Annotations Upon the New Testament, John · Chapter 2
CHAP. II.
Verse 1. Third day] After Christ came into Galilee. Rolloc. After he went from Iohn. Beza hath both. Tolet reckons up five severall expositions, but follows that of Origens, as most probable, which numbers the third day from the calling of Philip, and Christs going into Galilee, for this was the last time described by the Evangelist. It is probable that some of Christs kinsmen married a wife,Scriptores ex multis circumstantiis colligunt, vel sponsum vel sponsam fuisse ex cognatione Mariae. Polyc. Lyser. for Christ is here added as a companion to his mother. Calv.
Vers. 3. They have no wine] Because she knew that the Messias would worke miracles, and Jesus was declared to be the Messias, therefore she expects some such thing as the Prophets foretold.
Vers. 4. Woman] As if he should say, in this case thou ceasest to be a mother, and art to be reputed as a bare woman.Non hoc reprehendit, quod de proximi difficultatibus sollicitae intercedit pro aliis, hoc enim est mandatum charitatis. Rectè etiam facit, quod Christum ipsum interpellat. Sed hoc vult di cere, in ijs quae ad officium meum pertinent, ut in exaudiendis precibus, in conferendis beneficiis divinis, nihil mihi & tibi est, nullum hic tuum jus, nulla aucteritas est, nihil in hoc officio commune mihi tecum est. Ideo appellat non matrem sed mulierem. Polyc. Lyser. Mulierem vocat matrem suam hic & Joh. 19.16. ut ostendat se alium esse & majorem aliquem quam Mariae filium. Rolloc. What have I to doe with thee] A meere Hebraisme, Josh. 22.24. as if he should say, in this businesse I am not to be advised by you, neither will I; He reprehends this in her, viz. that for the prerogative of carnall kindred she thought Christ was obliged to doe this for her and her kindred, Matth. 12.48. Luke 11.17. See Rolloc.
Mine houre is not yet come] That is, fit and opportune time, Rom. 13.11. Rev. 14.15. Iohn 13.1. Luke 22.53. When the wine was quite spent, when all took notice of the want, lest water should have seemed to have been mixt with wine, when all things were almost desperate, then is Christs houre, by this meanes the miracle is made more famous, than if he had prevented the defect of wine.
Vers. 8. Draw out now and bear unto the Governour of the feast] Because this belonged to his office who was the taster, and who could judge of the goodnesse of the wine.
Vers. 10. Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine, and when men have well drunke, Vide Martial. epig. l. 1.24.then that which is worse] It was a custome in the beginning of their feasts to give the best wine, and to reserve the worser unto the last, to which Custome our Saviour alludes.
Vers. 11. This beginning of Miracles did Iesus in Cana of Galilee] The Evangelist twice names the place where this miracle was first shewed,Polyc. Lyser. Canah] Signifies a Reed, Reeds grew round about this Town. Interpretor hoc fuisse primum signum, non omnium ominò quae fecit Christus, nec eorum quae eo fecit loco, sed eorum quae fecit, ut gloriam suam palam manifestaret, ut Iohannes ipse indicat, utque sese ostenderet esse Christum. Maldonat. in loc. for the certainty of the miracle, and distinctly names it Cana of Galilee. That is, the miracles which Jesus shewed in the time of his ministry had such a beginning, so that this which was done in Cana of Galilee was the first. Admirable revelations were made in the birth and Baptism of Christ, but the Evangelist speakes of those things which Christ himself being incarnate properly did.
And manifested forth his glory] Viz. That this Jesus is the Son of God and the Messiah.
And his Disciples beleeved on him] Beleeved that his doctrine which he was about to deliver was true, divine, and heavenly. 2. They trusted beleeving that they should have eternall life through his name.
Vers. 12. He went down to Capernaum] Which is a daies journey distant from Cana, Iohn 4.52. It was a principall City, a famous mart Town, and as is were, the Metropolis of Galilee, thither therefore presently he went after he had shewed this miracle, that his glory there might be manifested to many, and might be farther spread for the celebrity of the place and frequent commerce, and would prevent him about to go to Ierusalem, and therefore he brought thither the Disciples that were his kinsmen with him, who might testifie of that miracle which they saw.
Vers. 16. My Fathers house] My Father, not our Father; therefore he shews that he is the only begotten Son of God, and that the purging of the Temple belongs to him. He calls the Temple the house of God, because God promised that he would dwell there, and hear his people, by exercising his power.Polyc. Lyser.
Vers. 19. Destroy this Temple] By the Temple he understands his body, ver. 21.Non jubētis est, aut adhortantis ad caedem, sed partim praedicentis partim permittentis, sicut Judae dicit, quod facis faccito. Polyc. Lyser. That is, his humane nature being figured by the materiall Temple; that is, if ye shall destroy, as Prov. 25.4. and Ephes. 4.26.
Ver. 20. The Jewes presently, as if they had gotten the occasion of calumniating, which they sought for, crie out, forty six years was this Temple in building, and repeat also that calumny after three dayes in the history of the Passion; forty six yeares happened between the first laying of the foundation of the Temple of Zerubbabel and the consummation and dedication of it.
Ver. 22. And they beleeved the Scripture, and the word which Iesus had said] That is, they understood the Scripture, and that speech of Christ in his death and resurrection being fulfilled.
Ver. 24. Did not commit himself unto them] He did not acknowledge them for true Beleevers.