What is the function of the Sign at Cana in John 2:1-12?

The Function of the "Sign at Cana" in John. 2:1-12

In the Gospel of John, John writes about the seven "signs" that Jesus preformed for the duration of his public ministry. John uses the seven signs to lead up to the climax of Book III, "The Book of Glory". John additionally uses the "signs" to construct his bases for establishing Jesus is the Messiah, the Only Son of God. He ingeniously selected these particular seven signs to do this and acknowledges Jesus has done several more signs; however, ascertains these seven to be most proper. Before getting started, one must comprehend why John was compelled to label the altering of water into wine a "sign" and not a miracle. A sign, defined by McKenzie, "is the symbol which indicated the existence or the presence of that which it signifies; it directs the attention to the reality signified"2. A "sign" is a type of a miracle, except it personifies and emphasizes the spiritual truth of Jesus Christ.

Stained glass at St John the Baptist's Anglican Ch...

StJohnsAshfield StainedGlass JohnTheBaptist Paul

English: John the Baptist baptizing Christ

John is not bothered with the results nor bothered with precise particulars during these events and therefore, "sign" is an appropriate word. 3

The synoptic gospels and the gospel of John both have John the Baptist present in their stories. However, John the Baptist does not baptize Jesus nor is Jesus baptized in the gospel of John, unlike in the synoptic gospels. In the beginning of Book II, The Book of Signs, John the Baptist proclaims "I did not know him, but the reason why I came baptizing with water was that he might be made known to Israel".4 John could not bestow the first gift, the gift of the Holy Spirit, the gift God bequeathed to Jesus to give to man by means of baptism. John the Baptist baptized with water to show...