Last time we learned that John the Baptist baptized with water and Jesus baptized with the Holy Spirit. We learned of the baptism of Jesus Himself and that He is the sacrificial Lamb that every person needs to atone for sin. We also saw how Jesus called His first disciples.
J0hn 2:1-11 – Jesus Turned Water to Wine
Jesus went to a wedding in Galilee where His mother and the disciples had been invited. A problem occurred. They ran out of wine. Jesus’ mother said to Him, “They have no more wine.” Jesus asked, “Why do you involve me? My time has not yet come.” Then His mother told the servants to do whatever Jesus tells them to do. Jesus told the servants to draw water and take it to the master of the banquet. When the master tasted it, it had been turned into wine. Everyone thought it was the choice wine and they had saved the best for last. “… but you have saved the best till now” – John 2:10b. This was Jesus’ first miracle and now His glory had been revealed. His disciples put their faith in Him. (John 2:1-11)
There is a principle behind the words, “you have saved the best till now”; the principle that for the people of God, the best is yet to come.
In those days a wedding celebration went on for a week and it was the host’s responsibility to provide food and drink. It would be very embarrassing and would bring scandal and humiliation to run out of wine. Mary knew what Jesus was capable of and she knew His generosity. She wasn’t afraid to tell Him about the situation, although she never specifically asked Him to fix it. She had faith that He would take care of it. She took the problem to Him, perhaps because she knew He had the power to do something. Unlike some of us, she didn’t try to fix the problem herself.
The lesson is we can take even the smallest things to Jesus. We don’t have to be fearful. He will take care of all our needs. We learn of Jesus’ compassion and kindness. We learn we should approach Jesus the way Mary did by stating our problem and then let Him handle it according to His will. We can invite Jesus to be in every part of our lives.
When Jesus said His time had not yet come, He was referring to the time to begin His miracles. He chose to do the miracle of turning water into wine in private. It wasn’t time to do miracles in public. He didn’t want to provoke His enemies to seek His life because He had work to do. John calls this miracle a sign and it was the first of Jesus’ His miracles.
We see attributes of Jesus in the story. It shows His divine power and glory. He cared for this family and He cares about every one of us and our concerns. This started off Jesus’ ministry showing His benevolence, kindness, and understanding. When the disciples saw Jesus’ glory revealed, they put their faith in Him. He performed many miracles while in Jerusalem and many people believed.
John 2:11, “He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.” – this miracle was not for the bride and groom, but for the disciples so they would believe in Him.
Principles:
What miracle has God done in your life?
John 2:12-25 – Jesus Cleansed the Temple
It was almost time for the Jewish Passover so Jesus went to Capernaum with His mother, brothers, and disciples where they stayed a few days. He went into Jerusalem to the temple and found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others exchanging money. They were selling because the people needed an unblemished animal to celebrate the Passover. What is Passover? Remember in the Old Testament when the Lord passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared their first born. Jesus was very angry and made a whip and He drove all of them out of the temple. “Get out of here! How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market!” The Jews asked Jesus, “What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this? Jesus answered them, Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” (John 2:12-22). Of course they didn’t understand what He meant.
Jesus showed His human side here and we learn a lesson about anger. It’s ok to be angry for the right reasons, when it’s something against God. Jesus’ anger was controlled anger. He didn’t just burst out in anger. He took time and made a whip. A lot of the time we get angry and don’t stop and think. We just let go with a burst of unkind angry words.
This raises the question is it wrong to have a church fundraiser in the church? I think this is very different. These merchants’ selling became a focus on making money instead of God. They were taking advantage of the people even cheating them; many of whom were poor and needed their services. Animals were required for offerings as well as tithes in acceptable currency. Today purchases at a church fundraiser or craft sale are entirely voluntary. There is no purchase necessary to attend worship. Also worship should not be commercialized.
Jesus didn’t attack the practice of selling sheep to those who traveled to Jerusalem. He attacked the money changers for being thieves. In Deut. 14:22-26 God told the people they could sell the first fruits of their crops and convert the goods into money. He was not against selling animals for their sacrifices in Jerusalem, but against selling blemished animals as good. He was against cheaters and thieves. He wants the church to be a place of prayer and community worship.
Jesus’ actions caused His disciple to remember the Messianic prophecy in Psalm 69:9, “for zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who insult you fall on me.”
The prophecy Malachi 3 is fulfilled in John 2. “See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come…..he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver….” – Malachi 3:1-4.
What does Jesus need to drive out of your life?
Principle: Jesus wants the church to be a place of prayer and community worship.
The Jews (referring to the Jewish religious authorities) demanded that He give them a sign to prove His authority. This question was not a bad question. After all He was disrupting to business. What was wrong was that they demanded a sign to prove His authority. There was no repentance on their part for how they had defiled the temple. Their question revealed they were dodging their sin.
Jesus responded to their question by saying, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” – John 2:19. He was talking about Himself and His crucifixion and resurrection. He is the temple they would destroy. He would die and rise again in three days. This was a sign of His authority. He is divine and powerful and cannot be destroyed. Their asking Him for a sign only showed their unbelief and rebellion against Him. They would use His words against him at His trial and crucifixion.
He explained in John 10:17-18 that He has the authority and is willing to lay down His life and take it up again. No one takes His life from Him.
Principle: Jesus’ divine power cannot be destroyed.
How do you rebel against God?
Jesus still loved the people, but didn’t trust them because He knew men’s hearts. They would believe his miracles and would follow Him 1 day and be against Him the next. (John 2:23-25). People are like that today. They follow Him when it suits them and their needs. When life is going like they want, they forget Jesus and live for themselves.
Principle: Jesus is divine and powerful and cannot be destroyed.
Are you a true believer or is your faith superficial?
This chapter shows us some of the attributes or character traits of Jesus.
Next week we will study John 3. We will discuss what it means to be “born again”. Have a blessed day and thanks for visiting my site. – I encourage you to trust in Jesus.
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