The Sign of the Wine

John's Gospel declares that Jesus' turning the water into wine at the wedding feast at Cana of Galilee was the first of his signs that "manifested his glory and his disciples believed in him." We learn from this passage that Jesus had entered a new kind of relationship with his mother which may explain his seemingly abrupt words to her. We also observe that the "hour" of Jesus' death was already at the forefront of his life, and we see his divine power over the natural elements. Finally, we observe one of those subtle but important truths that John has embedded in his gospel that Jesus' coming death and his poured-out blood would truly purify his people from their sin.