PARABLE, MIRACLE, AND SIGN
104
The marriage in Cana was therefore the seventh day of this record. This is typical. Here we have millennial
anticipations. Here the opening scene is a marriage, just as Revelation 19 introduces Revelation 20 with the
`Marriage supper of the Lamb'. As the Lamb of God He had already been heralded, though for the time His glory
must be veiled. Some of the disciples of Christ who were invited with Him had been disciples of John the Baptist.
It would be necessary to teach them that a dispensational change was indicated by the personal ministry of the
Messiah. Weddings and wine are quite foreign to the witness of John the Baptist. They harmonize with the
message of Christ. John is the friend of the Bridegroom, but Christ is the Bridegroom Himself.
The instruments of the miracle were the six water pots, `after the manner of the purifying of the Jews'. Again
the new dispensational note is struck. That which was Old Testament ritual is changed into the pledge of millennial
joy. He, the Son of man and Son of God, has come, in order that all types shall have their completion, and all
promises their fulfilment.
His first miracle `manifested forth His glory'. It is not a miracle merely of compassion or mercy. It foreshadows
coming glory. `His hour was not yet come' (2:4); and although that hour must come wherein the Son of man must
be lifted up, nevertheless glory must follow, for so it is written. The last miracle before His own death and
resurrection was at the tomb at Bethany. Here, however, in this opening sign He manifests His glory at a marriage;
His glory was manifested in that He supplied their lack. They had `no wine'. We are not told what effect this sign
had upon the guests, or the bride and bridegroom. We are told, `His disciples believed on Him'.
This sign has been recorded in order that we might believe:
(1) That Jesus is the Christ.
(2) That He is the Son of God.
(3) That believing we might have life through His name.
The miracles which He did were the evidence of His Messiahship. This we have already seen in Matthew's
Gospel. They are further given to reveal Him as the Son of God. This one, in particular, is a miracle of creation.
What is ordinarily accomplished by the slow process of vegetable growth and development is here performed
instantaneously at a word from Him. To believe Him is to receive life. Here life is indicated, `more abundantly'.
Not water for purifying, but wine that maketh glad the heart of God and man. We are perfectly certain it was not the
wine that is a mocker, that biteth like a serpent, respecting which Scripture itself testifies, `whosoever is deceived
thereby is not wise'.
(3)
The Nobleman's Son
John 4:46-50
The first and last signs bring before us the nation's need. There is a failure of supply which can only be met by
their Messiah. The second and seventh signs emphasize sickness and death, death being mentioned in these two
alone.
The first sign was given on the seventh day of the record. In the second sign restoration takes place `at the
seventh hour'. Seven disciples figure in the last sign (21:2). We shall find this element emphasized still more in the
signs that follow. It is a genuine part of the symbolism. The nation's restoration to joy and the marriage feast will
take place in the sabbath that is coming, the seven thousand years of this world's history. So likewise will their
being received back as alive from the dead.
Possibly, if the words of verse 43 stood alone, no symbolic meaning would be attached to them, but they appear
again in the corresponding seventh sign, and unitedly compel one to think of Hosea 6:1-3, viz.:
`After two days will He revive us: in the third day He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight' (Hos. 6:2).
The passages are:
`After two days He departed' (John 4:43).