The First Sign. A Taste Of New Wine

This first miracle of Jesus in Cana is a sign that points beyond itself to a greater truth. It reveals to us
the glory of Jesus, and how He transforms mere religion into an exhilarating taste of new life.

Jesus wanted to reveal by His miracles that He was God in control of nature, and in control of all of the forces
of the universe. Here is the beginning of His public ministry with His first public act to reveal His true glory.

The Scene Of the First Sign

John 2:1 And on the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.

It is very interesting that Christ would choose to do His first miracle at a wedding. Christ at this point is moving away from that isolated family life into the public light. It’s almost a royal farewell to His family.

A Palestine wedding was a big thing. It would normally begin on Wednesday, and it lasted anywhere from two to seven days, depending upon how wealthy you were. The groom, not the bride, was the center of an Eastern wedding.

So Christ went to a wedding and sanctified the wedding and the ceremony. He did not withdraw into the
Wilderness; He had a harder job. He had to go right in to the mingling of the crowds and try to purify the daily life of man.

The Situation of the First Sign A Spiritual Priority

John 2:3 And when they lacked wine, the mother of Jesus said unto Him, “They have no wine. 4 Jesus said unto her, “Woman, what have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not yet come.”

Here is a turning point, when Mary His mother must look at Him as Creator and Savior, not just a son. He is saying, “Mary, it’s no more the human relationship, that’s over. I’m leaving the private life, you’re now talking to the Son of God.

He means you do not have any relationship to what I do in this matter, it’s Mine to do as God. When the hour comes I’ll do it. Mary seemed to understand that, so she responded to the Servants: “Just do whatever He tells you to do.”

Having entered His office as Messiah, the old relationship at Nazareth was gone. And it was a different relationship., the supernatural divine relationship had totally superseded any human relationship.

The First Sign Was A Transformational Provision

John 2:7 Jesus said unto them, “Fill the water pots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And He said unto them, “Draw some out now, and bear it unto the governor of the feast.” And they took it.

Jesus transforms empty religious forms into living faith. The stone water posts represent the prevailing emptiness of Jewish religion in Jesus’ time. Out of the meaningless forms, He brought a taste of new life.

There were six water pots of stone after the manner of the purifying of the Jews. The Jews went through  ceremonial cleansing. Before you ate you washed your hands and it was not the fact of dirt so much as it was a ceremonial cleansing.

The Significance Of The First Sign

John 2:11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee and manifested forth His glory, the result of such significance was His disciples believed on Him.

No miracle goes without result.

The miracle was a sign, it was an acted parable. Signs are not merely miracles; they are miracles that have a meaning. It pictured the normal outcome of the combination of human and divine activity.

Men can fill water jars; Only God can turn water into wine!

Men do the ordinary, the commonplace, the normal activity, but God touches it, and brings it to life and gives it flavor, fragrance and effect. The meaning of this sign is an indication of what the ministry of Jesus is going to be like whenever He touches a human life.

This miracle strengthened His disciples belief in Him. They saw that here was One who could handle life. Here was One who could take a commonplace thing, nothing out of the ordinary, just simple water, and make of it  wine—make it a source of joy, of glory, and of warmth.

This is the significance for us of this sign.

Our Lord is able to take the humdrum, commonplace, ordinary, normal events of any life and with His touch make them full of flavor, fragrance, strength and beauty; to turn them into wine. He will do this with any of us as we faithfully walk with Him, follow Him, and believe in Him. That is why John
highlights for us, “there the disciples believed in Him.”

Let’s allow Him transform our lives, too.