BSTHEO 221/321
Sample Exegesis
Exegetical Essay: John 2.1-121
The Wedding at Cana
This passage is about a wedding a Cana that Jesus and his disciples attend. The wine
runs out and this provides an occasion for Jesus to turn water into high quality wine,
thus providing his disciples with a ‘sign’ pointing to his identity and his
significance.(A)2
The transition to this story is made by a time reference ("on the third day") which links
back to 1.43, that is, the third day after Jesus decided to go to Galilee, and the day on
which Nathanael met him. If we count four days in the first chapter (to which the text
clearly points cf. 1.29,35,43), then the wedding takes place on the seventh day after
the beginning of narrative time. On the other hand, ‘the third day’ (v.1) may point to
either a symbolic reference to the day of resurrection, or to the ‘seventh’ day of
creation (or the eighth?) - in this story a day of ‘new creation’. (B)3
Jesus’ reply to this mother (v.4) implies that he is distancing himself from her. The
effect of this is to
(a) suggest that she has no claim over him. His agenda will not be set by others (cf.
also 7.3-8).
(b) suggest that while this event will point to Jesus’ glory, there is an ‘hour’ coming
which is the high point of Jesus’ glorification (i.e. the crucifixion).
(c) suggest that despite a setback (Jesus’ ‘rebuke’ to his mother), true faith is
persistent, trusting faith (see v. 5). This kind of faith will be rewarded (cf. 4.46-54).
The changing of water into wine (water drawn from jars used for Jewish purification
rites [?]) represents the ‘new creation’ that Jesus brings. It demonstrates that in Jesus
the old order is replaced by a new one. (C)4
Some of the historical, theological and literary issues raised by the passage are:
1. Does this story reflect an actual incident drawn from the ministry of Jesus, or is it
created -perhaps drawing on the myth of Dionysus, or as a deliberate echo of
Elijah/Elisha traditions - to bring out some spiritual truths? [Historical issue]
2. How much symbolism can we legitimately see in this story? [Theological/literary
issue]
3. What is the place of this story in the developing/overall Gospel story?
[Literary/theological issue](D)5
1
The footnotes provide a guide to developing this into a full essay, or how the various elements relate
to the steps in the document “Doing an exegetical exercise and writing an exegetical essay”.
2
(A) Step 1: Introduction or summary of passage.
3
(B) This paragraph can be related to both Step 2, or to Step 3 in that it includes some discussion of an
exegetical issue or problem, namely, how to understand the phrase “the third day”, or could also include
discussion of how many days are intended (see the commentaries).
4
(C) Step 3: The points in this paragraph could be expanded by further analysis of the words and
phrases, “Woman” (how should this be understood: as a brush off, or a respectful address in the first
century?); “what concern is that to you an me?” (this could be literally translated from the Greek: “what
to you and me?”); or a discussion of Jesus’ “hour” and what this relates to, or how it plays out later in
the Gospel; or, indeed, how this passage fits with the next in terms of the way in which Jesus “replaces”
the old order (on all of these, see the commentaries).
BSTHEO 221/321
Sample Exegesis
We note that the passage begins a series of units that ends with another miracle at
Cana (2.1-4.54). Thus we have a segment of the Gospel we could describe as ‘Cana
to Cana’ that is ‘organised to convey [the theme of] “the old has gone, the new has
come”’.6 We have here, then, a story in which the old ‘water’ of Jewish ritual is
replace by the ‘better wine’ of the kingdom of God. Then follows a story (the Temple
cleansing, 2.13-25) where the old Temple is replaced by the Risen Lord (whose body
is a new temple). Next a discussion develops about a new birth for a new creation
(Nicodemus, 3.1-21). In chapter four, we have an encounter between Jesus and a
Samaritan woman where living water from the Christ is offered in place of ordinary
water from Jacob’s well, and where they engage in a theological discussion wherein
worship in Jerusalem or on Mount Gerizim is set against worship ‘in Spirit and in
truth’ (4.19-24).(E)7
Secondarily, we have in Mary an example of faith that persists in the face of an
apparent rebuff, just as the official’s faith also persists (4.46-54). The disciples see
the miracle of the water into wine and put their faith in Jesus (v.11). This is a faith, or
a trust, which will be tested (cf. 6.60-71).(F)8
Bibliography
Brodie, Thomas L. The Gospel According to John: A Literary and Theological Commentary. New
York: Oxford University Press, 1993.
Brown, Raymond E. The Gospel According to John I-XII, The Anchor Bible 29. New York:
Doubleday, 1966.
Carson, D. A. The Gospel According to John. Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press, 1991.
Morris, Leon. The Gospel According to John. Revised ed, The New International Commentary on the
New Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1995.
Smith, D. M. John, Abingdon New Testament Commentaries. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1999.
5
Step 4: Obviously each of these could be expanded; and you might concentrate on one more than
another.
6
D. A. Carson, The Gospel According to John (Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press, 1991), 166.
7
Step 5: this paragraph includes some discussion of theological themes. On the other hand, it also might
serve as part of Step 2, as a discussion of the place of the passage in the overall development of the
Gospel. This could remain here: or be transferred closer to the beginning. How you lay out your essay
depends upon how you want to develop your argument.
8
Step 5. This and the previous paragraph might well be followed by a concluding paragraph that relates
the passage to your contemporary context. I have left that part undeveloped, though perhaps you can see
some ways in which these themes can be applied to a Step 6.