Category: Chapter 2

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John 2:1-11 Jesus Changes Water to Wine

John 2: 1On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; 2 and both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus *said to Him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus *said to her, “Woman, [a]what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother *said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” 6 Now there were six stone waterpots set there for the Jewish custom of purification, containing [b]twenty or thirty gallons each. 7 Jesus *said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” So they filled them up to the brim. 8 And He *said to them, “Draw some out now and take it to the [c]headwaiter.” So they took it to him. 9 When the headwaiter tasted the water which had become wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter *called the bridegroom, 10 and *said to him, “Every man serves the good wine first, and when the people have [d]drunk freely, then he serves the poorer wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.” 11 This beginning of His [e]signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.

Observations

(Side notes: It is interesting that John notes that this took place on the third day.  So many events in the bible occur on the third day or month (Jesus’ resurrection, the congregation in Exodus 19:10-11, Philip and Nathanael called to follow 3 days after Christ’s baptism, garments had to be washed in Revelation 3:5, etc.)  In Jewish weddings, a virgin marries on a Wednesday.

1On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; 2 and both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus *said to Him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother *said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” 

Two things indicate that Mary was involved in the wedding arrangements. She know they had run out of wine and she is giving orders to the servants.  So there is a high probability that Mary was related to the bride or groom.

Joseph is not mentioned in any of the events surrounding Jesus’ baptism and ministry, so scholars assume that Joseph is no longer living.

When Jesus calls his mother “Woman”, the Greek word is gunai, which is the same word Jesus used when he was on the cross and left her in the care of John (John 19:26). This was a term of respect, not insult or impatience.

6 Now there were six stone waterpots set there for the Jewish custom of purification, containing [b]twenty or thirty gallons each. 7 Jesus *said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” So they filled them up to the brim. 8 And He *said to them, “Draw some out now and take it to the [c]headwaiter.” So they took it to him. 9 When the headwaiter tasted the water which had become wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridgegroom 10 and *said to him, “Every man serves the good wine first, and when the people have [d]drunk freely, then he serves the poorer wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.” 11 This beginning of His [e]signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.

The jars that Jesus chose were jars that were typically used in ceremonial cleansing or purification.  Jesus does everything with purpose.  His choosing the ceremonial jars may point to Himself being our ultimate means of purification for sin.

Application Points

Jesus was social and involved Himself in the cares and life events of people.  We too need to reach out to others, caring for them and sharing in the joys of every day life.  In America, people get so busy and neglect getting to know one another, our neighbors, even our relatives.  Taking time out to celebrate is a good use of our time.

It is also interesting to note that Jesus’ first miracle was an act of kindness and prevented social embarrassment of the families of the bridge and bridegroom.  Jesus’ not only point to His glory, but they also express care and concern for His creation.

Jesus shows His desire to redeem (make new) creation whenever He performs a miracle.  Healing the lame, giving site to the blind, raising the dead, casting out demons, calming the seas…..all this points to what the redeemed creation will look like at the end of time, when God’s kingdom comes and stand upon the new earth.

Jesus created approximately 150 gallons of excellent wine.  That is ALOT of wine.  This is a reminder that Jesus’ provision and grace is super abundant.  We cannot exhaust God’s grace.

 

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John 2:13-23 Jesus Cleanses The Temple

13 The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money changers sitting there. 15 And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. 16 And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.” 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

18 So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” 21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body. 22 When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.  

23 Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, observing His signs which He was doing. 24 But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, 25 and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man.

Observations

Jewish males were required to travel to Jerusalem for the three pilgrim festivals (Passover, Shavuot/Pentecost and Succoth (aka Tabernacles, Booths, Tents).  Jesus made the trip at least 3 times during His ministry.  This was his first.

There were two groups of people that Jesus was angry with: the money changers and the merchants selling sacrificial animals.  It was against Jewish law to accept coins containing other gods or emperors, so the money changers would exchange foreign coins from visitors at an exorbitant profit.

Many Jews and visitors did not bring sacrificial animals on their journey and therefore needed to purchase animals at the temple. Merchants selling the sacrificial animals would sell “approved” animals at very high prices or claim the worshiper’s animal unfit, thereby forcing the worshiper to purchase.  Jesus was angered by those in the temple taking advantage of the poor and foreigners.  This was strictly forbidden in the Mosaic law (see Exodus 22:21 and Leviticus 19:34).

Jewish historian Josephus estimated that 3,000,000 people on average, attended Passover.  Conservatively, if there were 12 people per family,  there would be 250,000 lambs sacrificed during Passover.  This is big business for the temple. Jesus caused quite a stir, by removing the unscrupulous merchants and money changers profiting from the worshipers.

Application

1) Jesus’ reverence for the Father, the temple, and the worshipers produced righteous anger toward those who were profiting financially from the worship of God.  Jesus’ example of righteous anger should cause us to pause and reflect on those things that anger us.

What situations make us angry?  Bad drivers, traffic jams, unkind people, children that misbehave, an overbearing boss, demanding parents, a critical spouse or friend?  All of these things, while valid, matter little compared to our brothers and sisters worshiping and praying in secret, those persecuted for simply being a Christian, for the millions that are starved by dictatorships, the many babies aborted each year, the multitude of people groups who have never heard the name of Jesus?  Do these things cause us righteous anger?   Matters of eternal significance involving His kingdom should loom large over our earthly concerns.

2)  By driving out the money changers and merchants, Jesus purified the temple.  When we become believers, the Holy Spirit enters our bodies, and begins to cleanse us.  He lives in us and begins to transform us into the image of Christ.  He is not content with leaving us as we are.  He is interested in turning our worry into trust, our materialism into generosity, our critical nature into an encouraging spirits.

What does it look like to be a willing participant in this transformation?  We humbly agree with God about our sin instead of clinging to the justifications or excuses for our sin.  We invite the Holy Spirit to help us, to strengthen us against giving in to temptation, we confess our sin, we pray, we turn to the Word, memorizing and studying scripture, which empowers and strengthens us.  The Holy Spirit is in charge of this purification.  But we can either fight against it or humble ourselves.

18 So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”  21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body. 22 When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

Of course the temple priests, the merchants, and the money changers were outraged.  They demanded a sign to prove Jesus’ authority.  Jesus’ response is incredible and understandable only to us who are on this side of the resurrection.  Jesus is saying that the sign that would prove His authority would be His resurrection.  When Jesus rose from the dead,  this would prove that He had was the Messiah, God in the flesh.  Everyone, including his disciples, thought Jesus was speaking literally about the physical temple.  But Jesus was speaking spiritually and it was only after Jesus had risen, they finally understood what Jesus meant.

Application

Jesus’ resurrection shows that Jesus has the utmost authority given to Him by God.  The fact that Jesus rose from the dead proved His miracles were real and that He is who He claimed to be: God in the flesh.  Praise be to God!  Jesus rose from the dead, to live forevermore and He gives us the gift of eternal life as well.  Do not let another day go by without seeking to know Him and to love Him.  He alone is worthy.  Keep these truths in the foreground of your daily thought life, knowing that the power that rose Jesus from the dead lies within you. (Romans 8:11)

23 Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, observing His signs which He was doing. 24 But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, 25 and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man.

The signs that Jesus performed while He was in Jerusalem for Passover must have been spectacular, convincing.  John tells us that many believed in His name.

Throughout the gospel of John, Jesus consistently acts in ways which glorify the Father.  The many miracles that Jesus performed pointed people to the Father and backed up His claim that He was the Messiah, God in the flesh.  It is one thing for someone to preach powerfully, but then, if  his words are backed up by powerful miracles, these miracles add authority to his message.  This was the case with Jesus.

Because of these miraculous signs, many did put their believe in Jesus, as the Messiah.  But these verses punctuate an important truth about Jesus.  Jesus knew how fickle man’s faith could be.  Some of the very people that were putting their faith in Jesus this day, would eventually cry “Crucify him!” later.  But these people whose hearts were evil, are the very ones He came to die for.

Application

Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things
and desperately sick; who can understand it?”  The truth is Jesus understands our human hearts.  He did not place trust in humans because He knows our faith waivers and that we are weak.  Instead, Jesus always looked to and trusted in the Father.

It is comforting to know that Jesus came to earth to save wretched sinners like us.  He knew before He came to earth what type of creatures He was coming to save.  He did not come to save the healthy and strong.  He came to save sinners.  We have done NOTHING to deserve His love.  But He lavishes us with it anyway, offering us eternal life if we believe in Him.  We need to preach this to ourselves every day.

 

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John 2:23-25 Jesus Knows What We Are Like

23 Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, observing His signs which He was doing. 24 But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, 25 and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man.

Throughout the gospel of John, Jesus consistently acts in ways which glorify the Father.  The many miracles that Jesus performed pointed people to the Father and backed up His claim that He was the Messiah, God in the flesh.  It is one thing for someone to preach powerfully, but then, if  his words are backed up by powerful miracles, these miracles add authority to his message.  This was the case with Jesus.

Because of these miraculous signs, many did put their believe in Jesus, as the Messiah.  But these verses punctuate an important truth about Jesus.  Jesus knew how fickle man’s faith could be.  Some of the very people that were putting their faith in Jesus this day, would eventually cry “Crucify him!” later.  But these people whose hearts were evil, are the very ones He came to die for.

Application

Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things
and desperately sick; who can understand it?”  The truth is Jesus understands our human hearts.  He knows our  faith waivers from day to day, week to week, month to month.  He also knows how it can swell and blossom.  He is in charge of how He grows our faith.  We can either be willing partners in the faith building process or we can short circuit the process by placing our trust and desires in ungodly things.

It is comforting to know that Jesus came to earth to save wretched sinners like us.  Praise God that He has given us the Holy Spirit to change our evil and desperate hearts into the image of Himself.  The Holy Spirit is not content to leave us as we are, but instead begin the incredible transformation of our lives into beautiful creations which mirror the Savior.

Do you hate your sin?  Or do you hold fast to your sinful desires, far more interested in

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