Berean Standard Bible
(BSB)

The Wedding at Cana

^<1>On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, ^<2>and Jesus and His disciples had also been invited to the wedding. ^<3>When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother said to Him, “They have no more wine.”

^<4>“Woman, why does this concern us?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”

^<5>His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.”

^<6>Now six stone water jars had been set there for the Jewish rites of purification. Each could hold from twenty to thirty gallons.^{1 <7>}Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.”

So they filled them to the brim.

^<8>“Now draw some out,” He said, “and take it to the master of the banquet.”

They did so, ^<9>and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not know where it was from, but the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside ^<10>and said, “Everyone serves the fine wine first, and then the cheap wine after the guests are drunk. But you have saved the fine wine until now!”

^<11>Jesus performed this, the first of His signs, at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.

^<12>After this, He went down to Capernaum with His mother and brothers and His disciples, and they stayed there a few days.

Word Come Alive
(WCA)
(An extended translation)*

Jesus changes water into wine

^<1–2>Three days later Jesus, his mother and his apprentices were invited to a wedding in Cana in Galilee. ^<3>Part of the way through the celebrations, something very embarrassing happened—the wine ran out. Mary, Jesus’ mother, noticed this and, hoping he could help, told him, ‘They’ve run out of wine!’

^<4>‘Dear woman,’ Jesus answered her firmly, but not harshly. ‘That is none of our business. I will act at the right time, but not before. The right time hasn’t yet come.’

^<5>Jesus’ mother knew that he wouldn’t just walk away from the difficulty, so she told the servants, ‘Just follow Jesus’ instructions, whatever they are.’

^<6>Nearby were six ordinary stone water jars, the kind used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each water jar was enormous and could hold about 100 litres.

^<7>Jesus told the servants, ‘Fill up those jars with water.’ That is what they did. They took Jesus at his word and poured water into all the jars so that each was full to the brim.

^<8>Then Jesus told the servants, ‘What I want you to do now is to draw off some of the water and take it to the master of ceremonies.’ Again, they followed Jesus’ words exactly.

^<9>When the master of ceremonies tasted the drink, he couldn’t believe it. It was the best wine he had ever tasted! He didn’t know where the wine came from—that Jesus had performed a miracle by changing water into wine—although the servants who had drawn off the water knew.

The master of ceremonies took the bridegroom aside ^<10>and told him, ‘What people usually do is serve the finest wine first. Then later, when the guests have had too much to drink, the tasteless wine is brought out, so they won’t be able to tell the difference. But you have saved the best wine till last. Congratulations on your excellent choice!’

^<11>This miracle that Jesus performed in Cana was the first of the signs that demonstrated his power and revealed his glory. What his apprentices saw with their own eyes deepened their trust in him.

^<12>After Jesus had performed this miracle, he travelled to Capernaum with his mother, brothers and apprentices. They stayed there a few days.

Study Guide

► What were some of the results of Jesus changing the water into wine?

► What Jesus did with the water was a miracle, an extraordinary event that defies the laws of nature and science. Why was it called a “sign” in verse 11?

► What does this passage teach about Jesus?

► How does this passage relate to the purpose of the Gospel of John (John 20:31)?

► Based on this passage, what does or doesn’t God want us to know, feel, think, say, and/or do?

Study Resources