Significance of the First Miracle - John 2:1-11

As I was studying for my Sunday School class on the wedding at Cana, Jesus' first miracle, I came across this amazing little tid-bit of information in my Evidence Bible from Living Waters. I thought it was pretty facinating, and something I never thought of before.  As I looked through this list it amazes me how Jesus came to give life and life abundantly.  (John 10:10). But we must come on His terms...not ours (John 10:1-18).  Jesus wants to save the entire world, and through Him we can have forgiveness, and peace with God. Jesus IS the new covenant, God's plan of redemption, and I thank God for Him. 

The significance of the first miracle.




1.  The turning of water into blood was the first of the public miracles that Moses did in Egypt (Exodus 7:20). Turning water into wine was the first miracle Jesus performed (John 2:11).


2.  The signs that God gave to Egypt in the OT was plagues, destruction, and death. The signs that Jesus did in the world in the NT was healings, blessings, and life.


3.  The turning of water to blood initiated Moses as a type of savior (Deuteronomy 18:15) leading Israel out of bondage from Egypt into earthly liberty. The turning of water to wine initiated Jesus taking His people out of bondage of the world into glorious liberty of the children of God (Romans 8:21).


4.  The turning of water into blood culminated the firstborn in Egypt being delivered to death. The turning of water to wine culminated in the life of the Firstborn being delivered from death (Colossians 1:18).


5.  The law was a ministration of death; the gospel was a ministration of life. One written on cold stone, the other on warm hearts. One a ministration of sin unto condemnation, the other a ministration of righteousness unto life and liberty (2 Corinthians 3:7-9).


6.  When Moses turned water to blood, all the fish died. When Jesus initiated the new covenant, the catch of fish are made alive in the net of the kingdom of God (Matthew 4:19).


7.  The river of blood was symbolic of death for Egypt. The water into wine was symbolic of life for the world. The letter of the Law kills, but the Spirit makes alive (2 Corinthians 3:6).


8.  When Moses turned the waters of Egypt into blood, the river reeked and made the Egyptians search for another water source (Exodus 7:21-24). When the Law of Moses did the work in a sinner it makes life odious for him. The weight of sin on his back is unbearable as he begins to labor and be heavy laden under it’s weight. Like the Egyptians he searches for another water source and begins to search for “righteousness” because he knows without right standing with God, he will perish.


9.  Moses turned water to blood; Jesus blood turned into water (1 John 5:6). They both poured from His side (John 19:34) perhaps signifying that both law and grace found harmony in the Saviors’ death – “Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other” (Psalm 85:10).


10.  The water of the old covenant ran out, it could do nothing but leave the sinner with a thirst for righteousness. But as with the wine at Cana, God saved the best until last. The new wine given on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:13; Eph 5:18) was the Bridegroom giving us the new and “better” covenant (Hebrews 8:5,6).


Comfort, Ray. "The Significance of the First Miracle." Comfort, Ray. The Evidence Bible. Orlando, Florida 32822 USA: Bridge-Logos, 2003. 1342.

After reading this, I just don't understand how the Jewish people can look at Jesus who turned water to wine, performed countless miracles, fulfulled over 300 prophecies, and not see that He is the Messiah.  If you are struggling with who Jesus is, and sincerely wanting to know...please contact me, or seek someone in your life who knows.  Read the Bible for yourself and pray that God will reveal Himself to you.   You owe it to yourself to at least look, and see what the best-selling book of all time says.  God be with you.