Miracles are evidence that God is working in a situation. Sometimes, man’s ways are just not enough and God must step in. We find the first of Jesus’s miracles in John 2:1-11. He entered this earth as a God-Man and could have performed miracles at any point in time, but miracles were designed for the sacred and solemn seals of his doctrine. Therefore, he did not begin his miracles until it was time to launch his public ministry.
John 2:1 “And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.”
It was the Jewish custom that a marriage celebration would usually last 7 or 8 days. It was the third day after he came into Galilee. His disciples were with him. the prime object of it was to convey to his disciples that he was who he said he was, the Messiah, God in the flesh! However, there is much to be learned from this miracle. Mary was seeking miraculous help from Jesus. She turned the situation over to him, and the change Jesus makes proves himself to his disciples. For sake of length, I want to focus primarily on the change.
John 2:3-5 “And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. His mother saith unto the servants, whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.”
Most scholars agree this marriage was involving either a relative or a close friend. Mary seemed to be in charge or at least helping with the serving of guests. This is evidenced by her asking Jesus to do something about the wine. She then instructed those helping to do whatever he told them to do.
In verses 6 and 7, we have Jesus telling the servants to take the pots and fill them with water. The pots held 2 or 3 firkins each, a firkin is equal to about 8 gallons. The total amount of wine that Jesus made would be close to about 140 gallons. He instructed them to use the water that was there for the “purifying of the Jews.” The Jews used this water to wash before they entered the wedding to eat. Historians tell us this water was probably also used to bathe in since fresh water was not always in great supply. Either way, it was not clean water!
John 2:6-8 “And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.”
Jesus takes nasty water and turns it into “good wine.” It must have been the best of the best, because in verses 9 and 10 the governor of the feast is inquiring of the bridegroom why he has kept the “good wine” until now.
John 2:9-10 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.
Isn’t this what Jesus does with us? He takes us, people, who are tainted and filthy with sin and purifies us. Our souls are like the water, filled with trash unfit for the kingdom of God, and in an instant, Jesus turns us into the good wine, not just wine, but the best.
When we receive Jesus as our Savior he puts within us His Holy Spirit. At that moment God no longer sees us as dirty water but sees the righteousness of Jesus covering us. We are clean before God and just like the pots of water he fills us! There is no greater miracle than the salvation of a soul. It can’t be explained in science, nor can it be produced by man. It is a supernatural thing, but one that can be experienced by anyone willing to let Jesus change them. He places the Holy Spirit within us to guide us, comfort us, and convict us of sin. When we get a little trash in the good wine, he is there to purify us.
In verse 11 we see the purpose of this change. It didn’t just supply them with the need, it proved to his disciples that he was who he said he was. Those who are close to us will also see the change in us and know of this Jesus who can truly work miracles.
John 2:11 “This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee and manifested forth his glory, and his disciples believed in him.”
One day we too will attend a great wedding, the Wedding Feast of the Lamb. We who are saved will be the bride and we will enjoy this celebration like none here on earth. I am so thankful for the power that Jesus has to change us from dirty to whiter than snow!
