The first blood transfusions instantly impacted donors and recipients. Instead of being stored in blood banks as done now, donors and recipients then lay side-by-side as blood flowed from the former to the latter. The donor could see the results as instantly as the recipient could feel them.
The six disciples with Jesus at Cana enjoyed that kind of original, seminal moment when Jesus turned one element into another before their very eyes. It immediately buttressed faith they pledged to him two days before.
The miracle of turning water into wine means that Jesus is the source of all life, particularly of the spiritual life that changes sinners into forgiven disciples capable of being Christ-like believers.
On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”
“Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”
His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.
Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.
Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”
“Do whatever he tells you.”
They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”
What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. (John 2:1-11, NIV)
The following insights may be drawn from the miracle.
First, changing one element into another illustrates the conversion of carnal humans into Christ’s image. Only by accepting the miracle as fact do we appreciate its meaning. We cannot create a spiritual application from a de-mythologized event. If the writers only imagined that Jesus turned water into wine, we can never be sure he can turn sinners into saints! 
Second, Jesus declared spiritual independence from Jerusalem by performing the miracle in Cana, Galilee. He also declared spiritual independence from all others, including his mother. He responded only to God’s calling, not to national or human authority. Whatever Mary meant by saying, “They have no more wine,” he refused intrusion on his purpose. The word in the Greek referring to her means Lady or Madam, not Mother. We shouldn’t let his courtesy to Mary mask the strength and finality of his rejection of her interference. He alone made decisions for God’s kingdom, saved everyone who asked forgiveness, and possessed grace enough to meet the spiritual and material needs of the billions ever to live.
“He responded only to God’s calling, not to national or human authority.”
By the way, though corrected by Jesus, Mary couldn’t stop being a mother. She turned to the servants with, “Do whatever he tells you.” Jesus may have shook his head at that. As if Jesus had any trouble getting done what he wanted. Mothers!
Third, performing the miracle at a wedding was appropriate. First, because marriage symbolized God’s relationship with Israel. Second, because marriage, which brings new life from old, symbolized the miracle. Third, because marriage symbolizes the intimacy Christians have with the Savior.
Fourth, Jesus distinguished between his glory and his hour or time in this miracle (John 2:4, Matthew 26:18). The glory his disciples saw in him didn’t equal his hour. His glory meant the inner being revealed in miracles, teachings, claims and example. His “hour” or “time” meant his death on Calvary—though it’s true that in his “hour” at Calvary, he revealed his true glory as God in the flesh, as Paul delineated in Colossians 2:15.
Jesus constantly revealed his glory, whether teaching or healing. In his daily life, his brown eyes constantly poured out a spiritual mystery that quickly forced anyone’s look into a glance. That glory, a tumultuous light that his disciples loved and his enemies loathed, had been fully seen but once in ministry. Luke 9 records that Transfiguration. It seems to have occurred at night, likely as Jesus prayed. The three disciples had fallen asleep as he prayed. As light grew, it awakened them. On rising, they realized they weren’t dreaming. For a few feet above them, with his arms outstretched to God, Jesus released through his eyes the light filling his being that turned the entire scene into day as it spread over the mountain.
“Jesus constantly revealed his glory, whether teaching or healing.”
That stunned the disciples, but the white cloud descending tumbled them to their faces, especially hearing God’s voice declare Jesus as his Son who would lead them. Which became a command as they opened their eyes to see Jesus standing alone! He came to them and helped each man to his feet.
As he did, they watched as all the light he had released into their night returned to him, ray by ray, until the last ray disappeared inside him, leaving only a nimbus around his head.
In summary, as Jesus provided the best wine as the last wine, God saved the best of himself for his last revelation through Jesus Christ. Many have noted that God revealed himself progressively through history. While he never withdrew any information of himself once given, he always added to it as time passed, as humanity could understand his will. But only in Christ did God reveal all about himself that humanity can know in this world. Anyone claiming greater authority than his lies; anyone who claims to better explain God than he lies. Jesus alone stands as God’s last and fullest possible revelation.
Nevertheless, Jesus revealed his glory in this miracle, not his hour. His glory refers to his Person; his hour to his purpose. Many in that time, John the Baptist included, wanted Jesus to prematurely reveal his “hour”—that is, his Messianic identity. Mary may also have desired that.
None but Jesus knew the difference. He would consistently reveal his glory for the next three years, but only on the cross would he reveal his hour—which meant something because of his glory.
“He would consistently reveal his glory for the next three years, but only on the cross would he reveal his hour—which meant something because of his glory.”
In conclusion, Nick Waddell served as Coast watcher in the Solomon Islands during WWII. He kept a visitors book, signed by downed flyers his men rescued. Commemorating the rescues, he established a Rubber Rafters Club composed of those flyers. Each received a certificate of rescue, declaring his membership. The Club had but one condition: on each annual anniversary of his rescue, he must get drunk and get others equally drunk.
A continuation of the old life under new circumstances! But when Jesus forgives our sins, he intends to fill us with himself, not with our ego, and our lives with his virtue, not with more of our sins. We can celebrate the anniversary of our deliverance from sin on an hourly, daily, weekly, monthly or yearly basis, but each occasion will be an opportunity to express Christ’s new life in us, not our old life in us.
