town of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.

 

(1) Christ declaring openly in an assembly by a notable miracle, that he hath power over the nature of things, to feed man's body, leadeth the minds of all men, to his spiritual and saving virtue and power.
(a) After the talk which he had with Nathanael, or after that he departed from John, or after that he came into Galilee.  

 

 2 And Jesus was called also, and his disciples unto the marriage.

 

 3  (2) Now when the wine failed, the mother of Jesus said unto him, They have no wine.

 

(2) Christ is careful enough of our salvation, and therefore hath no need of others to put him in mind of it.

 

 4 Jesus said unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? Mine (b) hour is not yet come.

 

(b) Mine appointed time.

 

 5 His mother said unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.

 

 6 And there were set there, six (c) waterpots of stone, after the manner of the (*) purifying of the Jews, containing two or three (d) (♣) (♠) firkins a piece.

 

(c) These were vessels appointed for water, wherein they washed themselves.

(*) Who used continual washings to purify themselves, Which superstition Hebion the heretic would have brought into the Church and now the Papists have received it.
(d) Every firkin contained a hundred pounds, at twelve ounces the pound; Whereby we gather that Christ help them with a thousand and eight hundred pounds of wine.

(♣) Or, measures.

(♠) Whereof every one contained 15 gallons.

 

 7 And Jesus said unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. Then they filled them up to the brim.

 

 8 Then he said unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the (*) governor of the feast. So they bare it.

 

(*) Or, steward.

 

 9 Now when the governor of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, (for he knew not whence it was, but the servants, which drew the water, knew) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,

 

 10 And said unto him, All men at the beginning set forth good wine, and when men have (e) well drunk, then that which is worse; but thou hast kept back the good wine until now.

 

(e) Word for word, are drunken. Now this speech, to be drunken, is not always taken in evil part in the Hebrew tongue, but signifieth sometime such store, and plentiful use of wine, as doth not pass measure, as Genesis 43:34 .

 

 11 This beginning of (*) miracles did Jesus in Cana a town of Galilee, and shewed forth his glory, and his disciples believed on him.

 

(*) Or, signs.

 

 12 After that, he went down into Capernaum, he and his mother, and his (f) (*) brethren, and his disciples; but they continued not many days there.

 

(f) That is, his cousins.

(*) Or, cousins.

 

 13  (3) For the Jews’ Passover was at hand. Therefore Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

 

(3) Christ being made subject to the Law for us, satisfieth the Law of the Passover.          

 

 14  (4) (*) And he found in the Temple those that sold oxen, and sheep, and doves, and changers of money, sitting there.

 

(4) Christ being ordained to purge the Church, doeth with great zeal begin his office both of Priest and Prophet.

(*) Matthew 21:12; Mark 11:17; Luke 19:46 .

 

 15 Then he made a scourge of small cords, and drave them all out of the Temple with the sheep and oxen, and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew their tables,

 

 16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my father’s house, a house of merchandise.

 

 17 And his disciples remembered, that it was written, (*) The (g) (♣) zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.

 

(*) Psalm 69:9 .

(g) Zeal in this place is taken for a wrathful indignation and displeasure of the mind, conceived of some naughty and evil dealing towards them whom we love well.

(♣) This affection was so burning in him, that it surmounted and swallowed up all the others.

 

 18  (5) Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, What (h) (*) sign shewest thou unto us, that thou doest these things?

 

(5) Against them which so bind God to an ordinary calling which they themselves most shamefully abuse, that they will not admit an extraordinary, which God confirmeth from heaven, (and they although in vain would have it extinguished) unless it be sealed with outward and bodily miracles.
(h) With what miracle doest thou confirm it, that we may see that heavenly power and virtue, which giveth thee authority to speak and do thus?

(*) Or, miracle.

 

 19 Jesus answered and said unto them, (*) Destroy this Temple, and in three days I will raise it up again.

 

(*) Matthew 26:61; Matthew 27:40; Mark 14:58; Mark 15:29 .

 

 20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this Temple a building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?

 

 21 But he spake of the (i) temple of his (*) body.

 

(i) That is, of his body.

(*) Christ’s body might justly be called the temple, because the fullness of the Godhead dwelleth in it corporally, Colossians 2:9 .

 

 22 As soon therefore as he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he thus said unto them; and they believed the Scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.

 

 23 Now when he was at Jerusalem at the Passover in the feast, many believed in his Name, when they saw his miracles which he did.

 

 24  (6) But Jesus (*) did not commit himself unto them, because he knew them all,

 

(6) It is not good crediting them, which stand only upon miracles.

(*) For he took not them for true disciples, as he knew by their inward thoughts, what religion forever they did pretend outwardly.

 

 25  (7) And had no need that any should testify of man, for he knew what was in man.

 

(7) Christ is the searcher of hearts, and therefore true God.