A Paraphrase on the New Testament, John · Chapter 2
CHAP. II.
AND the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jeſus was there. 2 And both Jeſus was called, and his diſciples to the marriage.
1, 2. Chriſt refus'd not that familiar converſe which Marriage feaſts are uſed to.
3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jeſus ſaith unto him, They have no wine 4 Jeſus ſaith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.
3, 4. Theſe words are not a breach of the fifth Commandment; but as much as to ſay [I am not to do Miracles] by the direction of a Mothers Authority or by man, but in the time and manner as by the Divine Wiſdome ſhall be determined. And by this and other paſſages, Chriſt ſeems to foreſee how Papiſts would overvalue his Mother.
5 His mother ſaith unto the ſervants, whatſoever he ſaith unto you, do it.
5. N. She believed his Power, though he repreſt her Preſumption.
6 And there were ſet there ſix waterpots of ſtone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins a piece. 7 Jeſus ſaith unto them, Fill the water-pots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he ſaith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feaſt. And they bare it.
6, &c. Note, It is conjectured to be about 1000 eight hundred pounds or pints o… Wine that Chriſt made: which ſhewed that the Gueſts were very many, or that he was at ſuch Feſtivals for freer drinking of Wine than is fit among us; perhaps all their Wine was ſmall, and not all of it then drunk: but this and the like occaſioned the Phariſees cenſure of him.
9 When the ruler of the feaſt had taſted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was, (but the ſervants which drew the water knew) the governor of the feaſt called the bridegroom, 10 And ſaith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth ſet forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worſe; but thou haſt kept the good wine until now.
9. Mariages among the Jews were celebrated with great Feaſting, where moderate jocundity was thought ſeaſonable: The reaſon Chriſt giveth for his Diſciples not faſting, was becauſe the Bridegroom was yet with them. When they had drunk to temperate hilarity, ſmall Wine was moſt ſuitable: (The vulgar Latin is [when they are drunk] and perhaps with Drunkards that might be the cuſtom, to bring ſmaller Wine when they could not well diſtinguiſh them.)
11 This beginning of miracles did Jeſus in Cana of Galilee, and manifeſted forth his glory, and his diſciples, believed on him.
11. By this he ſhewed them his Divine Power, and convinced his Diſciples that he was the Meſſiah.
12 After this, he went down to Capernaum, he and his Mother, and his Brethen, and his diſciples, and they continued there not many days. 13 And the Jews paſſover was at hand, and Jeſus went up to Jeruſalem, 14 And found in the temple thoſe that ſold oxen, and ſheep, and doves, and the changers of money, ſitting. 15 And when he had made a ſcourge of ſmall cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the ſheep, and the oxen, and poured out the changers mony, and overthrew the tables; 16 And ſaid unto them that ſold doves, Take theſe things hence; make not my Fathers houſe an houſe of merchandiſe.
12, &c. It ſeems probable, that Chriſt did thus cleanſe the Temple twice: And that this is not the ſame Hiſtory with that, Matt. 21. though indeed its very like it.
17 And his diſciples remembred that it was written, The zeal of thine houſe hath eaten me up.
17. They believed, that his zeal for Gods houſe, might warrant this action in the Meſſiah, as Pſ. 69.9.
18 Then anſwered the Jews, and ſaid unto him, what ſign ſheweſt thou unto us, ſeeing that thou doeſt theſe things?
18. Theſe arbitrary actions require ſome extraordinary Commiſſion to warrant them; By what ſign doſt thou prove that thou haſt ſuch authority.
19 Jeſus anſwered and ſaid unto them, Deſ…roy this temple, and in three days, I will raiſe it up. 20 Then ſaid the Jews, Forty and ſix years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days. 21 But he ſpake of the temple of his body.
19, N. He told them enigmatically what ſhould be after plainly expounded. Many Prophecies written darkly, are not intended to be preſently underſtood, but when they are fulfilled.
22 When therefore he vvas riſen from the dead, his diſciples remembred that he had ſaid this unto them: and they believed the ſcripture, and the vvord vvhichwhich Jeſus had ſaid.
22. When this was performed by his Reſurrection, his Diſciples believed the Propheſies of him, and his own words.
23 Novv vvhen he vvas in Jeruſalem at the paſſover, in the feaſt day, many believed in his name, vvhen they ſavv the miracles vvhichwhich he did.
23. His miracles made many believe that he was the Chriſt, that yet were no through Diſciples.
24 But Jeſus did not commit himſelf unto them, becauſe he knevv all men, 25 And needed not that any ſhould teſtifie of man: for he knevv vvhat vvas in man.
24, 25. But Chriſt that knew the hearts of Men, and how many have but an unrooted, mutable, uneffectual belief, would not truſt himſelf into their hands by familiarity