The sign of the wine

John 2:1-11 ESV

On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come."  His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water."  And they filled them up to the brim. And he said to them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast."  So they took it. 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 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." This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

Rev. Charles Han

What is the significance of this first miracle?

If you were Jesus, what would you have done for your first miracle?

A big spectacle? Something showy? Moving a mountain. Raising a dead person.

Jesus is true to his humble character. He changes water to wine at a small wedding. Not only that, but the only people who knew were the servants and his disciples.

Jesus, the miracle worker

John always calls these miracles, signs. These acts of supernatural power are not purely for show. They are to reveal Jesus' character and purpose. Jesus is not the only one to perform miracles. Prophets and disciples do them as well. But they always perform them in the name of Yahweh. Jesus does not do this. He is God. The purpose is to show a restoration of the natural order...back to what God originally desired.

Jesus, the banquet master

Jesus makes the wine so that this small wedding banquet does not grind to an embarrassing halt. Jesus is saying that heaven is about the feast and banquet. He is saying that the party in heaven will never end. He is telling those who are wrapped up in their lives, alcohol, and sex... You are at the wrong party. His is the endless party. He invites everyone to this party.

But why wine? This intoxicating and experiential thing. Through it, Jesus is trying to tell us about the love of God. It is intoxicating. It can changes youand how you act.

Jesus, the married lover

"My hour has not yet come." Jesus responds to his mother's request. Such a strange response to this conversation about the wedding. Single people think about their own wedding. Jesus knows that He needs to die for his bride, the church.

A couple of points.

Why water to wine? He could have just produced wine from nothing. The jars... of purification. He took this water, normally used in jewish purification, and made wine. Water can only purify temporarily. But this wine symbolizes the blood of Christ. Once washed in His blood, we are eternally cleansed.

Look at the result of this wine. In the Middle East, the groom's family was responsible for providing good and drink for the wedding. But a wedding is not a single day. It lasts up to a week. To run out of food or drink meant disastrous shame and disgrace. Jesus covers over this. Our shame is covered by the robe of righteousness given to us by Christ. He is the bridegroom and he looks at us through eyes of love.