John Chapter 2 - Commentary

1-11 The Wedding in Cana

[1] Jewish tradition is to be married on Tuesday, because in Genesis it was “twice blessed”.

[4] Eight times Jesus states “My hour has not yet come”. Zechariah 9:9 records what that hour is, Palm Sunday, the 10^th of Nisan, 4 days before Christ’s trials and crucifixion.

[5] Good advice from Mary – “do what He says…”

[6] What is the meaning of the sign of the miracle?

• The number of water pots is significant - six represents “man”, incomplete (seven is completeness) and were made of clay, from the dust of the earth….
• They are used for “purification” in Jewish religious rituals.
• They were empty – like the dead and ceremonial religion of their day.

Using implements of a dead and ceremonial religion, Jesus shows how when the vessel is filled with the “water of life”, it is filled with joy (wine) by the power of God – to the brim

[11] John tells us why this sign is placed here - to show that Jesus symbolically reveals His mission and purpose

• Note for the miracle to take place, obedience of the servants was required and preparation had to be made – they were each several “firkin” which are goatskins of 6-8 gallons, totaling 6 large 18-24 gallon pots!
• They acted on faith taking the water to the master of the feast
• Christ rewarded them with “joy” overflowing to the brim
• So the question is what is your favorite ‘whine’?

12-23 The Cleansing of the Temple

[15] Realize that the outer court was a large outdoor area that was patrolled by temple guards. This was not a trivial event, and must have been widely discussed among the million or so Jews in the city for Passover. What is the relationship between the cleansing of the temple and the recounting of the miracle at the Wedding in Cana?

• Jesus was preparing the vessel for worship and the place of worship by cleansing
• The very glory of God that hovered over the mercy seat in Solomon’s temple had returned to the temple in visible form, but they could not see Him as He was.
• The religion of man is always joyless, empty, and ultimately meaningless. God cleanses us, gives us real purpose and a reason to worship with joy because we have hope.

[17] The whole point of an outer court “for the Gentiles” points to the failure of the Jews. God intended “all nations” to worship Him, but the Jews ceremonially isolated themselves based on outward sign (of circumcision) and genealogy.

How does our worship today reflect on us? Is it adoration of God or of ourselves? Do we prepare our minds and meditate on God’s Word in worship, or is fellowship and music the focus? Repentance and cleansing is always associated with praise in scriptural worship.

Be reminded that Christ wrote the today’s churches about correct worship. Revelation 3:

¹⁴“And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: ¹⁵“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. ¹⁶So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. ¹⁷Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—¹⁸I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. ¹⁹As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.

[19] The Pharisees intentionally distorted the meaning of this phrase during one of the illegal trials (Matt 26:61). Here, they display willful blindness. Remember John 1:

⁹That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. ¹⁰He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. ¹¹He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him

[22] Jesus knew the temple would be destroyed, and while the Jewish leadership had placed their pride in Herod’s temple, standing among them was the creator of matter, time and energy. That temple has been replaced by the “true” temple of the church. Ephesians 2:

¹⁹Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, ²⁰having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, ²¹in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, ²²in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

[25] Who testified of Jesus? John the Baptist, His disciples, and the signs He performed.


Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.