Day 4 - John 2:1-12
05 Jan 2017
John Calvin, the reforming pastor and theologian in Geneva, was questioned by someone unconvinced by the challenge of the reformation. If the gospel he (and other reformers) preached was true, then why weren’t there any miracles to prove it?
Calvin didn’t reply by jumping into a big discussion about present day miracles. Instead he simply said - there are miracles to prove the gospel! They are the miracles that Jesus already did when he was on earth. They showed he is who he said he is. John, the writer of this gospel, would have replied in the same way. The reason he records these miracles alongside everything else is “that we may believe that Jesus is Christ” (see the end of chapter 20).
Here we have the first miracle that John records. Importantly, John calls miracles “signs” (vs 11). The important thing about signs is that they point to something.
But what does this sign point to? “Jesus…..manifested his glory” (vs 11). We have already been told in the introduction to the gospel that Jesus is full of a special kind of glory (“glory as of the only Son from the Father” 1:14). Now we begin to see what this means.
The sign here is unusual. Jesus appears almost reluctant to be drawn into this situation. He was attending a wedding at Cana. Although it was a great embarrassment for the wine to run out at an occasion like this, it was not a life or death situation like the healing we will read about later. Yet Jesus saves the day for this embarrassed host.
There may be more to this sign than we first notice though. How does Jesus’ ability to make the best wine show his glory?
The Old Testament is full of references to wine. It is right that we should be careful and self controlled in our drinking - but we can’t ignore the prophecies of the age to come as an age where the best wine will flow (see Isaiah 25:6-8). The Messiah is now here, and in his first public act Jesus shows that because he is here, that new age is about to begin.
This great fulfilment could not be brought about by the law by itself. It is probably not coincidental that it is the water jugs used for Jewish purification rites that Jesus transforms!
So, do we see Jesus glory? Is our response to Jesus similar to the guests in verse 10 - amazement at his glory and provision for us? Do we believe in him (vs 11)? Do we see and know the great abundance of all he is and has provided for us? Or do we secretly think Jesus is a miserly Saviour who doesn't really provide?