A Johaninne Study (John 2:6-12)

6 Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. 9 When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” 11 This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him. 12 After this he went down to Capernaum, with his mother and his brothers and his disciples, and they stayed there for a few days.

When marketing a film, one of the most effective ways to draw an audience is to release a movie trailer. People are intrigued when they watch a trailer that foreshadows an exciting story. Some movies produce trailers that show incomplete action sequences to make you want to watch the whole movie. The result is a hunger for more. How does the movie end? We are enthralled, turned into fanboys and fangirls.

Now why did Jesus choose to turn water to wine as the first sign of his ministry? One would think that God could fashion a much grander miracle to inaugurate the story of the gospel. Perhaps, a movie trailer of sorts that could wow the audience. Surely people would have been significantly more amazed if Jesus caused it to rain wine! But Jesus does not seize this opportunity to reveal the full extent of his wonders. In fact, he covertly performs the miracle without revealing to the wedding party and guests that it was him who did it.

John, the writer of this gospel, is certainly giving an account of the events that unfold in Jesus’ life. But he is also writing a message to us, the readers. The first miracle is not the main point. Turning water to wine is not comparatively significant in light of wonder of the cross. That’s what Jesus subtly refers to when he says in verse four, “My hour has not yet come.”

This does not mean there is nothing to learn from this story. It is pretty evident that when Jesus does something gracious, he does it generously, “Jesus said to the servants, ‘Fill the jars with water.”’And they filled them up to the brim” (verse 7). Jesus provides plentifully.

Secondly, it is evident that Jesus’ gracious provision does not lack in quality, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now”(verse 10). Jesus provides with excellence.

If this is just a glimpse into God’s grace as plentiful and excellent, then it would not be hard to consider a greater gift of grace being even more satisfying and exceptional. The cross is not equatable with the grace that is displayed in the provision of wine. The cross, then, is not subpar. The truth is that Jesus is the better and greater bridegroom, who does not just provide the wine for a wedding celebration, but his blood for the salvation of our souls. Thanks be to God!