When we carefully consider the Scriptures we can find a great number of signs, many of which are miracles. The significance of these signs is that they point us to the truth that God wants us to know, and when God provides a sign we need to pay attention and learn to what, or to whom, we are being directed.
John explains that his Gospel is a book of signs, “And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:30). It is clear that John is informing the readers of this fourth Gospel that these signs point, not to a location, but to a person: the Lord Jesus Christ. We do not need to have literally seen the signs to believe; we just need to read about them and trust in the One to whom they point.
Sadly, many Jews with whom Jesus came in contact during His earthly ministry failed to correctly read the signs. John writes, after the raising of Lazarus, “But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him” (John 12:37).
It is interesting to note that John deliberately used the word “sēmeion” (which is best translated as “sign”) rather than “dunamis” (which could be translated “mighty work” as in Mark 6:5 or “miracle”) because he was seeking to draw attention away from the power of the miracles and to point his audience to the Lord Jesus Himself.
In this series we will consider the significance of the signs we read about in John’s Gospel. Some scholars believe there are only six signs, while others strongly advocate that there are seven.
I intend to look at the following seven:
- Turning Water into Wine (John 2:1–11)
- Cleansing the Temple (John 2:12–17)
- Healing the Nobleman’s Son (John 4:46–54)
- Healing the Lame Man (John 5:1–15)
- Feeding the Multitude (John 6:1–15)
- Healing the Blind Man (John 9)
- Raising Lazarus (John 11).
We can be very confident that, when Jesus turned the water into wine at the wedding in Cana, it was the first miracle of His public ministry, and it is the first recorded sign in John’s Gospel.
“This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him” (John 2:11).
In John 2:1 we are told when and where the sign occurred. It was the third day after the Lord Jesus encountered Philip and Nathaniel (John 1:43-51) and He is in Cana of Galilee, the hometown of Nathaniel (John 21:2).
Jesus was invited, with His disciples, to a wedding at which His mother was also present. Significantly, we can observe that the Lord is happy to bless a wedding with His presence and join in the celebrations. In a marriage ceremony the couple publicly make a covenant, before God and human witnesses, to remain faithful to each other. Both the Old Testament (Genesis 29:20-23; Ruth 4:10-13) and the New Testament (Matthew 22:2; Luke 12:36) view a public ceremony as a necessary part of marriage. Marriage has been designed by God, and it is defined in Scripture as the union of one man and one woman, joined together by God to become, in His sight, one flesh (Genesis 2:24, Mark 10:6-8). God’s wise and perfect plan cannot be improved upon, and must not be modified.
The wedding at Cana encountered a major problem when they ran out of wine. This provided an opportunity for Jesus’ first sign. In this incident we can learn that John is pointing to a deeper problem than that of running out of wine at a wedding celebration as wine in the Scriptures is symbolic of joy. In Isaiah 24:11 (ESV) we read:
“There is an outcry in the streets for lack of wine; all joy has grown dark; the gladness of the earth is banished.”
This was a commentary on the religion of the day which had become an external ritual and duty. Judaism existed as a religious system, but it gave no comfort and joy to the heart, indeed, it was destitute of joy. Truly that is the picture of all religion today where Christ is absent. Designed by man, it becomes nothing more than a formality with no positive, living or joyful relationship with the one true and living God.
Throughout the New Testament there is much emphasis on the joy that comes through knowing the Lord Jesus Christ. Just as Jesus found His own deep joy in communion with God, His Father, He wants His followers to share in that joy:
"These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:11).
“Not that we have dominion over your faith, but are fellow workers for your joy; for by faith you stand” (2 Corinthians 1:24).
It would seem that the mother of Jesus (Mary) had a close connection to the host at the wedding when she said to Jesus, "They have no wine" (John 2:3). We can infer that Mary’s statement contained an expectation for Him to do something, and yet His reply seems distant and harsh on first reading: "Woman, what does this have to do with me?" (John 2:4 ESV). This answer could also be translated, “What do you and I have in common?” referring to a difference in relationship. Jesus was teaching His mother that the relationship dynamic had changed since the commencement of His public ministry.
He was the eternal Son of God who had come to be the Saviour of the world, and Mary was a sinner who needed forgiveness of sins; only possible through His death, burial and resurrection. She would have to come to Him, as every other person must, trusting Him as Her Lord and Saviour, “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).
The Lord had a singular focus and did not take instructions from anyone but His Father. Later in the same Gospel we read:
“Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work” (John 4:34 ESV).
Again:
“but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father . . .” (John 14:31 ESV).
Mary responded in faith to what she had been reminded of, and spoke to the servants, saying: “Whatever He says to you, do it" (John 2:5). These last recorded words of Mary are a clear instruction for us all.
John informs us that there were six large stone vessels used for purification purposes: an external cleansing ceremony. The purification for which they were used could not deal with the real internal cleansing mankind requires. Standing before the guests was the One who would replace the ineffective old ceremony of cleansing with a new effective cleansing for the internal problem we all have. The Lord’s death on the cross dealt completely with the problem of sin, for all who trust in Him alone, as He took the penalty that was due to sinners. As a result, every believer has a righteous standing before God and has the indwelling Holy Spirit enabling them to live a life pleasing to God.
“He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Hebrews 1:3 ESV).
The command of Jesus to "Fill the waterpots with water" (John 2:7) might have seemed strange to those who heard it, but, as we will see, obedience to Him brings blessing. The instruction to "Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast" (John 2:8) may have seemed even stranger, as verse 9 states that they knew that the liquid they were drawing from the pots was water, yet they still obeyed. The change to wine evidently took place during the carrying to the headwaiter/master of the feast.
The miracle was in the fact that the normal fermentation period was bypassed. The master of the feast tasted it and called the bridegroom, remarking on both the quality of the wine and how the customary process of serving the best wine before the poorer quality wine had been reversed. Into a scene of despair and hopelessness Jesus had brought great joy.
Although this was a miracle, it is called a “sign”. The lesson that John conveys is not just the turning of water into wine, but the emptiness of the old ineffective religion being replaced by something far greater.
Because of the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ, all who are trusting in Him are new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17) and have the joy of both knowing the forgiveness of sin and possessing the gift of eternal life.
“This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him” (John 2:11).
