In the beginning was the Word. And the Word was with God. And the Word was God. And the Word became flesh and tabernacled among us; And we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

What is the first sign that Jesus does to reveal his glory? What is the first thing that Jesus does that shows us who he is?

He turns water to wine.

On the third day.

Why does John include this little tidbit? Why does he say "on the third day there was a wedding..." The entire Gospel of John is oriented around the various feasts of the Jews. Every event is connected either to a Sabbath, a Passover, or some other feast. This first event is no exception. If you look at the time sequence in chapters 1-2, there is an entire week given. 1:19-28 give the first day's events. 1:29 says "the next day" (day two) 1:35 gives us day three, 1:43 gives us day four, and then 2:1 takes us to day seven. But rather than say "on the seventh day," John says, "on the third day." Because the point of this sign is not the Sabbath, but the resurrection. John 1-2 is setting forth the coming of the new creation. 1:1 connects us to Genesis 1-"In the beginning was the Word" And on the seventh day of John's gospel, Jesus reveals the beginning of his signs. On the third day, Jesus reveals the promise of the resurrection. Why do I call this a promise of resurrection? Jesus simply turns water into wine. What does this have to do with the resurrection?

In Isaiah 25:6-9 we see the promise of a feast of salvation: a feast with the finest meats, and the best wines; a feast that the Lord of hosts makes for all people.

This feast is connected with his triumph over death, and the salvation that God will bring to his people. This feast is the day of rejoicing in his salvation.

The wedding at Cana is a picture of that day. Jesus is about to begin his public ministry. Where does the work of Christ end? Does it end at the cross? (no) Does it end when he ascends into heaven? (no) When does it end? The work of Christ ends at the wedding feast of the Lamb. And just as his work will end at a wedding feast, so also it began at a wedding feast.

By why is the feast said to happen on the third day? Why didn't John say "a few days later"? or "one day"? Why does he say three days? John's gospel will end with the resurrection of Christ--"on the third day" And the transformation of water to wine is a picture of his death and resurrection. Notice that the wedding feast happens on the third day, and then down in v19, Jesus says, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up" Both these events are placed together for a reason: John told us in chapter 1 that Jesus Christ IS the eternal Word of God. He is not only truly God, but he is also truly man. He is the Word made flesh And John declares that "we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only-begotten of the Father" How did they see his glory? 2:11--This is how Jesus manifested his glory --by turning water into wine How does this show forth the glory of Jesus?

Both when he turns water into wine and when he declares himself to be the temple, Jesus is declaring that he is transforming the Old into the New. He transforms water into wine; He transforms the temple into his own body. The Old is like water. Water is good. It is necessary for life. But who would serve water at a wedding feast? Who would serve water in a time of rejoicing? Jesus goes to the wedding, his mother discovers that they have run out of wine. This is tragic! After all, a wedding is a time of rejoicing and celebration! The bridegroom was supposed to supply the wine for his wedding, so that everyone could join in his rejoicing and happiness. To run out of wine at a wedding is like running out of joy and happiness. First I should comment on what these weddings were like. Family and friends would gather from all over the country. They would get together and celebrate for several days. We have these short little receptions that are over in a couple hours. They would party for days! Well, at this particular wedding, they didn't plan too well. The bridegroom didn't have enough wine. When Mary--Jesus' mother--hears about this, she comes to Jesus and tells him that they have no wine. Note Jesus' response: Literally, it reads, "what is it to me and to you?" Why should I do something about it? This is not my hour: in other words, it's not time for me to host the wedding yet. Jesus, in effect, says, "I'm not the bridegroom yet!" But then WHY does Jesus do it? If it is NOT his hour, then why does he turn the water into wine.

Verse 11 explains it: Jesus is manifesting his glory. He turns water into wine as a picture of what he will do 1) in his death 2) when he hosts the wedding feast of the lamb.

First we have to look more carefully at what Jesus is doing. What water does he use? Does he simply go to the well and have them draw water? No. Does he take the drinking water and turn it to wine? No. What does he use? These huge stone jars used for "the Jewish rites of purification." Why? Why does he use the water of purification? This water would have been used for the ceremonial washings that the Law required of the Jews to remove uncleanness (We've been looking at this in the evening service on Leviticus). But here Jesus takes the old water of purification, and turns it into the wine of rejoicing. What does this mean? The water was used to wash away uncleanness. Hebrews 9:6-10 tells us that the Old Testament rituals were "symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience --concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation." But Jesus came, Hebrews tells us, to purify us with his own blood! And so Jesus takes the OT water of purification and turns it into wine. What washes away our uncleanness? As our children sing: "What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus" Only the blood of Jesus Christ can remove our sins. Here Jesus is giving us a picture of his death. The water of purification, becomes the wine of rejoicing, as a picture of his shed blood which purifies us from sin, and enables us to rejoice in his death. Jesus is saying, no longer will you need water to make you clean. My blood will cleanse you from your sins. Notice also that he doesn't just give them a little wine. He gives them more than 120 gallons of wine!!!! Why? Jesus is giving us a picture of how HE will provide for his wedding! His death has infinite power. His blood can wash away every single sin you've ever committed. Do you ever wonder if Jesus can really forgive you? Do you think that your sin is too terrible for him to forgive? What is the worst sin ever? Was it Hitler? Was it Stalin? No--as terrible as they were, they can still be seen as instruments of God's justice and wrath against his rebellious creatures. But what about the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ? He deserved life and blessing from God! He was the only pure and holy man who ever lived. Everyone else DESERVES to die!! Everyone else deserves eternal judgment! But while Jesus Christ deserved only good, God poured out his wrath upon him. Therefore, if you trust in his death, Then even though you deserve only bad, God will pour out his blessing upon you!!!

In the Lord's Supper Jesus says that the wine is his blood. The wine of his love is so potent, that if you drink of him, you will never die. As Jesus says in John 6:54, "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life" Jesus is announcing that he is the heavenly bridegroom: This poor schmuck of a bridegroom ran out of wine for his wedding; Jesus, our heavenly bridegroom, will never run out of wine!!!! His blood will ALWAYS be sufficient to remove our sin, and give us joy in his presence. The joy and happiness that comes from being married to him will never run out!

Notice that here the wedding supper of the Lamb and the death of Christ sort of fit together. Does that sound odd? Does it seem strange that the image of Christ's blood (the wine) should be blended with the image of joy and happiness in the wedding feast? Maybe. But John's gospel often does this. John wants us to see the glory in the death of Christ. Usually we think of the resurrection and ascension as the glory of Christ's life But John wants us to understand that the pre-eminent moment of glory was also the pre-eminenet moment of suffering. We usually think of glory in terms of beauty and holiness and light. And that is true. But glory may also be found in suffering. Jesus understood this: when he instituted the Lord's Supper he said that "this cup is the new covenant in my blood." He also said: "I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until I drink it with you in the Kingdom of God." The wine that we drink in the Lord's Supper is a picture of Christ's death; but it is also a picture of his coming in glory. In the Lord's Supper we participate in his death, and we anticipate his returning again. And the wine of the Supper shows us both aspects of this: as a picture of his blood, it is red; as a picture of his return, it warms the heart... at least it would if it had alcohol in it! The reason why Jesus used regular, alcoholic wine at the Lord's Supper was because wine shows forth not only the redness of his blood; but the alcohol also reflects the joy that comes with Christ's return. In scripture, wine is the beverage of choice for times of celebration.

I know that some have said that the wine Jesus made did not have alcohol in it. There are two problems with this view: 1) the Bible never suggests that there was such a thing as non-alcoholic wine Wine is viewed as a blessing in Scripture --it can become a curse if it is misused --but that is true of anything. 2) the master of the feast says that this is the best wine --something he would not have said about unfermented grape juice.

But it was by turning water into wine that Jesus manifested his glory: as a picture that his blood would wash away our uncleanness and sin --not the Old Testament rituals of purification; and as a picture of the wedding feast of the lamb, where he would be the bridegroom whose wine would give eternal life and joy to all of his guests.

And indeed, one day we will sit at the wedding feast of the Lamb. And our Savior, Jesus Christ, will take the cup of blessing--the wine of rejoicing-- and HE will drink it together with us!

Do you really believe that? Do you really believe that you will one day stand before Christ in glorified bodies, and that you will really share in that great wedding supper? Do you really believe that your life right here and right now is a daily dying to self, taking up your cross, and following Jesus--suffering with him-- so that one day you might be raised with him?

Then why don't you live like it? Why do you still chase after those sins and temptations that you KNOW you should resist? Why don't you keep your heart and mind fixed upon Jesus Christ-- where he is seated at the right hand of the Father? And when you fail....when you do sin, why don't you repent? why don't you turn immediately to Christ and beg his forgiveness, and plead for the Holy Spirit to conform you more and more to the image of Christ?

Is it not because we are more interested in our own selfish desires? Is it not because your belief in the resurrection of the body is only an intellectual belief? You see, if we really believe in the resurrection of the body; if we truly are confident that we will one day give an account before God of what we have done in the body; then it would radically change the way we live: both in how we show forth our love for God, and how we show our love for one another.

When Jesus manifested his glory in turning the water to wine, his disciples believed in Him. They knew that he was the Son of God. Sure, they still had a lot to learn--but they knew that if they wanted eternal life, they had to follow him. Yes, you and I still have a lot to learn, but if you want eternal life, you must believe in the Lord Jesus Christ: You must be purified with the blood of Christ, and you must share in the wedding feast of the Lamb.

Copyright © 2003 Peter J. Wallace