Do you pray before you sleep? Do you look forward to that home where we will get to stay? There is one reason why we have that hope. There is one reason why we have the promise of prayer, the promise of answered prayer. There is one reason why we have the hope of a home in heaven – it is because of Jesus Christ. It is because Jesus is the Son of God and our Savior.
The apostle John wrote his gospel account, his account of the life of Christ, in order to convince us, beyond any doubt, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God (20:30-31).
Let’s look at the very first occasion when John uses this word: “sign:” John 2.
THE SET-UP – 2:1-5:
John begins his record of this event by giving us a time frame: “on the third day.” John will not continue to give us a chronology of the first days of Jesus’ ministry beyond this particular event.
At this wedding, the wine ran out. Jesus’ mother suggests that He do something about it: “They have no wine.” Jesus has not done any miracles yet in His life. Jesus wants her to understand that He answers to a higher power than His mom. He does that in three ways, in three curt words or sentences in verse 4.
Despite the reaction of Jesus, Mary is persistent and gives a message to the servants that you and I would do well to heed also: “Whatever He says to you, do it.”
THE SIGN – 2:6-10:
Jews washed their hands and their bodies for almost every little thing they might experience during the day. Let me suggest to you that these stone water pots, used for Jewish purification rituals symbolized the OT with all of its rituals and belief system. That system is going to give way, be replaced by, the “new wine” that is given by Jesus Christ.
The prophets will predict that in the age of the coming Messiah, they will receive “new wine:” Joel 3:18; Amos 9:13; Isa 25:6. In that context, wine can be a figure of speech, an image, of joy, celebration and happiness, abundant blessings from God. This is basically John’s equivalent to the other Gospel writers when they record Jesus saying that you don’t put new wine into old wineskins (like in Matt 9:14-17).
Each water pot contained about 20 or 30 gallons each so that we are looking at a miracle of 120-180 gallons of water turned into wine! 180 gallons! Our “serving size” today is 8 ounces! This miracle would serve 2,880 people. That is quite a wedding party!
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180 gallons! That is consistent with the remarkable abundance that Jesus is able to provide if we will trust and obey Him: Eph. 3:20; Phil. 4:19; 2 Cor. 9:8.
Every miracle needs confirmation. Jesus is wanting us to trust Him with our souls in a message – He is the Son of God – that cannot be verified with our five senses. That message we have to take on faith, but it is faith based on the verification of these miracles that He performed.
The servants, then, take the new wine to the headwaiter, the steward. The steward tasted the water that had been made wine and did not know where it came from. Only the servants knew. Notice that Jesus never performed miracles to impress the wealthy, the “high and mighty.” On this occasion, it was only His disciples and these lowly servants who knew what Jesus had done.
The headwaiter calls to the bridegroom. We don’t have the response of the bridegroom – the text wasn’t written to answer that question. It is easy to imagine that: 1.) he was confused; 2.) he says, “Sure, okay.” But he doesn’t admit he doesn’t know what is happening.
THE SIGNIFICANCE 2:11:
First, John tells us that his miracle was Jesus’ first miracle He performed. John uses the word “sign” because he wants us to understand that this miracle sent a message.
Second, John says that through this miracle, Jesus manifested His “glory.” “Glory” is another key word in the Gospel of John; it is used 17 times in the Gospel while “glorify” is used 23 times. The “glory” of God, in the OT times, was the revelation of God’s nature, a revelation of God’s character, a revelation of God’s power, love, wisdom (see John 1:14).
Third, based on this sign, the “disciples believed in Him.” They could not see the divine nature in Jesus (1:1, 14). But they could see, hear, taste, touch, smell the miracles Jesus performed. Then, based on faith, they could believe the message Jesus gave them: “I am the Son of the Living God.”
Look at the signs Jesus performed. They reveal His glory. Believe Him. Obey Him
–Paul Holland
