Water transformed into wine

Who is Jesus? Part 37, John 2:1-11

Have you noticed the passage I’m talking about? It’s the same passage again. The first time, I dealt with the obvious theme of obedience to Jesus. This time, I will briefly examine eight other points found in this short reading. Having written it, it’s too long, so I’m dealing with these points two at a time.

There is a structure to these three chapters. They are one big chiasmus. Chiasm, meaning crossing over, is a poetic form used in nearly all Psalms and is a repetition of similar ideas in the reverse sequence. Where there is a central section, here marked X, that is usually the focus of the poem.

A. John 2:1-11 Miracle at Cana – Water into wine.
B. 2:12-22 Temple cleansed – new Temple of his body.
C. 2:23-3:13 We must be born from above.
X. 3:14-21 God so loved the world that He gave His Son.
C’. 3:22-4:3 Christ comes from above.
B’. 4:4-46 Temple to be replaced by a new place of worship.
A’. 4:46-54 Miracle at Cana – healing of a nobleman’s son.

And now on to this week’s passage, again.

2 On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. ² Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. ³ When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” ⁴ And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” ⁵ His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

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.

John 2:1-11 ESV UK

Here are 8 findings from this passage. You can create a three-point sermon from these 9 topics (there is another in the previous post), leading to 84 different combinations. If the order matters, there are 504 possibilities. This will give you plenty of sermon material.

Number 5: The water of purification deals with sin

The water jars were used for cleaning, especially to wash the dirt from people’s feet. The dirt on the streets of 21st-century UK is very different from that in Judea during Jesus’ time. Back then, transport was by mules, horses, oxen, and other animals, making it very important to clean your sandal-clad feet well. Jesus will demonstrate using water this way when, at his last meal with his disciples before his crucifixion, he takes the bowl and washes their feet.

But it is also water for purification. The jars mentioned were used for washing hands and feet before meals, showing that God cleanses his people of their mistakes and sins. The Old Tesstament does not say that hands and feet should be ritually washed, except for the priests entering the temple or preparing to offer a sacrifice, but it does mention feet being cleaned on entering a house.

Washing your hands and feet before preparing or eating a meal was common in Jesus’time. It had becone a symbol of respect, cleanliness, and preparation for entering a sacred space or receiving a guest. 

Number 6: Jesus’ power over creation

Some atheists mock Christians for believing Jesus could turn water into wine. However, some Christians attempt to explain away the supernatural in the Bible. They suggest the feeding of the 5,000 was just people sharing their lunches, and the Nile turning to blood was caused by red algae.

John stated about The Word, “All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.” (John 1:3), revealing that The Word refers to Jesus. If Jesus can create the entire universe, turning water into wine is a minor feat. Compared to the creation of everything, changing a river to blood is not that remarkable next to God’s incredible power.

The other points are:

Number 1: It’s an endorsement of marriage
Number 2: Christ’s sovereignty
Number 3: This sign is a parallel to the first plague of Egypt
Number 4: It is a foreshadowing of Jesus’ sacrifice
Number 7: Transformation not just of people but of nature.
Number 8: Signs not miracles

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