{"id":55698,"date":"2025-03-10T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-03-10T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/blog\/?p=55698"},"modified":"2025-03-05T13:01:05","modified_gmt":"2025-03-05T21:01:05","slug":"water-to-wine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/blog\/water-to-wine\/","title":{"rendered":"Water to Wine"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What is the significance of Jesus\u2019 first sign in the Gospel of John? After turning water into wine, John states that this \u201cwas the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory\u201d (John 2:11<\/a>). Let\u2019s dig into this sign that took place at a wedding in Cana with some help from Jim Hamilton in the ESV Expository Commentary<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The First Sign in Cana: New Wine at a Wedding on the Third Day<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Section Overview<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

What happens in this scene is as simple and straightforward as it is profound and thought-provoking. Jesus attends a wedding on a third day. When the host lacks wine, Jesus\u2019 mother approaches him with the problem. Jesus asks what this has to do with him, then gives instructions to fill six stone jars with water, draw out some of the water, and take it to the host. The host then calls the bridegroom and praises the water-turned-wine as the best wine at the party. John identifies this as the first of Jesus\u2019 signs and notes that, in response, his disciples believe in him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Comment<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Lack of Wine at a Wedding on the Third Day 2:1\u20135<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

From Bethany across the Jordan (1:28<\/a>), Jesus and his disciples have removed to Galilee (1:43<\/a>) and now attend this wedding in Cana. Jesus\u2019 mother is also at the wedding (2:1<\/a>). Just as the beloved disciple is never overtly named \u201cJohn son of Zebedee\u201d in the Gospel according to John, so the mother of Jesus is never overtly named \u201cMary, wife of Joseph.\u201d John may have chosen not to use his own name nor the name of the mother of Jesus in his Gospel as a way of insisting that his audience look at Jesus, not at Mary or John.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

John 1:19\u201351<\/a> had presented a series of days:<\/p>\n\n\n\n