“This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.” John 2:11 (Read John 2:1-11)
Jesus’ presence at a wedding feast in Cana and His turning water into wine has troubled some. Why would Jesus attend a wedding feast where wine was served? And why would Jesus turn water into wine, making some 120-180 gallons of it?
Jesus’ presence at this wedding – and we do not know precisely why He was invited – shows His respect for the divine institution of marriage between a man and a woman (cf. Gen. 2:18ff., Matt. 19:4-9). And His making wine, as well as drinking it, shows that drinking wine or alcoholic beverages is not of itself sinful. What is sinful is the overindulgence in it and drunkenness (cf. Matt. 11:18-19; 1 Tim. 5:23; Eph. 5:18; Rom. 13:13; Gal. 5:19-21).
But far more important in this account is what His miracle reveals about Him. Even though it was not yet His time to be revealed as the Son of God in human flesh and the Messiah and Savior of the world, Jesus used the divine power He possessed to come to the aid of a wedding party in an embarrassing situation – they had run out of wine. And not only did Jesus turn water into wine; it was the best wine served at the feast. And this miracle, of which many at the feast had no knowledge, revealed the glory and power which Jesus possessed as the Son of God.
The result was not only a wedding feast without the embarrassment to the hosts of running out of wine; it was a revelation of His person to His disciples, causing them to believe that He indeed was and is the Son of God and the Messiah of Israel.
The Apostle John, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, records this miracle for us that we too might see and believe that this same Jesus who humbled Himself and lived among us as a true man is more than just a man or even a great prophet and teacher. Jesus was and is Jehovah God Himself in human flesh!
This miracle is but one proof of that fact. He also healed the sick, opened the eyes of the blind, fed the multitudes, raised the dead, and rose from the dead Himself after being crucified! Through the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit reveals to us Jesus’ divine glory and might; and through the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit reveals to us that Jesus redeemed us and all mankind from sin and death by His own innocent sufferings and death in our stead. Jesus’ resurrection is proof that atonement for our sins has been made – we’ve been redeemed by the blood of “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world”!
And, through faith in Christ Jesus, God the Son and our Savior, the forgiveness and life He won for all when He paid the price for our sins upon the cross becomes our own. Through faith in Christ Jesus, we have forgiveness of sins and life everlasting!
O that all would see and believe that Jesus is God the Son and that He has paid the price and redeemed us from all our sins!
As we think about this miracle worked by our Lord Jesus, I invite you to also think about the Lord’s Supper, of which we are about to partake. I can’t turn water into wine, but Jesus can and did. I cannot cause Christ’s body and blood to be present, distributed and received in the Supper (in, with and under the bread and wine), but Jesus can and does.
Through His words of institution, He offers and gives to all who partake of His Supper to partake of His sacrifice on the cross for the sins of the world – of His body which was given into death for our sins and of His blood which was shed for the remission of our sins. And, through faith in Christ’s life-giving words, we also receive the blessings He won for us when He was sacrificed for our sins. We are assured of and receive forgiveness for all our sins and life everlasting for Jesus’ sake!
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, grant that I see your divine glory and believe that You indeed are my God and my Savior. Amen.
Scripture quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.