John 2

As we study through the book of John, let us keep in the mind the purpose statement … remember John’s purpose for the writing:

v. 30-31…There are many other sign and miracles that Jesus performed which are not written…”But these are written (recorded) in order that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Anointed One, the Son of God, and that through believing and cleaving to and trusting in and relying upon Him you may have life through (in) His name [that is, through what He is].  Psa. 2:7,12

The Main Idea in this chapter:  Right religion is not a matter of reforming the ritual of the old, but of replacing it through cleansing and a new creation!

Both the miracle of changing water to wine v. 1-11 and the cleansing of the temple v. 12 – 22 set the stage for the encounter between Nicodemus and Jesus in chapter 3 and with the Samaritan woman in Chp. 4.  Each incident in this chapter demonstrates the unacceptability to Jesus of the then current practice of religion by the Jews.  Changing water to wine is an act of creations (as is new spiritual birth) and purifying the temple illustrates the CLEANSING which takes place through the forgiveness of sins. 

The Gospel Miracles are designed to:  1.  Reveal God’s glory and omnipotence, 2. Authenticate the person (Son of God) and work of Christ (as Messiah)., 3. Lead beholders to believe in Christ. 

As you read and study about each miracle, look to see how it fits into the purpose statement. 

As you read the account of the wedding…unnamed acquaintances of the family Jesus.  Cana – likely about nine miles northwest of Nazareth.  Jesus was the most important invited guest at this wedding – SO IT SHOULD BE WITH ALL WEDDINGS!

A wedding in Israel followed near eastern (oriental) customs and lasted anywhere from 2 to 7 days depending on the significance of the family and the available resources.  To run out of wine was unforgiveable and a sign of poor hospitality…likely explains why Mary sounded so urgent when she said “They have no wine.”

Apparently Mary told Jesus because she saw Him as one who could provide.  Maybe Jesus was the household provider (perhaps Joseph was dead).  She probably did not anticipate the miracle that took place…”beginning of His signs.”  V. 11

Jesus was not showing disrespect for His mother…”woman” was to say in effect, Madam and is the same expr3ession used by Jesus on the cross.  John 19:26.  More literally the remark, “What does this have to do with you is “That is not my responsibility.”  V. 4 YET HE MET THE NEED.

“My hour has not yet come” gives us assurance that Jesus was traveling on His Father’s timetable and was not ready to publically declare His messiahship v. 4.  The real meaning and significance of the sign-miracle was not to show the ‘magical’ powers of Jesus, but to authenticate Him as the Messiah Who brings joy (wine) to Israel.  Magical – would have been openly with flare!  He acted quietly and unrecognized to the general public.

Jesus’ mother knew that regardless of what He said, He would provide and hence her instructions to the servants, “whatever He says to you do it.”  V. 5 JUST AS YOU AND I SHOULD FOLLOW MARY’S ADMONITION TODAY!!!  The servants were likely quite baffled at the instructions, but they obeyed just the same!!!  AND WHILE THE OTHERS DID NOT KNOW THE SOURCE OF THE GREAT WINE, THE SERVANTS KNEW!!!!  (they were let in on the Secret because of obedience!)

The six stone waterpots set there for the Jewish custom of purification were exactly what Jesus needed to accomplish His purpose.  The servants filled the pots to the brim and took some to the headwaiter as Jesus instructed.  V. 7-8

v. 9 – 10 It was of far greater quality after the LORD’s touch!!!  That which was common (water) had now been TRANSFORMED into wine of uncommon quality.  The wine was not strong drink (UNMIXED) for that was considered unclean to the Jews.  Normal drinking wine was diluted with water in a 3 to 1 up to a 10 to 1 mix. 

The significance of the first sign miracle:  1.  Jesus was the Messiah Who would bring to Israel the joy (wine) promised in the O.T.  Isa. 55:1, 61:1-7.  And ONLY GOD could create!!!  The wine (joyful relationship) created by Jesus was to replace the tasteless ‘water’ of Jewish religiosity.  Jesus is authenticated as the CREATOR!  AND POINTS TO Him as Messiah Who would bring ‘joy’ to Israel.  2.  Jesus’ ministry would be one of TRANSFORMATION AND CONVERSION…the waterpots of water were used for Jewish purification rites represented all that was included in the religious system of the day based on the Mosaic Law.  Its time was now complete…Jesus would not use it but would make it new. 1:17, 2:10  The regulatory aspects of the Mosaic Law would pass away.  The full waterpots illustrate that there is no more room for their religious rites.  What Jesus will create cannot be contained simply within form and ritual.  Jesus will bring change to a man, not reformation of the old.  3.  The glory of God had indeed come to Israel 1:14. 

This private sign miracle accomplished its immediate purpose, too – AND HIS DISCIPLES BELIEVED IN HIM v. 11.  IF A MIRACLE DOES NOT LEAD ONE TO TRUST IN JESUS THEN BEWARD OF THE MIRACLE!!!!

Some time evolves as Jesus spent time “with His mother and His brothers v. 12

v. 13-25:  Since the Gospels do not place the cleansing of the temple in the same chronological order, a reasonable explanation is that Jesus cleansed the temple twice – once at the start and once at the end of His ministry. 

The outer court of the temple (court of the Gentiles) had become a commercial market for the purchasing of animals for sacrifice and exchanging money for temple coins while exacting a surcharge in the process. V. 13-15.  THE HOLY character and purpose of the temple was being desecrated.  The temple area had become a commercial emporium…a place for trafficking in the things of the world.  Worship of God must be free of the stain and defilement of the world.  Jesus rightly exercised authority over His Father’s house.

v.17…the disciples remembered Psa. 69:9 and applied it to Jesus – pointing again to Him as Messiah.  (does it fulfill Malachi 3:1-3???)

REMOVAL OF ALL POLLUTION:  It was not just the ritual of Jedaism which was wrong, but worship of Jehovah had been commercialized and to be thoroughly cleansed also. 

The cleansing of the temple demonstrated God’s required standard of holiness, the authority of Christ over religion, and previewed the nature of true worship…a relationship not to the temple in Jerusalem, but to the Person (temple) of Christ which would be guaranteed by His bodily resurrection. 

This act of cleansing served notice on the religious leaders that Jesus words and works would be radical and would challenge the Jewish religious system to its very core.  Emphasized, too, is the incredible state of defilement of the organized religion of the day.  V. 18…they did not oppose the LORD but kept asking for a sign of authenticity.

Our Jesus was always conscious of His mission.  He immediately responded with THE sign—HIS BODILY RESURRECTION THAT WOULD SOON COME! but they could not see…they thought in physical terms of the temple as He spoke of HIS TEMPLE. 

CONCLUSION:  Reformation and religious ritual are not the answer to man’s greatest need - the answer is in a new relationship based on cleansing and a new creation.