When we consider the miracles of Jesus, we often think about remarkable healings or nature defied, which are of course important. However, it is interesting to note that the very first miracle Jesus did was as seemingly simple as a drink transformation. This lesson looks at the events of the Wedding at Cana, and how it demonstrates that God cares about every detail of our lives. We also see the importance of trusting in who Jesus is and believing that He can take ordinary things and make them extraordinary.
The miracles of Jesus demonstrate that He truly is the son of God, capable of anything and everything. Of course, the most remarkable miracle Jesus gave was the Resurrection, through which we have the hope of eternal life and sins erased. In this event, we witness how Jesus turns plain water into the most delicious of wines. We also see the power of following instructions. Jesus told the servants to fill jars with water, and that simple act of obedience enabled His miracle. We can be vessels of God’s Will and give Him our seemingly simple lives to be transformed by His power and strength.
Sunday School Lesson on John 2 for Children: Jesus first miracle in the wedding feast
Passage: John 2:1-11
Target Audience: Kindergarten-6th grade
Materials Needed: Construction paper; glue; markers or crayons; tape; scissors; decorative supplies; yarn/string; cups; items to sample; water bottles; buckets; Bibles.
Lesson Opening: This lesson examines the wedding at Cana and the first miracle of Jesus, transforming water into wine. There are some great potential games and crafts that can accompany the account. To get thoughts started, use one of the following activities, or design some of your own.
- Water filling relay: the servants in the story filled the water jars when Jesus asked them to do so. In honor of that, have students team up, line up, and race back and forth filling buckets with cups, sponges or jars. If it’s a warm day, poke holes in the cups and have students pass them across heads for a refreshing twist!
- Taste tests: The wine that Jesus made was the best tasted! Have students do a taste test to rank items, whether food or drink. You might even have a blind taste test to rate store-brand versus name-brand products.
- Kitchen transformation: Make a simple recipe or prepare a drink from a mix to demonstrate how items can be changed by cooking chemistry. Of course, point out that those things are not quite the same as miracles, but Jesus does provide for us with daily miracles in a sense, when He gives us what we need for life.
- Best of the best: Jesus didn’t just make wine, but He made the very best wine! Provide several categories and have students identify what they think is the best item in each category (for example, potato chips, candy bar, soda, fruit, sports team, singer, etc.).
- Trust course: set up an obstacle course, and have students partner up to lead one another through it. One person in the partnership must wear a blindfold and listen to the guidance of the partner. Talk about how Mary and the servants trusted in what Jesus could do, and we can, too.
Explain that the lesson is about the very first miracle that Jesus did on Earth, and reminds us of how God cares for us in all things, and we can trust Him to provide for us.
Bible Lesson: (John 2) Sunday School Lesson for Kids Explained for Children “Jesus Miracle in the Wedding Feast“
Bible Lesson:
This account is a fascinating display of the power of Jesus. It’s a fun one to act out with students as a skit or role play, or to at least include some form of miming action. Pause to discuss the story as you read it with students.
On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. -John 2:1-2
It’s interesting to see that Jesus was invited to weddings, and reminds us of a few things. Jesus was a human, of course, and attended human gatherings and fun parties! He participated in special life events. We know that Jesus wants to be involved in our weddings and family lives, too. We aren’t sure whose wedding this was, but they wanted Jesus and His disciples there as part of the celebration. The mother of Jesus was there, as well, although Joseph is not mentioned, and had probably passed away by then.
Ask: Have you ever been to a wedding before? What happens at weddings?
When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” -John 2:3-5
Mention that wine, in that day, was what most people drank, since water was usually not clean enough to be healthy, and soda or juice were not in supply. (The wine then was diluted with water, so it was probably lower in alcohol content than today, too.) Running out of wine was a big faux pas, and even a source of potential social disgrace. Additionally, wine was considered a symbol of joy, so running out at a wedding might have seemed like a projection of future joylessness. Mary brought this to the attention of Jesus, knowing who He was and what He could do. At first, Jesus seemed to indicate that it wasn’t time for His earthly miracles to begin. In fact, He didn’t even address Mary as Mother, indicating that His relationship with her had changed. But perhaps Jesus prayed and God revealed that this was the right time, considering the next events. Mary, trusting in His power, advised the servants to do whatever Jesus told them.
Ask: Do you know anyone who you always obey?
Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. -John 2:6-8
Jesus started with something pretty simple, something that was already there. He could have made wine from nothing at all, but He used water. He also used the servants, allowing them to be part of the miracle. They obeyed Him and filled the jars all the way up. They also followed the next instruction, which might have seemed risky. They knew they filled the jars with water, and if they brought water to the master of the feast, it would certainly mean trouble. But they followed through and took the drink to him to taste.
Ask: Have you ever done something without knowing what the outcome would be? What does it mean to trust in someone?
When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” 11 This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him. -John 2:9-11
The water was now wine! And excellent wine, at that. Jesus had not just provided, but provided in an amazing way, and to a great extent. With six jars full (at 20-30 gallons each), the newlyweds would have had plenty of wine to finish the party, and probably had some left over to use or sell later.
This miracle demonstrated that Jesus was God, and had the power to do anything. If He could take plain water and transform it into wine, He could (and would) do anything! This encouraged His disciples to believe in His power and to trust in Him. It was the start of marvelous things to come, and the disciples and servants were part of it.
This miracle also reminds us that God can do anything in our lives. He cares about us and will help us in things great and small. We can trust in His work, and we can even be part of it, when we have faith and ask for His guidance.
Close with prayer, thanking God for His power and care for our daily needs.
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