4 - The Miracle of the Wine and the Raising of Lazarus

Summary

There remain only two major narrative pericopae to be discussed: the Miracle of the Wine and the Raising of Lazarus. Neither of these is such as to admit of close comparison with Synoptic pericopae, yet each contains elements which show some contact with the tradition as we know it from the Synoptics, and have recognized it in other parts of the Fourth Gospel. Both are pervaded with motives of Johannine theology to a greater extent than the narrative pericopae already examined.

The Miracle of the Wine (ii. i–ii)

The intention of this passage I have discussed elsewhere. It is to set forth a ‘sign’ by which, as the author emphatically says, Christ manifested his glory. The meaning is to be gathered from a study of the imagery employed, in comparison with its use in other writers who show some affinity with the evangelist's way of thinking. In giving ἀντὶ ὕδατος οἷνον Christ is the giver of the knowledge of God which is eternal life; and the water is expressly associated with Jewish rites of purification: ὅτι ὁ νόμος διὰ Μωυσέως ἐδόθη, ἡ χάρις καὰ ἡ ἀλήθεια διὰ ʾ|ησοῦ χριστοῦ ἐγένετο. The good wine (which is γνῶσις θεοῦ) has been kept ἕως ἄρτι, namely until the time of the incarnation of the Logos. When Jesus is appealed to he first objects, οὔπω ἥκει ἡ ὣρα μου.