Water Into Wine

I’m not sure that this is new insight to you; but it is new insight to me. If I’m off base here, please let me know. Thanks!

(NKJV) John 2:

1 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. 3 And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.”
4 Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.”
5 His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”
6 Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. 7 Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it. 9 When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. 10 And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!”

I’ve heard and read this story many times, and nearly every time, I ask myself the same question: “Why is this the first miracle?” No one gets healed; no one gets saved; all that seems to happen is that some wedding goers can now get even more drunk. Jesus doesn’t really seem to want to do it. So, why?

Several commentaries that I read suggest that Mary wanted Jesus to announce Himself as Messiah at this time. And, maybe – that’s what he did.

As I re-read the passage, I saw that the Master of the Feast called the Bridegroom over to compliment him on the wine. In our American weddings, at the reception, it’s the Bride’s family who would provide the wine. And, I think that I always assumed that this was the case here. Reading the text would show otherwise – it was the Bridegroom who was responsible.

So: Why was this the first miracle? Did Jesus really obey His mother’s desire to announce Himself as Messiah?

By turning the water into wine, He (essentially) replaced the Bridegroom as the host of the party/wedding. Just as He replaced Adam (breaking the curse placed upon man since The Fall), Jesus announces to us that He is our Bridegroom and our Redeemer. And, subtly, does just what His mother was asking Him to do.

Shalom - Andy