John 2

     2:1-11.  Since this is the first of seven signs that Jesus did (which form an important part of the structure of John’s Gospel), it is well to note something about his miracles in general.  They manifest his glory (11), but in a particular way.  They are never violations of the natural order as, for example, giving the moneychangers donkey’s heads would be.  Jesus only does what he sees his Father doing (cf.5:19).  He is his Father’s Son from before all creation, and he has come to heal that which is broken and out of order.

     “Every year, as a part of the Natural order, God makes wine….  He constantly turns water into wine….”  Miracles, C.S.Lewis.  Thus Jesus brings glory to Himself as the One who through all the centuries has made wine to gladden the heart of man (Ps.104:15).  A gift which man has badly abused, as he does all God’s good gifts.

     The miracles of Jesus are also acted out parables, always having a deeper meaning than just helping people.  Especially is this true in John.  Symbols abound, and the depth of them must be more felt than analyzed.  There is always more to be said, yet one usually says too much.

     This parable illustrates human inability, and the poverty of the Jewish system because of it.  The host’s resources were insufficient.  “They have no wine.”

     A modern mother would likely take offence at being addressed as “woman” (4), but it was probably not so in this culture (and cf.19:26).  However, Jesus does gently admonish her.  This is not yet the wedding of the Lamb.  His hour has not yet come.  Mary is that favored woman through whom the promise of Gen.3:15 (and see Gal.4:4) was fulfilled.  She travailed to bring the Savior into the world, the seed of the woman.  But Jesus does not let her usurp the headship, as our first mother did over Adam, and thus brought pain and travail upon herself and her daughters. If Jesus is to be the Woman’s Savior, he must yield now only to the will of His heavenly Father.

     Mary put Jesus on the spot, but did not usurp his authority.  “Whatever He says to you, do it.”  Good advice for the church (which is what is represented here) by the woman of wisdom.

     The six stone waterpots used for purification have a connection to 1:33, a verse with much the same meaning as this parable.  Water baptisms, John’s or any other’s, are waters of futility apart from the work of God.  Washing does not cleanse the heart, apart from the gift of the Holy Spirit which applies the cleansing blood of Christ by the new covenant, here represented by the wine.  Even the number of waterpots is important.  Man was created on the sixth day.  His number is six, always short of a complete seven.  His efforts to purify himself are always one pot short.  When he has done all he can do, he must rest (Sabbath) in the finished work of Christ.  The servants, like faithful preachers, can fill the pots up to the brim with the water of the word, but it will not be wine without the invisible life giving act of the Spirit at the secret will of Christ.  “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior.”  Titus 3:5-6, cf. John 3:5.

     The lively, Spirit filled waters of regeneration are the best wine of all (9-10).

     2:13-22.  John alone tells us that Jesus cleansed the temple near the beginning of his ministry, for this is certainly a different occasion than the other gospels report, which happened after the triumphal entry during the week of his death.  The scourge (15) is a symbol of judgment.  He did not use the whip on the men, as this translation implies, but drove “both sheep and cattle” (NIV).  Note that he only orders the doves taken away, as they would be lost if released, and no whip is said to be used on any men, though he overturned tables.

     The Jews (John’s word for the leaders, and another evidence that he wrote with Gentile readers in mind) demanded a sign to prove his authority.  His answer in 19 is very important.  Jesus is the temple of God (cf.1:14).  He fulfilled all the ordinances of the temple worship (cf.1:29), and is the dwelling place of God with his people.  He also prophesies his death and resurrection (20-22),

     Not only had Herod’s temple been 46 years in the building (20), but it would not be completely done for another 36 years, just in time for the Romans to tear it down in A.D.70.