The account of Jesus turning the water into wine is a popular passage of scripture for many reasons. For some, it shows how Jesus is concerned for the things in our life, even if those things won’t matter much to everyone else.

Others celebrate Jesus’ reverence for His mother, Mary.

And, of course, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the effect that this passage has on wine enthusiasts. And for that reason, it’s often referenced in pop-culture, like in the scene from Percy Jackson posted below. Dionysus makes a reference to this miracle as he suffers his punishment from Zeus.

However, to truly understand this miracle, we have to understand the Apostle John’s purpose in writing his Gospel. Only then can we interpret what we are to learn from the wedding in Cana.

The Apostle John wrote the Gospel of John in response to various theories, doctrines and ideas that had arises from Hellenistic thinking about our Lord Jesus Christ. His aim was to settle the debate as to the identity of Christ, demonstrate Who He is, so that we may believe and be saved.

With that in mind, we can only conclude that the purpose of recording the miracle of the water into wine is to demonstrate the divine power of Jesus Christ.

In fact, if you read the entire chapter, John 2 demonstrates the miraculous power of Jesus, the authoritative power of Jesus, and the resurrection power of Jesus.

The miraculous power of Jesus is demonstrated in that Jesus simply willed the water into wine. Had you not been a servant who witnessed the miracle first-hand, you would have no clue that it was divinely-created wine (except for the taste, as the master of the feast complimented the groom later).

Jesus didn’t need special ingredients, magic words, or convulsive motions. All He needed were pots of water and the will to turn the water into wine, and the transformation happened immediately.

This is the same miraculous power the Lord used to create the universe, and to perform the miracles He has done in this world. It is because of this power, plus the knowledge that He is good, that we know we can completely trust Him, even when everything around us falls.

The authoritative power of Jesus is recorded later in John 2 as Jesus cleanses the temple of merchants and money changers. The Temple was built according to the specs of the Tabernacle, in which every measurement and implement foreshadowed Christ in one way or another.

Since the design and construction were ordered by God, then it was Christ Who had authority over how the Temple should be kept.

God’s will was for it to be a place of prayer and reconciliation between God and man, but the merchants and money-changers turned it into a chaotic market place where little prayer or meditation would be possible. Their presence may have also created a financial barrier to entering the Temple.

So, by His authority, He cleared the Temple and restored it to its original intent.

Seeing the authority of Christ, we would do well to remember His will and instructions, and to do what He called us to do. It is important that we keep the church on the mission He commissioned, and to not re-brand or re-create the church into something we think is more relevant.

Churches are institutions of teaching, discipleship, fellowship, and evangelism.

Furthermore, we need to remember the Lord’s authority in our own lives, and follow His will for our lives, as opposed to determining our own will and demanding He bless it.

And finally, we see the resurrection power of Christ, as He tells the Pharisees, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it up in three days.” John notes that Jesus was referring to the temple of His body, which He did resurrect three days after they crucified Him.

The resurrection proves the power of God, the authority of Christ, provides us with eternal life, and secures our salvation.