Only a handful of commentaries note a deeper significance to the miracle at Cana of turning water into wine. In John 2:1-11, we see Christ’s mother press Him into service to refresh the low supplies of wine at a wedding celebration. John describes this as “the beginning of His signs”, which commentators believe represents Christ’s first public miracle.
Haydock’s Catholic Commentary associates turning the water into wine with the purification of the bitter water at Marah in Exodus 15:22-27. Haydock writes that changing the water was the first miracle after the Red Sea, which symbolically represents baptism and salvation. John does not make this association, so it is only interesting to note the observation. There is certainly a transformation occurring in both scenes.
The Biblical Illustrator provides commentary on the transformation of the water into wine and thereby the association with our transformation from sinners to holy people through Christ. “Christianity, in its highest achievements and results, is simply the miraculous power of Jesus made effective in and upon the common elements of nature–the gladdening transfiguration of the common into the noble, the sinful into the holy, the earthly into the heavenly.” J.A. Seiss, contributor in The Biblical Illustrator
Thus, we can note verse 3 which describes “six stone waterpots set there for the Jewish custom of purification”. These waterpots would have been used for washing the body or perhaps the hands or the feet before sitting down to the feast. In this way, the waterpots represent filth, for the water would have become dirty from the guests washing themselves. No one would have wanted to drink from the water in these pots.
Christ uses these same waterpots to transform ordinary water into “good wine”. That is to say, Christ transformed the sinner into holiness. As His glory was manifested here and this was the beginning of His signs, the scene of transformation should not go unnoticed. Transformation into a new nature, doing away with the dirt of sin, and transforming us into souls holy and acceptable before the Lord is the reason Christ dwelt among us.
If we personalize this miracle, we must place ourselves as the waterpots. The work of Christ transforms us into holy vessels. In this way, we vividly see the new nature Christ imparts to us. We begin as vessels of sin, and end as vessels of honor unto holiness and righteousness.
The significance of the gospel of John and the foundation laid in the first three chapters revolves around the new nature imparted to us by the Holy Spirit in Christ. Notice:
John 1:12-13: But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
John 2:1-12: Transformation of water in filthy water pots into the best wine, representing our new nature as children who are born of God.
John 3:1-21, particularly verses 3-8: Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ Nicodemus said to Him, ‘How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?’ Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.
In Christ and through the Holy Spirit, we are “children of God” who are born “of God”. We are transformed just like the transformation of filthy water pots full of water into the best wine. We must be “born of water and the Spirit”. When we are “born of the Spirit”, we are spirit and no longer controlled by the flesh. This being “born again” imparts to us a new nature through the Holy Spirit. It is this new nature which enables us to perform holy and righteous deeds.
Romans 6:1-11 explains in more detail the effects of our being “born again” into a new nature. Having a new nature, we are not to continue in sin. Romans 8:12-17 explains that we are no longer in bondage to sin but have received a spirit of adoption to become “children of God”.
In Romans 8:13, we are exhorted to put “to death the deeds of the body”. The effect of our new nature through the Holy Spirit is that we are enabled to put to death the flesh. Colossians 3:1-5 provides a similar exhortation, “Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.”
As children of God, we must walk according to the Holy Spirit and not according to the flesh. Through the Holy Spirit, we receive a new nature and are made alive to deeds of righteousness and holiness.
The concept of a new nature, being born again, and putting the deeds of the flesh to death is foundational to the gospel of John. John will build upon this key principle as we progress through the gospel of John.
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