I see a main point developing in John’s gospel.
This event, in Cana of Galilee, was the first of Jesus’s signs. He displayed his glory, and his disciples believed in him. (2:11)
While he was in Jerusalem during the Passover festival, several people came to trust in his name, because they had seen the signs he did. (2:23)
Add this verse from chapter 1:
“Wait a minute,” said Jesus. “Are you [Nathanael] telling me that you believe just because I told you I saw you under the fig tree? You’ll see a lot more than that!” (1:50)
For John, at least at this point and in some way, seeing is believing. When faith is involved, we all know that is not always the case, but John seems to be asserting this truth. As previously noted, there are not as many miracles or “signs” in John as are recorded in the Synoptic Gospels. But John sure gets a lot of mileage out of the signs he does include. Remember the Gospel of John has a strong evangelistic purpose; he is trying to produce faith in people, seemingly from the reading of this gospel. He will play up the signs as evidence that Jesus is not just another wise teacher or good man. I am sure we will see much more on this idea as we read along this month.
For the first time I saw the giving of the “lesser” wine first and the finest wine second as a metaphor for the concept of “already not yet” as you and I have used before. Interesting how that concept continueS to surface.
I have never thought of it that way, but absolutely! I love it!
I’ve always wondered, and still do, why Jesus allowed himself to be pushed into turning the water into wine. Was he being coy with his mother? Was the complaint that “this isn’t my time” just a rhetorical device? Was Jesus really that willing to adjust his timeline? I am not sure.