We gather to hear the words of Jesus,

Who came in the power of the Spirit.

Christ declared: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,"

He was anointed to bring good news to the poor.

Jesus was sent to proclaim freedom for the captives,

And to give sight to those who could not see.

Through him, the oppressed are set free,

And God's favor is proclaimed to all.

Jesus declared, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing,"

And we gather now to receive his grace.

Let us worship the One who fulfills God's promises,

Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord!

So all the Israelites met together in the seventh month of the year. They were united and in complete agreement. They all met together in the open place in front of the Water Gate. All the people asked Ezra the teacher to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had given to the Israelites. So Ezra the priest brought the law before those who had met together. This was on the first day of the month. It was the seventh month of the year. Men, women, and anyone old enough to listen and understand were at the meeting. Ezra read in a loud voice from the Book of the Law from early morning until noon. He was facing the open place that was in front of the Water Gate. He read to all the men and women, and to everyone old enough to listen and understand. All the people listened carefully and paid attention to the Book of the Law.

So Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them on the high stage. As he opened the Book of the Law, all the people stood up. Ezra praised the LORD, the great God, and all the people held up their hands and said, "Amen! Amen!" Then all the people bowed down and put their faces low to the ground and they worshiped the LORD.

Then I heard something that sounded like a large crowd of people. It was as loud as crashing waves or claps of thunder. The people were saying, "Hallelujah! Our Lord God rules. He is the All-Powerful. Let us rejoice and be happy and give God glory! Give God glory, because the wedding of the Lamb has come. And the Lamb's bride has made herself ready.

Fine linen was given to the bride for her to wear. The linen was bright and clean." (The fine linen means the good things that God's holy people did.) Then the angel said to me, "Write this: Great blessings belong to those who are invited to the wedding meal of the Lamb!" Then the angel said, "These are the true words of God."

Two days later there was a wedding in the town of Cana in Galilee, and Jesus' mother was there. Jesus and his followers were also invited. At the wedding there was not enough wine, so Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine." Jesus answered, "Dear woman, why are you telling me this? It is not yet time for me to begin my work." His mother said to the servants, "Do what he tells you."

There were six large stone waterpots there that were used by the Jews in their washing ceremonies. Each one held about 20 or 30 gallons. Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the waterpots with water." So they filled them to the top. Then he said to them, "Now dip out some water and take it to the man in charge of the feast." So they did what he said. Then the man in charge tasted it, but the water had become wine. He did not know where the wine had come from, but the servants who brought the water knew.

He called the bridegroom and said to him, "People always serve the best wine first. Later, when the guests are drunk, they serve the cheaper wine. But you have saved the best wine until now." This was the first of all the miraculous signs Jesus did. He did it in the town of Cana in Galilee. By this he showed his divine greatness, and his followers believed in him. Then Jesus went to the town of Capernaum. His mother and brothers and his followers went with him. They all stayed there a few days.

In the town of Cana in Galilee.

Jesus' mother was there. Jesus and his followers were also invited.

There was not enough wine.

Jesus' mother told him, "They have no more wine."

Jesus said to his mother, "Dear woman, why are you telling me this? It is not yet time for me to begin my work."

Jesus’ mother told the servants, "Do what he tells you."

The waterpots were used by the Jews in their washing ceremonies.

Each waterpot held about 20 or 30 gallons of water.

"Fill the waterpots with water."

They filled the waterpots to the top.

He told the servants, "Now dip out some water and take it to the man in charge of the feast."

The man in charge of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, "People always serve the best wine first. Later, when the guests are drunk, they serve the cheaper wine. But you have saved the best wine until now."

The water had become wine.

No, but the servants who brought the water knew.

This was the first of all the miraculous signs Jesus did. He did it in the town of Cana in Galilee.

It showed his divine greatness, and Jesus’ followers believed in him.

Jesus’ mother and brothers and his followers went with him. They all stayed there a few days.