The rich aroma of roasted meat drifted through the air, warm and savory, as plates were passed from hand to hand. Music palpitated, while the dance floor came alive with swirling dresses and the steady shuffle of feet. Laughter rang out above the melody, and joy seemed to shimmer in every corner as family and friends gathered close, celebrating the newly married couple’s union.

John 2 opens in a setting like this — a wedding in Cana.