John chapter 2
At a wedding in Cana, Jesus performs his first public miracle. In Jerusalem, he drives the vendors out of the temple. Many people believe in his miracles.
THE WEDDING IN CANA
VERSE 1. The third day, there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there.
Jesus’ mother was there. Was Mary a guest? Or was she helping to host the celebration?
VERSE 2. Jesus also was invited, with his disciples, to the marriage.
Jesus also was invited. The invitation of Jesus is separate from the invitation of Mary.
VERSE 3. When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no wine.”
Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no wine.” Mary seems to be hinting that Jesus should do his first public miracle.
VERSE 4. Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does that have to do with you and me? My hour has not yet come.”
Woman. Many Christians imagine there was a tender mother-child relationship between Mary and Jesus.
However, Jesus calls his mother “woman,” not “mother.” The word “woman” suggests a distance between them.
what does that have to do with you and me? Jesus seems to be saying that it is not yet the right time for a miracle.
VERSE 5. His mother said to the servants, “Whatever he says to you, do it.”
Whatever he says to you, do it. Mary still sets the stage for a possible miracle.
VERSE 6. Now there were six water pots of stone set there after the Jews’ way of purifying, containing two or three metretes apiece.
two or three metretes apiece. That is, 20 to 30 gallons.
VERSE 7. Jesus said to them, “Fill the water pots with water.” So they filled them up to the brim.
VERSE 8. He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the ruler of the feast.” So they took it.
VERSE 9. When the ruler of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and didn’t know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the ruler of the feast called the bridegroom
VERSE 10. and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when the guests have drunk freely, then that which is worse. You have kept the good wine until now!”
VERSE 11. This beginning of his signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
VERSE 12. After this, he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, his brothers, and his disciples; and they stayed there a few days.
JESUS DRIVES THE VENDORS OUT OF THE TEMPLE
VERSE 13. The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
VERSE 14. He found in the temple those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, and the changers of money sitting.
He found in the temple those who sold. In those days, selfish merchants highjacked the temple. Instead of it being a place of prayer as God intended, the selfish merchants had turned it into a marketplace where they made lots of money.
oxen, sheep, and doves. What the selfish merchants were selling was animals to be slaughtered in blood sacrifices. Without the shedding of blood, there could be no remission of sin. So the merchants were profiting from people’s need for the forgiveness of their sins.
the changers of money. The temple had its own currency. People had to exchange their ordinary currency for temple currency. The selfish merchants were profiting from that need.
VERSE 15. He made a whip of cords, and threw all out of the temple, both the sheep and the oxen; and he poured out the changers’ money and overthrew their tables.
VERSE 16. To those who sold the doves, he said, “Take these things out of here! Don’t make my Father’s house a marketplace!”
This verse seems like a command! Would you consider acting on it? More commands of Jesus Christ from the Gospel According to John and from the entire Bible.
Don’t make my Father’s house a marketplace! The attitude of Jesus toward the selfish merchants and their hijacking of the temple is obvious.
What is not as obvious is how to apply this to churches in our day. Many churches have places where things are sold. They have book stores and coffee vendors. They sell religious goods. Some churches host festivals where the only purpose is to sell things and make money.
They are not selling the forgiveness of sins. However, they are turning the Father’s house into a marketplace.
VERSE 17. His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will eat me up.”
Zeal for your house will eat me up. Here is where that is written:
Psalm 69:9. For the zeal of your house consumes me. The reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.
VERSE 18. The Jews therefore answered him, “What sign do you show us, seeing that you do these things?”
VERSE 19. Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
VERSE 20. The Jews therefore said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple! Will you raise it up in three days?”
three days. The Lord Jesus predicted that he would be killed, spend three days in the tomb, and then be raised up. Read more »
VERSE 21. But he spoke of the temple of his body.
VERSE 22. When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he said this, and they believed the Scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.
MANY BELIEVE IN HIS MIRACLES
VERSE 23. Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in his name, observing his signs which he did.
observing his signs which he did. Belief based on signs is not sufficient.
VERSE 24. But Jesus didn’t entrust himself to them, because he knew everyone,
VERSE 25. and because he didn’t need for anyone to testify concerning man; for he himself knew what was in man.
he himself knew what was in man. Nobody needs to tell the Lord Jesus Christ about human nature.
JOHN
CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize, Commands, Spirituality
Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.