Jesus Reveals Himself through Transforming Water, Cleansing Temple and Prophesy
I. Jesus, Our Creator, turns water into wine (John 2:1-11)
1On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”
4“Dear woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied, “My time has not yet come.”
5His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
6Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.[a]
7Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.
8Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”
They did so, 9and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside10and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”
11This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.
- Because Mary seems to know even before the master of ceremonies that wine had run out and because she can order the servants around, people think Mary was a close relative to the groom, possibly to an aunt.
- People are sometimes troubled by the way Jesus addresses his mother as “dear woman”. This is an endearing and respectful address in Hebrew, possibly used by Jesus to (1) prepare his mother for her new role and (2) remind her of His first allegiance to God and not to His biological parents
Principle: God expects us to RESPECT our PARENTS but He commands us to OBEY GOD
- Mary seems to respond passive aggressively or understand some non-verbal confirmation that Jesus is still going to act. She also seems to understand that what Jesus will do might seem odd.
- Mary shows faith by stating the problem to Jesus and waits for instructions.
- Jesus asked the servants to fill the ceremonial washing jars to the brim, draw it out and give it to the master of ceremonies as the new wine.
- We do not know from scripture at which point the water turned into wine. Is it after the jars are filled? Is it at the time it was spooned out? Was it when it was placed in the master of ceremonies hand? Was it white or red wine?
- Regardless the servants had the privilege of witnessing the first of Jesus’ public miracles.
- The servants who received this privilege had obeyed Jesus. Jesus reveals Himself to those who OBEY
Principle: Jesus wants to change her potential disaster into a joyous occasion =)
- What impossible or potentially embarassing situation do you face this evening?
- Will you tell Jesus all about it in prayer?
II. Jesus, Our Judge, cleanses the Temple (John 2:12-17)
12After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.
13When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market!”
17His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”[b]
Principle: It is not wise to insult the Living God. When Jesus did this, He demonstrates His authority to judge.
- How might you be allowing the market place to interfere with your worship of God?
- How might your thought life be polluting your temple?
- During the Passover, certain ceremonial rites required the sacrificing of animals. Atonement rites also required specific currency. We think this is why there were money changers and animals in the temple.
- We think Jesus found fault with this practice because of (1) the exorbitant chargers and unfair business practiced by the market and (2) that the place was inappropriate
- Avoid “mulling”. Practice simply praying: stating the problem to God and waiting an answer
- The disciples are reminded of a passage of Psalm 69:9 and their faith is increased
- Not everyone made this connection. They instead get defensive and demand to know by which authority He has the right to cleanse the temple. They should not have needed to know His authority as they were wrong.
- Jesus does answer this question. He says “Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days”
Principle: God determines the outcome of all things according to His own wise purpose.
Questions
- How will you respond to the challenging circumstances that face you?
- How committed are you to learning more about Jesus?
- We as Christians believe a paradox: that God chooses and we choose.
- We as Christians can take comfort in this principle knowing God does not fail to accomplish His own wise purpose.
III. Jesus, Our Authority, reveals God’s plan (John 2:18-25)
18Then the Jews demanded of him, “What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?”
19Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”
20The Jews replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?”21But the temple he had spoken of was his body. 22After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.
23Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name.[c] 24But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. 25He did not need man’s testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man.
