Jesus’ first sign was not feeding the poor. It wasn’t healing the sick or raising the dead. It was keeping a party going. 
In the book of John, there’s a series of miracles that are called signs. That’s important because it means Jesus’ miracles weren’t naked displays of power. They signify. They’re symbolic. They point to who Jesus is and what he came to do. And the first sign of Jesus’ ministry is turning water into wine. What does that say about him? 
Let’s take a look and ask 1) what do the jars point to? 2) what does the brusque exchange with his mother point to? 3) what does the wine point to? and 4) what does this mean for us?
This sermon was preached by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on January 19, 2014. Series: Seeing Jesus. Scripture: John 2:1-11.
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Released on 13 Mar 2026