THE BOOK OF JOHN – Chapter 2

 

THE BOOK OF JOHN – Chapter 2

The Miracle at Cana, The First Passover, Cleansing the Temple

I will reiterate that although I offer remarks as a “Commentary Break”, this is not meant to be a comprehensive commentary. (I would, however, recommend BibleHub.com Pulpit commentary for a comprehensive and in depth commentary).

This is a commentary on the application of what we read and those things we come to understand. It is not enough to know about the Bible or to know about Jesus. We must know His Words and know Him personally, and still that is not sufficient. It is what we do with what we know that makes the difference. And that is what this is about.

Miracle at Cana

John 2:1, On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; Verse 2, and both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. Verse 3. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.” Verse 4. And Jesus said to her, “What business do you have with Me, woman? My hour has not yet come.”

(Commentary Break): It is interesting that this chapter and verse begins with the phrase “on the third day”.  The “third day” is often associated with divine intervention and new beginnings in Scripture. God brings transformation in our lives at unexpected times. (This phrase may also indicate a specific time frame, likely referring to the third day after Jesus called Philip and Nathanael as disciples. The “third day”, in addition to symbolizing divine intervention, can also symbolize completeness, as seen in the resurrection of Jesus on the third day.)

We know from these verses that both Mary, the mother of Jesus, Jesus and His disciples were present. Then, when the wine ran out, Mary calls on Jesus. His response, at first, sounds like a harsh rebuke. The text reads, “what business do you have with me woman” could be translated as “what business is serving the wine have to do with Me”? And finally, addressing his mother as “woman” sounds distant or disrespectful, but In the cultural context of the time, addressing someone as “woman” was not disrespectful. It was a common and polite form of address, similar to “ma’am” today. Jesus uses this term elsewhere, such as when speaking to the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:21) and to Mary Magdalene after His resurrection (John 20:15). This indicates a respectful yet formal tone.

Finally, He is reminding Her that although He can solve this problem, “His time to be revealed as the miracle working Messiah” had not yet arrived.

 As we go about our daily lives, we must be aware that God is directing our lives and the circumstances of our lives – and not the other way around. Our requests and prayers to Jesus are not so much to get God to understand our immediate needs – He has known since before time began. But our prayers and requests should bring us to understand His methods, purposes and plans for us and for our lives.

“Ask and you shall receive. Seek and you shall find, Knock and the door shall be opened to you…how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him”? (Matthew 7:7-11).

“Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you”. (Matthew 6:33). (End Commentary Break).

Verse 5. His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He tells you, do it.”

(Commentary Break): Such confidence as Mary expresses in verse five is reflective of her relationship with her Son. An attribute all of us should strive to attain. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 6. Now there were six stone water pots standing there for the Jewish custom of purification, containing two or three measures each. Verse 7. Jesus said to them, “Fill the water pots with water.” So they filled them up to the brim. Verse 8. And He said to them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.” And they took it to him. Verse 9. Now when the headwaiter tasted the water which had become wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the groom, verse 10, and said to him, “Every man serves the good wine first, and when the guests are drunk, then he serves the poorer wine; but 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, and His brothers and His disciples; and they stayed there a few days.

(Commentary Break): These verses speak for themselves as they reveal the magnitude of this miracle. This should encourage and inform each of us that Jesus never slights in or on His works. We can be absolutely certain that when we ask anything according to His Will, he hears us. And if we know He hears us in whatever we ask, we can know that we will have the requests which we have asked Him! (see 1 John 5:14-15). Count on it! (End Commentary Break).

First Passover—Cleansing the Temple

Verse 13. The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Verse 14. And within the temple grounds He found those who were selling oxen, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. Verse 15. And He made a whip of cords, and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables; verse 16, and to those who were selling the doves He said, “Take these things away from here; stop making My Father’s house a place of business!” Verse 17. His disciples remembered that it was written: “ZEAL FOR YOUR HOUSE WILL CONSUME ME.”

(Commentary Break): I am saddened – I am aghast, as you should also be –  to see so many churches that have come to resemble a marketplace or an entertainment center. You can buy ‘favors’, charms and false holy relics, prayer hankies, invest in ‘church bonds’, use an ATM and buy any one of scores of items of religious clothing, jewelry, books, or concert tickets IN THE SANCTUARY, or for the more ‘discriminating’, in the Church lobby. Do you not know the shame and the curse you are bringing on yourselves? Jesus warned that you must repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!! (End Commentary Break).

Verse 18. The Jews then said to Him, “What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?”

(Commentary Break): Verse 18 is perfectly representative of the arrogance of so many pastors and church leaders today when they are confronted with their rebellious, self-centered attitudes. They will invariably say, “Who gives you authority over us?” (End Commentary Break).

Verse 19. Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” Verse 20. The Jews then said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple, and yet You will raise it up in three days?” Verse 21. But He was speaking about the temple of His body. Verse 22. So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken.

(Commentary Break): Jesus prophecies to them, and their ears are dead to His Words. These church authorities, although steeped in the Torah, only understand the words of this world. They are ignorant to the Word of God. (It would be wise at this point to be reminded that Jesus spoke these same words to His disciples in Matthew 24, which are pregnant with prophetic warnings.) (End Commentary Break).

Verse 23. Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name as they observed His signs which He was doing. Verse 24. But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, because He knew all people, verse 25, and because He did not need anyone to testify about mankind, for He Himself knew what was in mankind.

(Commentary Break): What a fitting end to this chapter and fitting advice to us, as believers. Many may believe IN HIS NAME because they observed His signs. But Jesus was not entrusting HIMSELF to them.

Many may pursue God for what they can get from Him, so they say that they believe IN HIM, but they show by their speech and behaviors that they DO NOT BELIEVE HIM. Don’t entrust yourself to these kinds, especially those within the church. “Do not eat the bread of a selfish man, or desire his delicacies; For as he thinks in his heart, so is he [in behavior—one who manipulates]. He says to you, “Eat and drink,” but his heart is not with you [but it is begrudging the cost]. The “morsel of his compliments and advice” which you have eaten you will vomit up, And you will have wasted the compliments.” (see Proverbs 23:6-8) (End Commentary Break).

This was the beginning of the signs and the miracles of  Jesus, which revealed His glory; and the scriptures say that because of these signs His disciples believed in Him. But let’s not forget that just before His ascension to heaven, the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated to them. And when they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful. (And He sent them out as His disciples and Apostles, anyway.)

It was only when they were faced with the greatest of trials that they not only believed in Him, but it was revealed that they believed Him. “In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various  trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which perishes though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:6-7).

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

NEXT:  THE BOOK OF JOHN, Chapter 3, The New Birth, John the Baptist’s Last Testimony.

PREVIOUS: THE BOOK OF JOHN, Chapter 1, part 3, verses 19 – 51, Jesus’ Public Ministry; the First Converts.

(Please bookmark this page or subscribe for future episodes).