The Eight Remarkable Signs Of John's Gospel (Part 1 of 0)

Sign One: Water into Wine — John 2:1-11 – Part one

Among the means that Christ used to manifest the divine glory to Israel ( John 1:31) were eight remarkable mir­acles, called in the Greek “semeion” or signs. This word is translated “miracles” in the Authorized Version, but the Re­vised Version renders it as “signs”. The word occurs in John 6:26: “Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.”

Christ declared that they “saw not the miracles.” But the Jews did see the mir­acles. What they did not discern was the meaning behind them. They did not see them as “signs”, they did not comprehend their significance. And that is the word used by the Lord in this place.

John selected eight such miracles as signs of the purpose of God in Christ. These eight signs appear to be numbered, so that we read of the “beginning of signs” in John 2:11, and “the second” sign in John 4:54, which implies that they are set in order.

The eight miracles, or signs, are as follows :

  1. Turning water into wine (John 21-11).
  2. Giving renewed life unto the ruler’s son who was “sick unto death” (John 4:46-50).
  3. Healing the impotent man, pro­viding him with strength (John 5:1-47).
  4. Feeding the 5,000 (John 6:1-14).
  5. Calming the stormy sea (John 6: 15-21) .
  6. Giving sight to the blind (John 9 :1-41 ).
  7. Raising the dead (John 11:1-44). 8.
  8. Increasing the harvest of the apostles after the resurrection (John 21 :-1-14).

These were signs to Israel, indicating what Christ could have done for the nation if it had accepted Him. But Israel’s needs are ours also, and therefore the signs have an application to us. They re­veal what Christ will do for us if we seek Him in the proper manner. He will:

  1. Provide us with joy in His service.
  2. Give us new life.
  3. Strengthen us in our weakness.
  4. Grant us food.
  5. Care for us amid the storms of life.
  6. Open our eyes to the richness of Truth.
  7. Raise us from the dead.
  8. Increase our labors and harvest after the resurrection.

Each sign is complete in itself, illustrating the work of God in Christ. We propose here to give verse by verse notes on each, allowing the narrative to speak for itself. By independent study of the Word by the use of these notes, the stu­dent may enrich himself in the under­standing of this most interesting feature of John’s gospel.

Jesus Called to the Marriage—(Verses 1, 2).

Verse 1

“The third day”—Three, in Scripture, has the significance of completeness and resurrection. On the third day the funda­mentals of creation had been completed, and the following three days saw merely a repetition of that which had already been done. It has the significance of resurrection, for on the third day, the earth rose out of the water, and fruit from out of the earth (Genesis 1:9-13).

“A marriage”—Typical in this sign of the marriage of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7), but unless Christ provides for us certain essentials (Ephesians 5:27), there will be no joy for us if we are present at the marriage!

“The mother of Jesus was there”—She was already there. Evidently the mar­riage was that of a relative, and Mary was there in some official capacity. No­tice the authoritative way she commands the servants (Verse 5). No mention is made of Joseph, and the probability is that he had died, and Mary was now a widow.

Verse 2

“Jesus was called”—The construction of the sentence is in the singular. Jesus was called, and the disciples were included in the invitation issued to Him. Rotherham renders the verse: “Jesus also was invited with his disciples.” In relation to the wedding of Revelation 19:7, we are invited only “in Jesus,” not in our own individual right.

The Wine Runs Short (Verses 3, 4). Verse 3

“And when they wanted wine” — Rather: “Wine running short” (Rother­ham). This was esteemed a disgrace, and thus a cloud would pass over the rejoic­ing at the marriage. Perhaps the presence of unexpected guests was the cause.

“The mother of Jesus saith unto him” — She was anxious that He might reveal Himself for what He is, the Son of God.

Verse 4

“Woman” — Used not in disrespect, but as a tender expression (see its use also in John 19:26; 20:13, 15). It de­fined a new relationship in the family of the Lord. Jesus was not merely the Son of Mary, but the Son of God. He had honored Mary, and continued to do so. But now a new work opened unto Him, and Mary had to realize that her Son had a mission that demanded that He per­form, even at the expense of family du­ties (see Luke 2:49; Matthew 12:48-50; Luke 11:27, 28). He does not call her “mother,” for the normal subordination between mother and son had to pass in the requirements of His public ministry as Savior of the world.

“What have I to do with thee?” — This was not said in disrespect, but to impress His mother with the fact that He had to devote Himself completely to the mission imposed upon Him as the Son of God and Savior of the world. The flesh had to be denied to fulfill that, and the Lord was gently impressing this upon His mother. There seemed to be a desire on the part of the Lord’s relatives that He openly declare Himself before all. They did not realize the suffering that this would ultimately involve (see the action of His brethren in John 7:3-7). Mary knew that He was the Christ, had heard it pronounced by John, heard the declaration at His baptism, and now de­sired that He demonstrate His power. His gentle rebuke included words which implied that suffering was involved when the hour should come.

Christ’s Instructions (Verses 5-8).

Verse 5

“His mother said” — Her authorita­tive tone implies she was there in some official capacity.

“Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it” — Obey Christ! This is the injunction of the covenant whereby we have been brought nigh to God, the covenant that Paul describes in Galatians 4:26 as being “the mother of us all.”

Verse 6

“Six” — The number of flesh. Man was created on the sixth day (see also Revelation 13:18). These waterpots held water to wash hands and feet in a cere­monious purification according to law. But there was no life, or true rejoicing in the purification of the law.

“After the purifying of the Jews” — Thus a resting on the law (see Mark 7:3,4; Luke 11:39; Matthew 15:2).

Verse 7

“They filled them to the brim” — So there was ample for all; a super-abund­ance for all needs.

The Miracle (Verse 9).

“Water made wine” — Wine “maketh glad” (Psalms 104:15; Zechariah 10:7). This symbolizes teaching (Isaiah 25:6; 55:1); prosperity (Isaiah 36:17; Joel 2:19); divine love (Song of Solomon 1:2,4; 4:10; 5:1). Wine is also a new life created by crushing underfoot the normal fruit of the vine. The juice of the grape is crushed from it by being trodden under the feet of men. The bloom of the grape causes it to ferment, and thus bring forth a new kind of life, for fermentation is a sign of life. When natural fermentation takes place, the result is wine. Thus wine is a symbol of a new life that brings joy to GOD AND MAN (Judges 9:13). It is thus a symbol of the blood of Christ, through which true joy comes to us (Matthew 26:28; Hebrews 9:22; Romans 15:8). Israel was without this, and therefore without that which could give joy at the mar­riage of the future. We likewise were without it, and can only obtain it by coming to the Lord. He filled the water-pots with water (used the means pro­vided under the law) to supply what was lacking at the marriage feast.

That Was The Sign.

“The servants drew the water” — Notice that Faith was required in the servants. They had to dip into water, but faith turned it into wine. So the wine was produced when the servants in faith and in obedience did the will of Christ.

Commendation of the Wine (Verse 10).

“Every man at the beginning” — This is a general truth. Man gradually deter­iorates. He, in the vigor of manhood, produces his best, and then declines. Not so with God. The best is revealed last. The true joy of His service will be re­vealed when we stand approved before Christ at the judgment seat, and when the kingdom is set up.

“Well drunk” — Men produce their worst when “well drunk”. It does not imply that those at the marriage feast were in that state. This is a general observation by the Master of Ceremonies. It forms a place in the sign when the condition of drunkenness referred to in Revelation 17:6 and in Revelation 18:3 is considered. Men produce their worst when they drink deeply of that wine which man produces — the wine of Babylon.

Summary (Verse 11).

“This is the beginning of miracles”—The first of His signs. Moses also had signs which he took to Egypt. It is sig­nificant that the first sign of Moses was turning water into Blood (Exodus 7:17); the first sign of Jesus, turning water into WINE. Moses and the cove­nant he brought to Israel stood for curs­ing and for death; Jesus and the coven­ant He confirmed stood for blessing and for life. This was shown in the two open­ing signs of these two great men.

“He manifested forth his glory” — The sign is set down in detail by John because it shadows forth the glory of the Lord, reveals the purpose of God in Him (see Matthew 2 1:1 2). Thus this first sign spoke of: The marriage (Verse 1); the call (Verse 2); the need at the mar­riage (Verse 3); the Provider of the need (Verse 3); the manner in which that need could be provided — by repudiation of the flesh (Verse 4); the need of obedience to the commands of the Lord (Verse 5); the proof that the law could not provide the need (Verse 6); the revelation of the quality of the wine (Verses 9, 10).

Thus this miracle was not performed to demonstrate the ability of Christ to turn water into wine, but to illustrate an important truth in His ministry unto men.