Right from the very outset, we may just review the purpose of this miracle, but the result and the full significance will emerge as we go on. First, as with all miracles, it was clearly to attest the divinity of Christ, his divine power and glory, which is indeed what happened. In verse 11 – ‘This beginning of miracles did Jesus … and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.’ They already did, but now their belief and their faith was strongly, powerfully confirmed.
Secondly in common with all the miracles, it illustrated his work. Just as the healing miracle illustrated the healing of the soul – they were all literal miracles, great wonders – but they all serve to illustrate what happens in the life and the soul of those who come to Christ. The transformation, the work of creation as Christ creates wine from water, mirrors the new creation in the soul when we come to Christ. Even the way in which the miracle was carried out: obedience to Christ was essential.
But there is a third rather distinctive point: this first miracle of Christ was in a little rural place of no consequence, teaching the disciples that he was not an establishment man. As a deliverer he was not to be a political deliverer who would operate immediately from the capital. He has come to be a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, to be an atoning Saviour, not to be a grand personage.
Fourthly, we may say that he went to this wedding in order to endorse the service of marriage, the wedding service. Occasionally people say: By what biblical right do we have wedding services? There can be no greater endorsement of the service of worship to join people together in covenant union, in marriage, than that Christ attended and performed his great miracle at such a service. Not merely a visit, but the historic moment of the first great self-attesting work of the eternal Son of God was carried out in that rural village, and at a wedding service.
Have Christ at your wedding. We mark a Christian wedding with worship and with the preaching of the word of God. Do not have other things at a wedding. Get together, meet families, enjoy convivial conversation and friendliness, but never bring the world into a wedding. Do not leave the service, and go straight into the world, and characteristically and distinctively worldly entertainment. Do not have him in the service, and drive him away in the reception. A Christian marriage is nothing like a worldly marriage. You want him throughout your married life and family life.