A Home t oLive in - often taking about a year to construct the new home - Groom provides for his new family ahead of time

Parental support or dad wouldn't let the son build on to the

The inclusion of the new wife into the groom's family - she is immediately included, lives with and does life with her new family - 'adopted" in a sense

Who enter a legal contract in the eyes of the law


A new covenant relationship in the eyes of the Lord

the aisle being one of the most significant symbolic parts of the ceremony - when the bride gets to the altar.....saying that when she arrives to greet her soon to be husband, she is leaving her old life behind and creating a new one with him....

everything I have is yours, we start the journey to oneness

……the blessing of this new covenant could be the reason Rabbi Jesus was asked to attend……

The wedding also involved dressing up. The bride was literally adorned like a queen (see Revelation 21:2). She was bathed, and her hair braided with as many precious stones as the family possessed or could borrow (Psalm 45:14-15; Isaiah 61:10; Ezekiel 16:11-12). The girls who had dressed her accompanied her as "companions." The bridegroom too was dressed in finery and jewelry (Isaiah 61:10) and was accompanied by the "friend of the bridegroom" (John 3:29). The dressing up for the wedding was so important that it was unforgettable (Jeremiah 2:32). The bride and groom looked like and acted like a king and queen.

Another important element of the wedding was the procession at the end of the day. The bridegroom set out from his home to fetch his bride from her parents' home. At this point the bride was wearing a veil. At some point the veil was taken off and laid on the shoulder of the bridegroom, and the declaration was made, "The government shall be upon his shoulder." A procession then set out from the bride's home to the couple's new home, and the dark roadway would be lit with oil lamps held by wedding guests. In the story told by Jesus, the bride and groom were later than expected so the oil in the lamps began to run low. Only those who had brought a reserve flask of oil were able to refill their lamps and welcome the bride and groom (see Matthew 25:1-13, esp. vv. 8-9). There was singing and music along the way (Jeremiah 16:9), and sometimes the bride herself would join in the dance (Song of Songs 6:13).

the wedding feast

Bride and groom entered under a canopy when they arrived at the house.

There they presided over the wedding feast at which a great deal of time was spent in eating and drinking (Song of Songs 2:4 may allude to the canopy).

Get dressed up ....

The bride was literally adorned like a queen (see Revelation 21:2). She was bathed, and her hair braided with as many precious stones as the family possessed or could borrow (Psalm 45:14-15; Isaiah 61:10; Ezekiel 16:11-12).

The girls who had dressed her accompanied her as "companions."

The bridegroom too was dressed in finery and jewelry (Isaiah 61:10) and was accompanied by the "friend of the bridegroom" (John 3:29).

The dressing up for the wedding was so important that it was unforgettable (Jeremiah 2:32). The bride and groom looked like and acted like a king and queen.

"Go get" Your Bride....

Another important element of the wedding was the procession at the end of the day. The bridegroom set out from his home to fetch his bride from her parents' home.

At this point the bride was wearing a veil. At some point the veil was taken off and laid on the shoulder of the bridegroom,

take on leadership of new home and the legal responsibilities that come with it the declaration was made, "The government shall be upon his shoulder."


A procession then set out from the bride's home to the couple's new home, and the dark roadway would be lit with oil lamps held by wedding guests.

In the story told by Jesus, the bride and groom were later than expected so the oil in the lamps began to run low. Only those who had brought a reserve flask of oil were able to refill their lamps and welcome the bride and groom (see Matthew 25:1-13, esp. vv. 8-9).

There was singing and music along the way (Jeremiah 16:9), and sometimes the bride herself would join in the dance (Song of Songs 6:13).

Procession to the wedding feast

Bride and groom entered under a canopy when they arrived at the house.

There they presided over the wedding feast at which a great deal of time was spent in eating and drinking (Song of Songs 2:4 may allude to the canopy).

1. It's a family event - lots of friends and family

Jesus, Mary, the first five disciples who were either related or had known each other for a long time

In Nathaniel's hometown 21:2

probably the last time Jesus would be in the same place with the rest of his family....

2. Provide lots of food and drink

Jesus added 120 gallons of the good stuff to the wedding feast. usually wine is cut by one third to one tenth of its original strength to make it last longer, save money etc., and usually cut diluted after everyone has been "celebrating" for awhile....

Jesus added undiluted wine to the party

One of the symbolic parts of the water to wine

6 jars - 6 being the number of man or satan

Water was for ceremonial cleansing before sharing a meal

3. Celebrate the new...

the new couple

the new covenant relationship

the new Savior who is coming to make all things new.....


Jesus trumps the ceremony with the addition of wine....a symbol of his shed blood for our sins, and doing away with the need for ceremonial cleansing anymore.....

Hebrews 8:1-6

Here is the main point: We have a High Priest who sat down in the place of honor beside the throne of the majestic God in heaven. 2 There he ministers in the heavenly Tabernacle,[a] the true place of worship that was built by the Lord and not by human hands. 3 And since every high priest is required to offer gifts and sacrifices, our High Priest must make an offering, too. 4 If he were here on earth, he would not even be a priest, since there already are priests who offer the gifts required by the law. 5 They serve in a system of worship that is only a copy, a shadow of the real one in heaven. For when Moses was getting ready to build the Tabernacle, God gave him this warning: “Be sure that you make everything according to the pattern I have shown you here on the mountain.” 6 But now Jesus, our High Priest, has been given a ministry that is far superior to the old priesthood, for he is the one who mediates for us a far better covenant with God, based on better promises.

4. Get some help.....

There were usually servants, or caterers who put the wedding on, sometimes for up to 7 days, and in wealthy situations, those who attended were even given special outfits to wear to the wedding.....

average wedding is now running around 35,000 with 16,000 of that going to pay for the venue

However you handle this.....don't try to do it on your own....

1. His attendance - include the Lord in your relationship


2. His blessing - he came up with the idea


3. His opportunity - a wedding reception provides so many opportunities to make new friends, spend time with old ones, talking and visiting about everything under the sun.....especially what God has been up to in your life lately


His glory - while his hour had not yet come..and doesn't arrive until chapter 13:1, ....it was not time to display his entire purpose for being on earth, he did take the opportunity to display a part of it......

Jesus arrives on the 3rd day....

he makes something new out of the water

he improves on the ceremonial cleansing of water with the wine

he does so quietly, at the request of his earthly mother

and only for the caterers who were running the party......

Interesting to note that Jesus draws attention to himself through what he does, not what he says......

even in the midst of a wedding ceremony and party where there are lots of distractions.....

a wedding reception provides so many

Jesus ministry begins with a wedding and it will end with a wedding.....

when he comes back for his bride.....the church....

and o what a party that will be......

Rev 19:6-9

Are you invited?

Invite Jesus into your life, take on his solution for your sin, and the invitation will be sent..........

11 This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

12 After the wedding he went to Capernaum for a few days with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples.