John 2
This devotional is written by Matt Coombs.
John 2
Jesus changes water into wine
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 eighty to a hundred and twenty litres.
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 realise 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.
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.
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 eighty to a hundred and twenty litres.
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 realise 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.
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.
Reflection
Why does Jesus perform this miracle?
It's quite a strange thing to do. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm all for more wine. I really am. But what's the point? I find it easy to understand Jesus healing the sick, but water into wine?!
Weddings in Jesus' time we're huge community celebrations often lasting 7 days. The whole family would chip in to make sure there was enough food and wine for everyone. And it would be social death to run out of wine! Utter humiliation and shame!
In this passage the guests have drunk 7 days worth of wine in just 3 days. Impressive.
So... was Jesus' first miracle keeping drunk-people, well... drunk?
You'll be pleased to hear there is something deeper at play here.
Wine
In the Old Testament we see that connection with God, coincides with a blessing of sweet, sweet wine.
The prophet Joel wrote (3:17-18)
"So you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who dwells in Zion, my holy mountain.
And Jerusalem shall be holy,
18 "And in that day
the mountains shall drip sweet, sweet wine,
and a fountain shall come forth from the house of the Lord
Wine is present when God's is present with his people.
Similarly the prophet Amos (9:11-15) speaks about the Lord restoring favour and peace and sweet wine will drip from the mountains.
Wine is present when God is repairing, restoring, rebuilding and bringing peace.
Wine is symbolic of everything being in its right place with God and humanity.
At this wedding, Jesus miraculously provides wine saving humiliation for the family, but he's also saying something far more profound about himself and what he has come to do. He's saying, in me there will be peace, unity, relationship, togetherness, wholeness, restoration and of course resurrection.
Are there areas of your life that are chaotic and falling apart?
Open yourself to God's presence, where there is power for wholeness and restoration.
It's quite a strange thing to do. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm all for more wine. I really am. But what's the point? I find it easy to understand Jesus healing the sick, but water into wine?!
Weddings in Jesus' time we're huge community celebrations often lasting 7 days. The whole family would chip in to make sure there was enough food and wine for everyone. And it would be social death to run out of wine! Utter humiliation and shame!
In this passage the guests have drunk 7 days worth of wine in just 3 days. Impressive.
So... was Jesus' first miracle keeping drunk-people, well... drunk?
You'll be pleased to hear there is something deeper at play here.
Wine
In the Old Testament we see that connection with God, coincides with a blessing of sweet, sweet wine.
The prophet Joel wrote (3:17-18)
"So you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who dwells in Zion, my holy mountain.
And Jerusalem shall be holy,
18 "And in that day
the mountains shall drip sweet, sweet wine,
and a fountain shall come forth from the house of the Lord
Wine is present when God's is present with his people.
Similarly the prophet Amos (9:11-15) speaks about the Lord restoring favour and peace and sweet wine will drip from the mountains.
Wine is present when God is repairing, restoring, rebuilding and bringing peace.
Wine is symbolic of everything being in its right place with God and humanity.
At this wedding, Jesus miraculously provides wine saving humiliation for the family, but he's also saying something far more profound about himself and what he has come to do. He's saying, in me there will be peace, unity, relationship, togetherness, wholeness, restoration and of course resurrection.
Are there areas of your life that are chaotic and falling apart?
Open yourself to God's presence, where there is power for wholeness and restoration.
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