Each of the seven signs we will explore through July and August points to Jesus. Introducing this series, David said the aim is to enable us to believe in Jesus at a deeper level and realise how important He is to every human being.
The Apostle John writes near the end of his Gospel that he has written about the ‘signs’ of Jesus…
“…SO THAT YOU MAY BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD, AND THAT BY BELIEVING YOU MAY HAVE LIFE IN HIS NAME.”
John 2:11 reveals that the first sign Jesus gave did indeed cause His disciples to believe in Him. Would this and the other signs then not better be described as miracles? Yes, but they are more than just miracles. They are miraculous but they have a remarkable meaning, pointing beyond themselves to a truth about Jesus; therefore ‘signs’ is a more accurate description.
John 2:1-11 describes an embarrassing situation that arises at a wedding in Cana where Jesus, His mother, and His disciples are guests. Mary identifies it and tells Jesus:
“THEY HAVE NO MORE WINE.”
Weddings at that time in the Middle East were exciting occasions which could last anything up to a week, and wine was essential as a symbol of celebration and joy. Therefore, Mary’s words revealed a major breakdown in hospitality. The wedding was about to turn into a nightmare. From this we can take the message: life without Jesus is like a wedding without wine. It is lacking something critical.
Jesus responds:
“WOMAN, WHY DO YOU INVOLVE ME? MY HOUR HAS NOT YET COME.”
To address His mother in this way was not at all disrespectful as it would be today. The hour to which He refers signifies the time when He would lay down His life to take away the sin of the world and rise again to defeat death. He is indicating that His destiny to die and rise again was going to provide so much more than wine at a wedding.
As it turns out, Jesus does care about the pressing problem, and He solves it. Mary’s response to His words is brilliant; she tells the servants:
“DO WHATEVER HE TELLS YOU.”
There are two lessons for us in this brief reply. First, it is very wise to listen to and obey Jesus’s teaching. Second, whenever we face a dilemma or a potentially awkward situation, we should be honest about it with Jesus; invite Him into our everyday lives and look to Him for help.
The servants fill six large stone jars with water, decant a glass and take it to the head steward. He takes a drink and discovers that it has turned into wine – in fact the best wine served so far. Jesus has transformed an embarrassing social situation into a continuing, joyful celebration. He has changed people’s lives. In fact, He still does, bringing joy and enrichment, taking life to a new level. The critical aspect of this story is that Jesus has the ability and the power to change things dramatically – in our world and in our lives.
How do we embrace the transforming ability of Jesus in our lives?
“WHAT JESUS DID HERE IN CANA OF GALILEE WAS THE FIRST OF THE SIGNS THROUGH WHICH HE REVEALED HIS GLORY; AND HIS DISCIPLES BELIEVED IN HIM.”
Jesus did these signs to reveal who He was and so that people would believe in Him. In the next chapter of John’s Gospel we read:
“FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY SON, THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.”
A life without Jesus, both now and for ever, doesn’t bear thinking about. David urged us to take notice of the sign at Cana and believe in Jesus, the One who can change us from the inside out.
