V1-2
Ordinary Jewish life; Mary and Jesus and His disciples at the wedding,
invited as friends and relatives.
V3-4
Mary knew that Jesus had power to change things. Jesus initially showed
some reluctance, see also Mark 7.27, giving an answer to develop faith and to
encourage prayer.
V5
The need for submission to Christ, compare 2 Sam 15.15; this is the
attitude of the real servant.
V6
John refers to Jewish ceremony, giving some explanation for his readers.
v7-10
Jesus performed the miracle in quiet anonymity. But He did instruct the
servants to take the wine to the master of the banquet, so that there would be
clear testimony of what had happened.
V11
This was the first miracle of Jesus’ ministry, preceding those noted by
the other gospel writers. It also destroys the argument of those who teach that
Jesus performed miracles throughout His life, even in childhood.
The miracle was a sign, it “revealed His glory,” a real and specific
purpose for the miracle. Jesus did not come to solve a Jewish wine shortage, nor
to take away all illnesses from all Jewish people, compare Luke 4.25-27. It was
through this demonstration of His glory that His disciples grew in faith.
No ostentation or show here; Jesus met an everyday need of ordinary
people. See also Luke 4.3-4, where Jesus was tempted to perform a miracle for
His own benefit. Wine makes glad the heart of man, how much more the One whose
love is better than wine! There is always an immediate blessing or message, and
often a clear meaning to the nation of Israel.
There is a spiritual lesson here;
-
of quantity, since there was in excess of 120
gallons (v6); abundance (Heb 10.2), since Christ’s work is sufficient for all
our sins;
-
of quality, since the wine was better (v10);
real (Heb 8.12, Ps 85.2-3), since Christ’s work is effective in dealing with
our sins;
-
The new covenant in Christ is better than the
old, Heb 8.6-7; 9.13-14. Only Jesus Christ,
who is God, could keep the good wine till later. This new covenant
relates to God’s promises to the Jewish people, should they accept Christ as
their Messiah.
The list of signs
recorded in John’s gospel;
-
Water into wine (2.1-12);
-
Nobleman’s son healed (4.46-54);
-
Man at pool of Bethesda (5.1-15);
-
Feeding of the 5000 (6.1-14);
-
Walking on water (6.15-21);
-
Blind man healed (9.1-12);
-
Raising of Lazarus (11.1-44);
-
Resurrection, the eighth sign (ch 20-21).
Most of Jesus’
miracles are in and around Galilee, but John’s emphasis is slightly different;
the man at the pool of Bethesda, and the blind man, are both healed in
Jerusalem. And Lazarus was raised near Jerusalem. The resurrection also was in
Jerusalem. So four of John’s eight signs were in or near Jerusalem.
The signs are
presented as part of Jesus’ ministry, consistent with everything He did and
said. The word “sign” (Greek, signature, see 2 Thess 3.17) means something,
or represents something. Here, Jesus taught that He came to bring something
better than what was there before.
V12
Jesus returned to the region of Galilee, His home. His ministry was still
secret. He had still not been rejected at Nazareth, see Luke 4.14-30.
V13-22
Jesus’ first sign was followed by His first public declaration in
Jerusalem. He confronts the corruption right at the heart of Jewish religious
life.
V13
The “Jewish Passover,” contrast 2 Chr 30.1,5, “the Passover to the
Lord God.” The feast that was God’s, and for God, had effectively been taken
over by the Jews. This is a further indication of the nominal religion
dominating the Jews. Even so, Jesus, as a faithful Jew, went up to Jerusalem for
the feast. Just because others are disobedient, we cannot neglect our own
obedience to God.
V14-16
Jesus the Judge, coming to see his Father’s house, i.e: His own
property. He found that trade had taken the place of devotion. The cares and
desires of this world had pushed out love for God.
The issue was not so
much of honesty, but of priority; no reference to a den of thieves here. What
they did was not wrong, but where they were doing it, Luke 19.46; 1 Cor 6.19-20.
Jesus used a whip of
cords, the sign of a Judge.
Jesus did not whip
those who sold doves; this was His mercy to those who sold to the poor; they
were worthy of fewer stripes, see Luke 12.47-48.
V17
Zeal for the Father’s house, and His Father’s glory. Here is
single-minded devotion, and costly zeal; this remained true throughout His
ministry, although in different ways. The result of His zeal,
even at this early point in His ministry was criticism.
Jesus was full of a passion for holiness, and a hatred of sin; His
harshest words were reserved for the hypocritical religious leaders.
V18
The response of the Jews, ‘What
right do you have?’ His action was certainly noticed, and may well have been a
claim to be the Messiah, “My Father’s house,” (v16).
V19-22
The action here, and the brief exchange, gave Jesus the opportunity to
prophesy His own resurrection. The writer explains that His words were
parabolic, that “this temple” referred to “his body.”
V23-25 The people’s belief was not real, it seems they only followed Jesus because of the signs He performed, see 4.48; 6.26. The heart of man is fickle and deceitful, it is as well that Christ did not commit Himself to them; they could not truly declare Him; the best testimony to Christ is the most Christ-like life.