On Sunday morning we considered the well-known miracle of Jesus turning water into wine. All of the signs recorded in John’s gospel are there to help us understand who Jesus is, that we might believe in him and have life (see 20:31). This miracle is no different. No-one else could provide the wine needed for the wedding by doing this miracle. Jesus is God and he is the one we must believe in.
And yet, this miracle also points us to something deeper. Consider Jesus’ unusual response to his mother in v4:
“My time has not yet come”
What does he mean? This theme of Jesus’ time or hour coming runs throughout the gospel. All of John’s narrative is building towards Jesus’ time. In chapter 7:30 and 8:20 people wanted to seize him and kill him. Yet, they can’t because Jesus is in complete control and it was not time. Eventually in chapter 12, Jesus says that his time has come. It was time for him to be glorified in his death on the cross for sinners and in his rising from the dead.
So, in John 2, Jesus’ time had not come. It was not time for the cross and resurrection but Jesus does this miracle in anticipation of what he will achieve in dying and rising again. At the wedding he removes shame, provides an abundance and joy. He did this for the few that were invited. At the cross he provides abundant blessing for all his people, all over the world as he pays for their sins, restores their relationship with God and promises eternal life as he rises again.
If you belong to Jesus you have abundant life, joy, forgiveness, peace because of what Jesus did when his hour finally came.