John 2:1-12

Jesus Changes Water Into Wine

1 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” 4 “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. 8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, 9 and 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 aside 10 and 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.” 11 What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. 12 After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.

1: The third day means after Jesus met Philip and Nathaniel. Weddings are very important events for Israel . Jesus's mother was there implying she acted as a coordinator or one level involved in this wedding.
2: Jesus and his disciples were there as guests
3: Wine is very important in a wedding. Not enough wine in a wedding is very embarrassing for the wedding hostess. Jesus' mother needed to deal with this challenging moment, and she asked Jesus's help . This implies she was in the duty and she knew Jesus had the capacity to solve it.
4: Jesus called his mother woman, this means he was not talking as a son of woman but son of god. And my hour has not yet come means the time to be crucified.
5: His mother still asked the servants to do what he said means she gave the decision to Jesus how to solve this challenge. This shows her trust on him
6: The water jars hold the water for ceremonial clean. This indicates what resources Jesus had. Another resource is the servants.
7: Jesus had an idea. Then he asked the servants to fill up the jar with water as part of his plan
8: Then he asked the servants to draw some out and gave that to the master of the banquet , and they did. This is Jesus plan step 2
9: The master of the banquet tasted it, and told the bridegroom, that is great wine. The servants knew what was happening. But the master did not. This is the step 3 in the
10-11: This is the first sign to reveal his glory , and his disciples believe that he is the son of god. Jesus had shown many miracle in his 3 and half years period, but many of the people who saw the miracle still not believe he is the son of god
12: Capernaum is a village in northern shore of the Sea of Galilee



John 2:13-25

Jesus Clears the Temple Courts

13 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” 17 His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.” 18 The Jews then responded to him, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” 20 They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” 21 But the temple he had spoken of was his body. 22 After 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. 23 Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, many people saw the signs he was performing and believed in his name. 24 But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. 25 He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person.

13: Passover is one of the big holiday in Israel. It is for celebrate that GOD led Israel to leave Egypt. When GOD wanted Moses led Israel to Canaan , the promised land, Pharaoh, king of Egypt, did not let them go. And GOD asked Israel to put blood of the lamb on the door as a sign, and the angel will pass over the house with the sign when strike down the firstborn. Refer: Exodus 12:12 “On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord. 13 The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt. 14 “This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord—a lasting ordinance.
14: The temple is for worthship God with heart, not for trading with goods. The trading pollutes God's temple. And Jesus got angry because he saw people did disgrace God.
15: Jesus reacted to those disgrace as he is son of the GOD.
16:Jesus clearly said what he was angry.
17: Refer Psalm 69 for zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who insult you fall on me.
18: The jews challenged his authority since they felt they were violent. And they asked for a miracle to demonstrate his authority.
19: The temple here means Jeusu's body. And the three days means he will raise from dead.
20-21: They thought what he said is about the building; but he really pointed to his boby related to the crucifixion .
22: The disciples really realized what the scripture and Jesus's words after he was raised from the dead. This may imply the disciples believed he is Messiah and followed him, but did not realize God's whole plan: he will die on the wood to redeem his people for their sin.
23-25: Many people believd that Jesus is son of God due to the miracle he performances in the period. But Jesus know their motivations. May be some of them just wanted to gain their own benefit even they knew he is son of god. Motivations is very critical for christians. The wrong motivations won't be able to honar GOD.

[Bible study:John]