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John Chapter Two

 
The Water Turned To Wine (2:1-12)
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. John's purpose in his gospel was to produce faith - Jn 20:30-31
 a. Which he sought to accomplish by recording the "signs" done by
 Jesus
 b. Not all of them, but enough to produce faith in Jesus as the
 Christ, the Son of God
 
2. The "signs" Jesus performed were miracles...
 a. Expressions of supernatural, divine power
 b. Designed to attest His unique relationship with God - cf. Ac 2:22
 
[The first sign recorded by John took place shortly after Jesus had
acquired His first disciples...]
 
I. THE SETTING
 
 A. IN CANA OF GALILEE...
 1. On the third day - Jn 2:1
 a. The third day after Jesus made two more disciples
 (Hendriksen)
 b. Taking two days to reach Galilee from Judea (JFB)
 2. In the city of Cana - Jn 2:1
 a. Cana was about 4 miles NE of Nazareth, and SW of the Sea of
 Galilee
 b. Jesus had wanted to go to Galilee - cf. Jn 1:43
 c. Nathanael was from the city of Cana - cf. Jn 21:2
 
 B. AT A WEDDING FEAST...
 1. The mother of Jesus was there - Jn 2:1
 2. Likewise Jesus and His disciples, who had been invited - Jn 2:2
 a. Jesus and His disciples were not ascetics - cf. Mt 9:14
 b. He came eating and drinking - cf. Mt 11:19
 
 C. WHERE THE WINE HAD RUN OUT...
 1. As noted by the mother of Jesus - Jn 2:3
 a. She appears to have some role of responsibility and
 authority - cf. Jn 2:5
 b. The invitation to Jesus and His disciples may have been a
 last minute thing
 c. Running out of wine would have been an embarrassment to
 Mary, if she were in charge
 d. She tells Jesus; perhaps hinting a request? (RWP)
 2. Jesus responds to His mother - Jn 2:4
 a. "Woman"
 1) Not a term of disrespect in those days - cf. Jn 19:26;
 20:15
 2) Though a subtle hint may be implied by its use instead of
 "Mother" that their relationship of mother and son was
 changing
 b. "What does your concern have to do with Me?"
 1) Perhaps a mild rebuke for her anxiety
 2) Perhaps too much like Martha? - cf. Lk 10:41
 c. "My hour has not yet come."
 1) This suggests that Mary's request was more than just a
 desire for a gift of wine
 2) Perhaps she wanted a supreme manifestation of Him as the
 Messiah
 3) That event would come later, with His death and
 resurrection - cf. Jn 2:18-19; 12:23,27; 17:1
 4) His mother sought for a supreme sign, but at that time
 only a secondary sign could be fittingly given
 5) I.e., the triumph at Pentecost was not to be achieved at
 Cana (McGarvey)
 
[Despite the subtle rebuke, Mary evidently sense a willingness on Jesus'
part to do something. So she instructed the servants to do whatever He
says (cf. Jn 2:5). This leads us to...]
 
II. THE MIRACLE
 
 A. THE WATER TURNED TO WINE...
 1. Beginning with six empty water pots - Jn 2:6
 a. Normally used for the Jewish rituals of purification - cf.
 Mk 7:3-4
 b. Capable of holding twenty or thirty gallons (two or three
 firkins, KJV) each
 2. Filled with water - Jn 2:7
 a. As instructed by Jesus
  b. Filled to the brim
 3. A sample drawn and taken to the master of the feast - Jn 2:8
 a. As instructed by Jesus
 b. Carried out by the servants
 c. Apparently what was drawn was still water; it became wine
 before reaching the guests - cf. Jn 2:9
 
 B. THE IMPACT ON THOSE PRESENT...
 1. Upon the master of the feast - Jn 2:9-10
 a. He tasted the water that was made wine
 b. Not knowing where it came from, he called the bridegroom
 c. Telling him that he kept the good wine for last, contrary to
 normal custom
 2. Upon the disciples of Jesus - Jn 2:11
 a. It was the beginning of signs Jesus did in Galilee - cf. Jn
 4:54
 b. In which Jesus manifested His glory - cf. Jn 1:14
 c. Their faith in Jesus was even more strengthened
 
 C. THE IMPACT ON US TODAY...
 1. It should not be to justify the custom of social drinking
 a. The word "oinos" can refer to fermented wine, but not
  necessarily
 b. Alcoholic drinks today are much stronger than those in Bible
 times
 c. The Bible is filled with the dangers of drinking - cf. Pro
 20:1; 23:29-35
 d. We do well to consider the influence of our example - cf. Ro
 14:21; 1 Co 10:31-33
 2. This miracle of turning water to wine reveals Jesus as:
 a. One who honors the bond of marriage by His presence at the
 wedding
 b. One who bestows His gifts lavishly; if in the physical
 realm, how much more in the spiritual?
 c. One whose infinite love is made effective by His equally
 infinite power
 d. One who, accordingly, is the Son of God, full of grace and
  glory
 -- William Hendricksen, New Testament Commentary
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. After this miracle in Cana, Jesus went down to Capernaum - Jn 2:12
 a. Capernaum, a city on the northwestern shore of Galilee, visited
 frequently by Jesus
 b. Together with His mother, His brothers (cf. Mt 13:55), and His
 disciples
 c. Though they did not stay many days - cf. Jn 2:13
 
2. The disciples of Jesus must have been excited...
 a. They had heard the testimony of John the Baptist concerning Jesus
  b. They had borne their own initial testimony as to Jesus
 c. Now they had seen this "sign" that Jesus was truly what they
 believed Him to be!
 
More signs to come would increase their faith in Jesus. They can have a
similar affect in us as we continue to read and study the gospel
according to John...

The Cleansing Of The Temple (2:13-25)
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. It is common to think of Jesus as a gentle, peace-loving man...
 a. He certainly presented Himself as such on most occasions - e.g.,
 Mt 11:28-30
 b. People felt comfortable in bringing their children to Him - e.g.,
 Mt 19:13-14
 
2. Yet on occasion Jesus displayed strong righteous indignation...
 a. Such as when He visited Jerusalem during the Passover at the
 beginning of His ministry
 b. As He drove the moneychangers and merchandisers out of the temple
 - Jn 2:13-15
 
[What prompted this outburst of anger? What gave Jesus the authority to
do this? What lessons might we glean from this event? As we seek to
find the answers let's first note...]
 
I. THE REBUKE OF THE LORD
 
 A. MERCHANDISING HIS FATHER'S HOUSE...
 1. The Lord's rebuke reveals the reason for His outburst - cf. Jn
 2:16
 2. The sellers of oxen and sheep, along with the moneychangers,
  had turned the temple into a house of merchandise
 3. It was to be a house of prayer, they had turned it into a den
 of thieves - cf. Mt 21:13
 -- The Lord was angered by the manner in which some used religion
 to make money
 
 B. MIGHT WE BE GUILTY OF A SIMILAR OFFENSE...?
 1. What if we attend church simply as a form of "networking", to
 make business contacts?
 2. What if we take advantage of our relationship as brethren to
 further a multilevel marketing business, a home-based business,
 or any other financial enterprise?
 -- The Lord's temple today is the church, we must be careful lest
 we defile it as well (cf. 1 Co 3:16-17)
 
[The Lord has ordained that those who preach the gospel be supported (1
Co 9:14). But He is angered by those who view the Lord's temple
(people) as a way to get rich. Next, we note that His anger was
prompted by...] 
 
II. THE ZEAL OF THE LORD
 
 A. ZEAL FOR HIS FATHER'S HOUSE...
 1. The disciples were reminded of an Old Testament prophecy - Jn
 2:17; cf. Psa 69:9
 2. Jesus had zeal (fervor) for God's house, for it's intended
 purpose (a house of prayer)
 -- His great zeal for His Father's house moved Him to action
 
  B. HOW IS OUR ZEAL FOR THE LORD'S HOUSE...?
 1. Remember, today the Father's house is the church - cf. 1 Ti
 3:15
 2. Do we have great zeal for the church?
 a. That it fulfill it's intended purpose (to make known God's
  will)? - cf. Ep 3:10-11
 b. That we are troubled when we see people try to turn it into
 something else, such as social club, or a purveyor of 
 entertainment?
 -- If we have zeal for the Lord's house, we will not rest silent
 when others pervert its purpose
 
[Of course, the action we take may not be the same as what Jesus did. 
Indeed, He took up "a whip of cords." What right did He have to use
such a display of force? That's what the Jews wanted to know...]
 
III. THE AUTHORITY OF THE LORD
 
 A. THE SIGN THAT PROVES HIS AUTHORITY...
 1. They wanted to know what sign (miracle) He could offer to prove
 His right to cleanse the temple - Jn 2:18
 2. Jesus offered His ability to rise from the dead as the ultimate
 proof - Jn 2:19-22
 a. Later, He would restate His claim to have this ability - Jn
 10:17-18
 b. His resurrection proved that He was the Son of God - cf. Ro
 1:4
 -- He has been given the authority to exercise such judgment as
 cleansing the temple - cf. Jn 5:22,26-27
 
 B. WE DO NOT HAVE THE SAME AUTHORITY...
 1. We are to judge with righteous judgment - Jn 7:24
 a. At times we must distinguish between "hogs" and "dogs" - Mt
 7:6
 b. We can distinguish between good and bad fruit - Mt 7:15-20
 2. But our authority to judge is limited - Mt 7:1-5
 a. There are things we cannot judge in this life - 1 Co 4:3-5
 b. There are people we are not to judge - 1 Co 5:11-13
 c. Vengeance in particular belongs to the Lord - cf. Ro 12:
 17-19
 -- While Jesus is our example (cf. 1 Pe 2:21), there are some
 "steps" that He took that we cannot take
 
[The reason we cannot emulate the Lord in every case becomes evident as
we consider...]
 
IV. THE POWER OF THE LORD
 
 A. THE POWER THAT JUSTIFIES HIS ACTION...
 1. John mentions how many came to believe in Him because of His
 signs - Jn 2:23
 2. John also makes note of His unwillingness to commit Himself to
 others at this time
 a. He had no need to, because he knew all - Jn 2:24
 b. He had no need to, because he knew what was in man - Jn 2:25
 -- Jesus is revealed as one who can discern the hearts of men 
 - cf. Mt 9:4; Re 2:23
 
 B. WE DO NOT HAVE THE SAME POWER...
 1. We cannot discern the hearts of men like the Lord can; note
 these comments:
 a. "Our Lord knew all men, their nature, dispositions,
 affections, designs, so as we do not know any man, not even
 ourselves."
 b. "He knows his crafty enemies, and all their secret projects;
 his false friends, and their true characters."
 c. "He knows who are truly his, knows their uprightness, and
 knows their weaknesses."
 d. "We know what is done by men; Christ knows what is in them,
 he tries the heart."
 -- Matthew Henry Commentary
 2. Since we cannot read the hearts of men, we must be careful
 a. We are unable to always know the motives of others
 b. We must approach those in opposition with humility - cf. 
 2 Ti 2:24-26 
 c. We must approach brethren overtaken in a fault with
 gentleness - cf. Ga 6:1
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. In contending for the faith (which is a solemn duty, Ju 3)...
 a. Some often use the example of Jesus cleansing the temple to
 justify their behavior
 b. As they lash out in anger (righteous indignation?) towards those
 teaching error
 
2. Is it right to appeal to Jesus' example in this case...?
 a. Can we appeal to every example of Jesus?
 b. If so, are we justified to use a whip of cords as well?
 
3. The immediate context offers reasons to answer carefully...
 a. Jesus possessed unlimited authority to judge man, proven by His
 resurrection from the dead
 b. Jesus possessed divine power to read the hearts of men, we
 sometimes cannot even discern our own hearts
 
4. There are times for righteous indignation...
 a. But some things must be left to the Lord, the righteous Judge
 b. We must avoid what might actually be "self-righteous" indignation!
 
While we may not always be able to emulate the Lord's prerogative to
judge, we should certainly strive to copy His zeal for His Father's
house. Is our zeal for His church what it ought to be...?

－－《Executable Outlines》