<P> It is still a matter of discussion among theologians whether the story is to be understood as an actual transformation of water into wine, or as a spiritual allegory . Interpreted allegorically, the good news and hope implied by the story is in the words of the steward of the Feast when he tasted the good wine, "Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk . But you have kept the good wine until now" (John 2: 10, NRSV). This could be interpreted by saying simply that it is always darkest before the dawn, but good things are on the way . The more usual interpretation, however, is that this is a reference to the appearance of Jesus, whom the author of the Fourth Gospel regards as being himself "the good wine". </P> <P> The story has had considerable importance in the development of Christian pastoral theology . Fulton J. Sheen thought that it is very likely that it was one of Mary's relatives who was being married . The gospel account of Jesus being invited to a marriage, attending, and using his divine power to save the celebrations from disaster are taken as evidence of his approval for marriage and earthly celebrations, in contrast to the more austere views of Paul the Apostle as found, for example, in 1 Corinthians 7 . It has also been used as an argument against Christian teetotalism . </P> <P> The miracle may also be interpreted as the antitype of Moses' first public miracle of changing water (the Nile river) into blood . This would establish a symbolic link between Moses as the first savior of the Jews through their escape from Egypt and Jesus as the spiritual savior of all people . </P> <P> Some commentators have speculated about the identity of the unnamed bridegroom . One tradition, represented by Thomas Aquinas among others, holds that the bridegroom was St John the Evangelist himself . Bishop John Spong suggests in his book Born of a Woman that the event was actually the wedding of Jesus himself to Mary Magdalene . In 1854, at a time when polygamy was an element of mainstream Mormon practice, the Mormon elder Orson Hyde made a similar suggestion, arguing that Jesus was a polygamist and that the event at Cana was his wedding to Mary Magdalene, Martha and Mary of Bethany . </P>

When did the wedding at cana take place