Sept. 19 2008: John 2.1-11 – Water Into Wine
September 19,2008 – “Water into Wine”
Text: John: 2:1-11
Question: Can you explain to me about why Jesus said, “My time has not come yet,” again, including the significance when Jesus mentions about time?
Well, Jesus could have turned the water into wine without saying anything. But he chooses to use this opportunity to mention “his time” and that “his time hasn’t come yet.” Jesus’ time (or the hour) is a theme in John, and it refers to the hour of his glorification, namely his death and resurrection on the cross. When Jesus is crucified he will be glorify God by drawing all men to himself. And so any mention of time is an inference to Jesus glorifying the father. And so what Jesus is trying to communicate when he says “my time has not yet come yet” is the fact that the turning of water into wine is a sign, a sign that reveals who Jesus really is (the son of God, the messiah, the lamb of God, etc). This is confirmed in v.11 of the text, where John writes that the turning of water into wine was the first miracle that Jesus did and that all his disciples put their faith in him.” Hope that answers your question.
Question: “I don’t quite understand the point about Jesus addressing Mary formally, because he can only act on god’s authority.”
Well, Jesus could have simply did what his mother, Mary asked him. But he says this strange thing, “Woman, why do you involve me.” You and I would never address our own mothers as Ma’am, but that is what Jesus essentailly did. Now why did he do it? Well, he wanted to send a message that what he’s about to do, turning water into wine, is done out of his own authority, and not Mary’s authority or request. It’s a weak explanation that makes sense, but is not all that compelling. But that’s what scholars think, since “acting on God’s authority” is a theme in the book of John.
Question: How do we differentiate between figurative and literal language in the Bible? Is the water into wine account a parable or a real life event? both? How do we know?
Good question. How can we tell between figurative and literal language? Well, it all depends on the genre of the text. Psalms, which is know as poetic literature, uses a lot of imagery and metaphors. Psalm 19:1, says “The heavens declare the glory of God.” We can understand this to be figurative. You and I know that the heavens (the skies) don’t declare or say anything, and yet the author personifies them to communicate the beauty that God’s creation seems to communicate (or declare) to the beholder. In the Bible, there are different types of literate: law, poetry, history, etc. The book of John is known as a gospel and it is understood to be a historical account of what actually happened. Jesus does say parables (and you can tell when he does), but in general, especially in the story about water into wine, the events are historical narratives. In other words, they actually happened. John writes at the end of the gospel that everything that happened is true and they were written so that you and I may believe and find life in his name. The events in chapter describe real things; Cana, a wedding, stone jars, master of the banquet, servants, bridegrooom, etc. You don’t see any metaphors, similes, synecdoches, or other poetic devices being used in this narrative. We can assume that the events actually happend. Now just because there’s a miracle (changing of water into wine), people assume that it’s a mythological account. Such people presuppose that there’s no supernatural power (and that’s another issue). But the bible presumes that there is a supernatural power, and so the bible is consistent in it’s account of history and it’s worldview. We should not be surprised to see miracles happening when there is a miracle maker. And last, just because the events are literal, we’re not to draw just literal conlcusions or applications. We can draw lessons from historical events. Just as a single rock can make a ripple in the water, so can one man make a ripple in history. Just as wine runs out of a wedding, so does joe or happiness run out of things in our lives. And so just as Jesus changed water into wine, so to can he renew your life. I hope this helps.
