I am taking my family through John during family worship currently, so this text is still fresh on my mind.
I think there is more to be gleaned in teaching this text than just Jesus values marriage and can transform nature. Both of those truths are still paramount and worth dwelling on. But all of the miracles of Christ pointed (in some way) to what he came to accomplish. Matthew Henry exert below on the text (only partial as the full commentary is LONG):
“The beginning of Moses’s miracles was turning water into blood (
Ex. 4:9 Ex. 7:20 ), the beginning of Christ’s miracles was turning water into wine; which intimates the difference between the law of Moses and the gospel of Christ. The curse of the law turns water into blood, common comforts into bitterness and terror; the blessing of the gospel turns water into wine. Christ hereby showed that his errand into the world was to heighten and improve creature-comforts to all believers, and make them comforts indeed. Shiloh is said to wash his garments in wine (
Gen. 49:11 ), the water for washing being turned into wine. And the gospel call is, Come ye to the waters, and buy wine,
Isa. 55:1 .[2.] The circumstances of it magnified it and freed it from all suspicion of cheat or collusion; for,First, It was done in water-pots (
v. 6): There were set there six water-pots of stone. Observe, 1. For what use these water-pots were intended: for the legal purifications from ceremonial pollutions enjoined by the law of God, and many more by the tradition of the elders. The Jews eat not, except they wash often (
Mk. 7:3 ), and they used much water in their washing, for which reason here were six large water-pots provided. It was a saying among them, Qui multâ utitur aquâ in lavando, multas consequetur in hoc mundo divitias—He who uses much water in washing will gain much wealth in this world. 2. To what use Christ put them, quite different from what they were intended for; to be the receptacles of the miraculous wine. Thus Christ came to bring in the grace of the gospel, which is as wine, that cheereth God and man (
Jdg. 9:13 ), instead of the shadows of the law, which were as water, weak and beggarly elements. These were water-pots, that had never been used to have wine in them; and of stone, which is not apt to retain the scent of former liquors, if ever they had had wine in them. They contained two or three firkins apiece;two or three measures, baths, or ephahs; the quantity is uncertain, but very considerable. We may be sure that it was not intended to be all drank at this feast, but for a further kindness to the new-married couple, as the multiplied oil was to the poor widow, out of which she might pay her debt, and live of the rest,
2 Ki. 4:7 . Christ gives like himself, gives abundantly, according to his riches in glory. It is the penman’s language to say, They contained two or three firkins, for the Holy Spirit could have ascertained just how much; thus (as
ch. 6:19 ) teaching us to speak cautiously, and not confidently, of those things of which we have not good assurance.Secondly, The water-pots were filled up to the brim by the servants at Christ’s word,
v. 7. As Moses, the servant of the Lord, when God bade him, went to the rock, to draw water; so these servants, when Christ bade them, went to the water, to fetch wine. Note, Since no difficulties can be opposed to the arm of God’s power, no improbabilities are to be objected against the word of his command.Thirdly, The miracle was wrought suddenly, and in such a manner as greatly magnified it.a. As soon as they had filled the water-pots, presently he said, Draw out now(
v. 8), and it was done, (a. ) Without any ceremony, in the eye of the spectators.”
Hope this helps you brother.
MH is my “go to” so often. I had never heard of quadriga.... so I read Some of the linked article.
I do Not think Matthew Henry is here guilty of taking the text beyond its intent. I think all of his implications are grounded in the specific text, the context of The whole book of John, the broader context of the NT, and further the broadest context of the whole of scripture....
I don’t know about you, but that sounds like good Exegesis to me (zoom in and Zoom out)
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