“the result of his failure to observe the customs of a wedding gift" (Derrett)
If this be so twice Jesus has goes again the Jewish tradition and their ways by “not bringing a gift ” and also “serving the choice wine first” (the headwaiter speaks of the wine from the stone jars as being better than the one that the guest were drinking) therefore this can symbolise Jesus recreating and rebuilding a new faith by defining Jewish customs or even possibly signifies he has the power to go above tradition.
However going back I think my views are shared with the same opinion of Brown where he believed Mary role in the passage is to show by refusing, Jesus sign reflects God sovereignty not that of family or human intervention. Therefore
“the first sign is mean to show he is the messiah who shall make the glory of God be seen on earth.” (Brown)
Mary’s role one way or another still seems purposeful and it’s worthwhile to mention how John never calls her Mary, but instead “the mother of Jesus” which is honourable title for a women who has give birth to a son, naively a symptom of John respect for her.
Jesus in talking to Mary mentions “My hour as not yet come”, this ironically is talking of the passion death and resurrection. Brown makes a vital view that,
“It suggest that Jesus hour or time has not yet come, but in Johannine through is can be regarded as not in Jesus control, but in the Father.” (Brown)
Also the wedding s meant to happen on the third day which means there is a connection between this and “the hour” both revolving around the resurrection. Does this link in with the symbolic purpose of the sign? Possibly but I feel that while it lays some significance to the symbolism of the sign there are other area we should look at
So I now therefore, I conclude my finial points on symbolic symbolism in the first sign before making my conclusion. Firstly the author of the Forth Gospel sets this miracle in the Cana (a biblical archaeology location), which is the first time it is mentioned by John in the New Testament. It’s thought that only John and Luke would know of Jesus movements in the Galilean Hill making an interesting point that Brown states
“The Cana miracle is to be connected to the signs that follow” (Brown)
The belief is the result of the following that began in v1:37- what they see at Cana fulfils the promise of 1:50-52. Cana is to be connected with what follows in the Book of Signs.
Secondly the symbolism of the six stone jars of wine also raises some issues. There are six jars, which is one less than seven- a symbol of Jewish imperfection. The mention of stone jar relates possible to the Old Testament where Moses changes blood to water in stone jar. Brown believes
“Both attempts at symbolism are farfetched. The use of stone jars was probably the offshoot of levitical law of ritual impurity whereas earthen jars could come ritually contaminated and broke, stone jars could not.”
The fact that there are also six links again with the Old Testament in Genesis in the creation of the world on which man was created on the sixth day.
Thirdly referring again to the wine, it’s clear of the abundance of it. Peaks it is mentioned a more valuable and agreeable point that the
“Abundant wine is frequently a sign of restoration or of the eschanton.” (Barret)
The wine can possible symbolise the abundance of faith and hope Jesus death (his blood, used in the last supper in the symbol of wine) will create in joining the bond between God and man.
Finally I reach upon my conclusion on which is very strongly based Raymond E. Brown who brings up considerable points on which both not only are strongly agreeable on how John creates this significances, but also the fist sign is based on human distress- there’s seems no focus on spiritual questioning. The first sign is meant to hold an immediate symbolic impact, while the author displays a simple understand he also contends to apply hidden and significance based primary on Johannine and Jewish thought and tradition whether it be the location, the six stone jars or the action itself. John’s only aim in my opinion is to draw upon this idea of how the sign is meant to reflect God sovereignty and his salvation to the world. The first sign is used to display the faith in the disciples- how Jesus has this supernatural power possessing Old Testament features of religious characters, which shows him to being the Messiah.
Sources
Raymond E. Brown (19 ) The Gospel According to John: “The first sign at Cana in Galilee changing of water to wine” N/A
Arthur J Kink (19 ) Christ’s First Miracle, N/A
Peaks Commentary on the Bible (Written by C K Barret)
Drone Biblical Commentary
