FIRST EPISODE. THE NEW BEGINNING (ii. i–iv. 42)

Chapters ii. i–iv. 42 contain two distinct narratives, and two passages of discourse, all of which prove to have, in a broad sense, a common theme: a theme which may perhaps best be characterized by Paul's aphorism, τ dρχαiα παρfλθεγ I7delta;ōv γγōγεγ καιγ (II Cor. v. 17). In ii. 1–10 water is replaced by wine; in ii. 14–19 a new temple is foretold; the dialogue with Nicodemus in ch. iii is about new birth; the dialogue with the Samaritan woman in ch. iv contrasts both the ραρ of Jacob with ‘living water’, and the ancient cults of Jerusalem and Gerizim with the worship iv γ πγεUματι καì ληθíc for which the time is ripe. We may therefore best treat these two chapters as forming a single complex act or episode, consisting of two (σημεíα, or significant actions, and two discourses developing their significance.

• (i) The narrative of the Miracle of Cana, ii. 1–11, presents, at the very beginning of the Book of Signs, a particularly striking example of a feature of this gospel which will frequently recur. We may call it the Johannine irony. On the face of it we have here a naive tale about a marvel at a village wedding. There is realism in the story, an eye for character and for seemingly trivial detail (the stone waterpots hold from seventeen to twenty-five gallons apiece); there is even a touch of homely humour in the remark of the dρχιτρíκλιγō, ‘Everyone puts the best wine on the table first, and brings on the poor stuff when the company is drunk; but you have kept your good wine to the last.’