I’ve just noticed something that I should have noticed before, and I’m sure is in all the commentaries etc., but somehow I have completely missed.
“On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee.” (John 2:1)
This detail has often puzzled me. Because how do you get to three. Again, I’m sure the commentaries discuss the options brilliantly. John testifies to Jesus (John 1:19-28). “The next day” (John 1:29) John sees Jesus and identifies him as the lamb of God. “The next day” (John 1:36) Jesus calls Andrew who finds Simon. “The next day” (John 1:43) Jesus calls Philip who fines Nathanael. “On the third day” (John 2:1) Jesus produces 600-900 bottles of red wine. But I make this at least the fifth day.
Jesus rose from the dead on the third day.
It’s often noted that this miraculous production of wine picks up the language of the prophets that wine will flow from the hills. This is a sign that Jesus came to bring in the messianic age of great abundance for God’s people, and as such is a foretaste of the new creation.
But surely the reference to the third day is meant to make us connect this to the resurrection. John chooses to remind us in John 21:2 that Nathaniel was from Cana in Galilee. He makes the link backwards too. This was a resurrection miracle. This miracle, changing water into wine, is not just a miracle to anticipate the new creation; it anticipates the resurrection. Water is turned into something more glorious, wine. Wine is the drink of feasting. This miracle is a foretaste of new, resurrection life breaking in.
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