Introduction
A couple of important concepts begin to emerge in the book of John. Those concepts are purpose and timing. If we could follow the life of each disciple up to the point when they encountered Jesus, we might sum each story up with purpose and timing. In each case we would see that purpose and timing result in a move of God in the life of an individual that brought a change, that glorified God.
John 2:1-3
It was the third day of the first week of Jesus' ministry. Right after calling the first batch of disciples, Jesus and his mother were invited to a wedding in Cana. Notice that John never calls Mary by name, but refers to her as the 'mother of Jesus'. In the gospel of John, Mary only shows up at the beginning of earthly ministry of Jesus and the end, at the cross.
At that time, it would have been an insult to refuse an invitation to a wedding. Weddings for virgins were held on Wednesdays, although process was a weeklong event. It was common to invite as many people as possible. There was no such thing as a small Jewish wedding. It was an event for the town and surrounding area.
John didn't focus on the wedding itself. He instead directs us to the first of Jesus' miraculous signs. They ran out of wine at the ceremony. While we might casually read this fact and move on, it was a huge issue, a social and cultural mistake that would be talked about for years. A couple was only married once, to have their wedding marked by this social disaster was in incredible failure, a source of shame, humiliation and disgrace.
When Mary became aware, she turned to Jesus and said, "They have no wine!"
John 2:4-5
The wording of this is awkward to us. The use of 'woman' that way almost seems disrespectful but that's not the case. This was a respectful way to speak – we would liken it to 'ma'am'. While Mary seems to assume Jesus will intervene, Jesus is reluctant. His response might sound like, "That's not our concern, is it?" Jesus said the hour hadn't come to reveal His power. Miracles accompanied the message that led to the cross.
However, we know there are no accidents. God's timing is perfect. God's purpose can be found in all things, even though we sometimes we don't understand it. Jesus knew there was a specific time in which Jesus would do that first miracle. He didn't think this was it. If you were going to pick out an impressive first miracle to be begin the ministry of the Lord, wouldn't you pick a miraculous healing of some sort?
Yet, we should not Mary's attitude. She refers to Jesus for all her needs, even wine at a wedding. He wasn't just about salvation, but he cared about people and their lives. He still does. Are there things in our lives which we would assume are no concern to Jesus?
I don't think Jesus is being coerced into this or forced to do a miracle against his will. I think we are supposed to see Mary defer to His solution, whatever it is. She trusted Him to resolve the problem. I can imagine Mary smiling at Jesus as she told the servants to just do whatever Jesus said. She seemed to know he would act.
Jesus doesn't force Himself into our lives and situations. I think this was a teaching moment for the disciples, maybe the servants also. What place was there for Jesus in this wedding? I think Mary understood, any time is the time and every concern is the place for Jesus.
Mary's response is filled with faith. She put Jesus as the solution, right in the middle of this. By faith Mary expected a resolution. And, her faith and response called for faith and obedience of others. Do you see that? The servants were to join her in faith by being obedient in doing whatever he says. (Even when it doesn't make sense.)
John 2:6-7
The servants of God, were told, "Whatever He says to you, do it." This is good advice for us. Here's what we might be inclined to do. We'd say, the timing isn't right. I can't really see any purpose. I'm not sure that's my calling. Filling water jars seems so trivial. Let me pray about it and I'll get back to you. As a follower of Jesus, Jesus' instruction is our priority and direction.
We should note a couple other things here that we could easily miss. Mary's faith isn't for her own benefit. She isn't pleading with Jesus to get herself out of a tough spot or to benefit herself in any way. This isn't her mess. She is interceding on someone's behalf; taking their concern and making it her own. This is a selfless response by Mary.
Here they were at a wedding, which will become the picture of the relationship between the church and Jesus. It is a fitting place for the earthly ministry of Jesus to be introduced.
First off, it is odd that these waterpots might be found in the wedding chamber. This isn't normal, there's no accounting for it. These vessels were used to hold the water of purification. There was a myriad of things that caused a person to be ceremonially unclean. There was a prescribed process to re-establish purity. The ceremonial washing was part of that process. They are there at the right time, for this purpose. These are there, perfect in number and size for the use of God.
These servants were faithful to do what Jesus commanded. They filled the pots, all six, making 120-180 gallons. Filling these with anything other than their intended purpose was to defile them. John includes the detail that they were filled to the brim. There was no room for anything else. It points to the fact that no other ingredient was needed. There's a vessel, 150 gallons of water, there's obedience, there's faith and there's Jesus.
"When you are bidden to believe in him, believe in him up to the brim. When you are told to love him, love him up to the brim. When you are commanded to serve him, serve him up to the brim."
---C.H. Spurgeon
John 2:8-10
Weddings in that day had a person called a symposiarch. This was one of the guests who was appointed to take charge of the feast. It was his job to preserve order, maintain liveliness, assign people to their proper place as well as decide how to mix the water and wine. We might call this the master of ceremonies. Now these servants had just filled these jars with 150 gallons of water. Then, Jesus told them to turn around and draw some right back out and take it the MC.
Did these servants hesitate, as if to say, are you sure? We see their faith and obedience though. Imagine the potential embarrassment of being the servant that took a glass of water to the MC when he expected wine. You would be the famous servant who revealed to the crowd that there was no more wine. You would be part of the shameful story no one would forget.
Imagine the anticipation of the servants as the MC tasted this wine. He is tasting to establish what will be served to the crowd. He didn't know it was water they just put in the pot. Only Mary, Jesus, the disciples and servants knew. There was probably a moment of silence.
The master of the feast called the bridegroom. Oh no! This could be bad. The servants had to have been holding their breath. Then he announced his surprise that the best wine had been saved for later in the party.
The servants probably thought, 'What? Let me taste that!! It's wine, it really is!'
The bridegroom doesn't have a clue what the master of the feast is talking about. He may have bought cheap ripple with a screw on cap. Now this man was praising him for the good stuff.
Somewhere in the back, Mary is smiling, 'That's my boy, my King, that's my Jesus.'
Jesus took a situation that could have been a social disaster and turned it into a blessing. They had run out of wine but now had an abundance, maybe all 150 gallons. Someone calculated it to 2400 servings. Many took part in the blessing that started as one person interceding; one person putting Jesus in the center, not necessarily knowing how or why but knowing that timing and purpose are found perfect in Christ.
You can't put new wine in old wineskins, but you can create new wine in old stone pots. The water those pots once held was used for ceremonial washing, a cleansing of the outside. However, these jars were empty – maybe symbolizing the empty religion Judaism had become. In His miracle, he not only filled them, but filled them with the best wine.
With this miracle, Jesus announced something new. He was the new wine, a new covenant from God. He would wash the inside. The best wine had been saved for last!
John 2:11-12
This was the first sign. Some say the first of seven signs that John presents as symbolic of the ministry of Jesus, leading to the cross.
- Water to wine – first (and numbered) John 1:1-11
- Healing the official's son – John 4:46-54 (numbered as second)
- Healing of lame man – John 5:1-15
- Feeding 5000 – John 6:1-15
- Walking on water - 6:16-21
- Healing a blind man - John 9:1-41
- Raising Lazarus from dead – John 11:1-44
Others see this differently and don't want to count the first as a public sign because Jesus said it wasn't His time yet and the miracle was done in a private setting. However, the last part of the verse tells us this miracle served as a sign to the disciples so they might believe.
The signs were designed to reveal Jesus as Messiah. It was the beginning of his ministry, a new beginning that would lead to the cross and resurrection.
Capernaum became home base for Jesus' ministry.
John 2:13-14
John's Placement of the Temple Cleansing
John presents this cleansing of the temple very early in Jesus' ministry. The synoptic gospels present it very late and as one of the events leading to the crucifixion. This is the background for endless debate about whether there were two cleansings or just one, presented differently.
John makes this one of the first public acts of Christ's ministry. This happens on the first of three visits to Jerusalem that John documents. The synoptic gospels present one visit to Jerusalem, therefore the cleansing had to be shown in that one visit. All the gospels present a different facet of the ministry of Christ, but all show the ministry as always moving toward the cross.
Why does John place this here in his gospel? We can't know for sure, but only observe what he's left for us. The idea of the new and best wine in the old empty vessels in the first part of the chapter shows Jesus taking his place as the fulfillment of the law and the prophets. Many of the Jewish religious leaders held fast to the religion they build and no longer longed for their messiah, the fulfillment of all things. The law was always to show the need for Jesus. It was to enhance the longing and need for a savior. The manmade religion had become an idol – man's effort to placate the longing and need.
As John places the cleansing here, he shows Jesus as though announcing His arrival on the scene. What was supposed to be His Father's house had been corrupted. The cleansing was the opportunity to announce a new temple was coming to replace the old. Jesus announced Himself as God, but each believer would soon become the temple of God. Each, having been cleansed of their sin, then filled with the Spirit of God. Each, then must maintain the courts of their temple, keeping them holy and functioning as designed.
***
The Passover was one of the 3 feasts in which the Jewish men were to present themselves before he Lord. These men were commanded by God to bring an offering.
Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord your God in the place which He chooses: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Passover), at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Tabernacles; and they shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed. 17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you.
NKJV; Deuteronomy 16:16-17; 1982, Thomas Nelson
Many of these people who came, came long distances. They didn't want to bring an animal for an offering so they bought their sacrifice at the temple. In order to buy an animal, you had to change your money from Roman coin to temple coin. The exchange rate was temptation that couldn't be resisted and became a big money maker. Having exchanged your money, you could now shop, paying the prices that amounted to extortion. The temple coin was also used to pay the temple tax.
I think it's safe to say that anywhere sinful men gather, even in the name of religion, greed and selfish interests will worm their way in if it is not guarded against.
The outer court was supposed to be a place of prayer and meditation for the Gentiles. But it was full of these people selling and trading. It probably looked more like an open market or a carnival than a place of worship. People were wheeling and dealing to make a buck. There's no way that that this court could be characterized as a place of prayer and worship when all this other junk was going on.
All this money changing and purchasing of a sacrifice used to happen outside the temple. Over the years, it had made its way in the gate. What started as providing a convenience had been turned into a business for greed. The convenience was probably a great idea at the beginning. People traveling long distances could travel light. This probably allowed people to go that otherwise wouldn't make the trip. Great ideas are bent by sin and become ungodly. These folks were doing business in the name of religion with greed as a motive.
The church has to guard against similar things. There is constant pressure to make church more acceptable and comfortable to everyone. This is a place of prayer and worship. It is for fellowship and communion. Yet, comfort, happiness and social events can become the norm pushing the priorities aside. We must hold fast to the first things; to worship God, speak with Him, to share communion and share our lives with each other. Our efforts to add to that, even in the name of compassion, convenience or comfort, can ruin prayer and worship.
The Galatians were leaving the gospel and going back to their old ways. Paul said:
Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?
NKJV; Galatians 3:3; 1982, Thomas Nelson
Our church must be Christ centered, gospel driven, Holy Spirit empowered. We must continue in the Spirit. The greatest enemy to that is us. Any work we do that isn't Spirit empowered quickly turns away from the Lord. If we allow ourselves to be ruled by emotions, feelings, agendas, pride and politics, love is pushed out and we no longer look like Christians.
John 2:15-17
No weapons of any kind were allowed in the temple. Jesus grabbed what was available, made a whip and, in what appears to be some righteous anger, drove these men from the temple. The temple was well guarded to maintain peace and holiness. The rules were staunch, but the boundaries and precepts of God had been set aside for man's ideas. How Jesus got so far in this cleansing and avoided the temple guard can only be a matter of speculation. It seems there had to be some supernatural provision to keep them at bay and avoid arrest. The Jewish leaders fear of Jesus and his followers late in His ministry may have been the very thing that allowed Jesus' time and freedom to do this. Mark 11:18 states that the leaders feared Him and the people were astonished at His teaching.
Jesus declared the temple to be His father's house. It was where the people worshiped and where God met the people. When Jesus referred to the temple as "My Father's House" the disciples remember Psalm 69 as they witness the Zeal of Jesus.
Because for Your sake I have borne reproach;
Shame has covered my face.
8I have become a stranger to my brothers,
And an alien to my mother's children;
9Because zeal for Your house has eaten me up,
And the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me.
NKJV; Psalm 69:7-9; 1982, Thomas Nelson
We can see the sanctity of God's house is important to Jesus. The synoptic gospels show Jesus quoting Isaiah and Jeremiah in calling the temple a house of prayer they had made into a den of thieves.
7Even them I will bring to My holy mountain,
And make them joyful in My house of prayer.
Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices
Will be accepted on My altar;
For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations."
NKJV; Isaiah 56:7; 1982, Thomas Nelson
11 Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of thieves in your eyes? Behold, I, even I, have seen it," says the Lord.
NKJV; Jeremiah 7:11; 1982, Thomas Nelson
The gospel of John is unique in presenting the command of Jesus to "Take these things away!"
John 2:18-20
The Jews were known to always be asking for a sign. Jesus stood before them with a whip in his hand having cleansed the temple and they asked for a sign. They were asking what authority he had to take charge of this temple? In their unbelief they may well have asked why He called it His Father's house. (Who was your Father?) It's interesting that the rebuke Jesus offered isn't really acknowledged. They are so far removed from understanding the sanctity of the temple they don't seem to understand why anyone would do this. The Sanhedrin should have been saying, "You know what, He's right!" Instead, they challenge Jesus to show them a sign! They wanted Him to prove His authority.
Jesus spoke the words that would be used against Him in his trial. His answer to their question was the sign of all signs and those religious authorities would miss it. He foreshadows crucifixion, death, burial and resurrection. They would in fact attempt to destroy the earthly body of the Son of God.
While many groups in Judaism looked for a new or transformed temple when the Messiah came, they also cherished their magnificent temple. Herod began work on the temple in about 19B.C. and the work continued even in Jesus' day. The work would not be complete until A.D. 64. The forty-six years mentioned by John place this even in A.D. 27.
The authorities took Jesus' words as a threat against the temple. This was blasphemous to them and they were astonished anyone would say such a thing. In the mind of these Jews, it was not only unlikely anyone could destroy it, it is also strange that anyone would want to. They assume God would never allow that to happen. On top of all that, no one could rebuild it in 3 days.
John 2:21-22
John brings clarity to the words of Jesus as he often does. He explains the misunderstanding and how the disciples didn't understand it either until after He had risen. Then they remembered, believed the scripture and the words of Jesus. Jesus had given them the sign they asked for. It was a sign whose time had not yet come. In the end, the sign served its purpose.
John 2:23-25
We seem to see 3 different kinds of belief in these last few verses. In each case the same word is used.
- The belief of the disciples in verse 22. They believed the scripture and the word Jesus said. John notes that this wasn't until later, after He had risen from the dead.
- During the Passover Jesus had done other signs and many believed (verse 23). This was apparently some intellectual acknowledgment that He was something special but it wasn't true belief. The belief never made it from the head to the heart. No change was rendered. There was no new life.
- The 3rd time the word for belief is used is in reference to the response of Jesus. Jesus didn't commit to them, it says. It means Jesus didn't belief in their belief. He knew the heart of these men. No one had to tell him this.
Jesus knows the sin nature of man and his ability to be deceived and deceive himself. Jesus isn't fooled. He knew that many people will superficially believe without the change of heart. Even the demons know who Jesus is and tremble. Not everyone who knows who He is will put their faith in Him.
The Lord didn't need the glory and recognition of men. He received glory from the Father. This idea leads us into chapter three when Nicodemus came to Jesus.
John had just shown us the empty vessels of the law being filled with new wine. Now, the empty religion at the temple was being purged and filled with Jesus. In the next chapter, we see a man, possessing the law, being told He must be filled with Jesus. This will be followed by the woman at the well finding the new Living Water. In addition, the old ways of worship will be replaced by the new, in Spirit and in Truth.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
NKJV; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1982, Thomas Nelson
�2005, 2009, 2013, 2023 Doug Ford
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