The Bible first mentions such “signs” in Exodus 4. God used miracles to prove the authority of Moses. Israel could be sure by the signs that God had sent Moses. Through that same Moses God promised to send a Prophet like Moses (Deuteronomy 18:17-18). Some Old Testament prophets did work miracles. But none of them used miracles as greatly as Moses had (Deuteronomy 34:10-12). The last famous miracles of the Old Testament were in the time of Daniel. That had been over 500 years before the births of John the Baptizer and Jesus. If the disciples had never seen a miracle before, what made them so sure that they had seen a real miracle at Cana?
John wrote as one who was there (John 20:30; 21:24). He knew the exact day of this first sign (John 1:43-2:1). Jesus came to join in blessing the newly married couple. What a blessing He gave them! There was nothing more for their guests to drink, and Jesus solved their problem. He used the six large jars that were already there. John 2:6 says that each jar held about 20 to 30 gallons (75 to 115 liters) of water. When they took some of the water to their leader, they found that it had become wine! Could there have been some trick? Many were present to examine all the facts: The large amount of water had been poured by the servants themselves. The wine had the finest taste. They could also check that the large amount of water had been supplied only by the servants. The servants had filled the water pots to the very top (John 2:6). Nothing else could have been added.
In the same way, John’s report is clear and full. It was important to him to report accurately (John 21:24). The grape vine slowly changes water into grapes with juice with the help of sunshine, soil, and air. What God does slowly through nature, He did in one moment through Jesus. Here was the power of God at work in a Man!