NLT Life Application Study Bible, Third Edition - Flipbook - Page 24
J ohn 2
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page 1798
Jesus Turns Water into Wine (22)
The next day* there was a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’
mother was there, 2and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration.
3The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus’ mother told him, “They have
no more wine.”
4“Dear woman, that’s not our problem,” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.”
5But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
6Standing nearby were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each
could hold twenty to thirty gallons.* 7Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.”
When the jars had been filled, 8he said, “Now dip some out, and take it to the master of
ceremonies.” So the servants followed his instructions.
9When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing
where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom
over. 10“A host always serves the best wine first,” he said. “Then, when everyone has had a
lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!”
11This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory.
And his disciples believed in him.
12After the wedding he went to Capernaum for a few days with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples.
2
2:1
John 1:35, 43
2:4
John 7:30; 8:20
2:6
Mark 7:3-4
John 3:25
2:9
John 4:46
2:11
John 2:23; 3:2; 4:54;
6:14; 11:47; 12:37
2:12
Matt 12:46-50
B. MESSAGE AND MINISTRY OF JESUS, THE SON OF GOD (2:13–12:50)
John stresses the deity of Christ. He gives us eight miracles that serve as signs that Jesus is the Messiah. In this
section he records Jesus describing himself as the Bread of Life, the Water of Life, the Light of the World, the Gate,
and the Good Shepherd. John provides teachings of Jesus found nowhere else. This is the most theological of
the four Gospels.
1. Jesus encounters belief and unbelief from the people
Jesus Clears the Temple (23)
13It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration, so Jesus went to Jerusalem. 14In
the Temple area he saw merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices; he also
2:1 Greek On the third day; see 1:35, 43. 2:6 Greek 2 or 3 measures [75 to 113 liters].
2:1-3 Weddings in Jesus’ day were weeklong festivals. Banquets would
be prepared for many guests, and a week would be spent celebrating the
new life of the married couple. Often the whole town would be invited,
and everybody would c ome—it was considered an insult to refuse an
invitation to a wedding. To accommodate many people, careful planning
was needed. To run out of wine was more than embarrassing; it broke
the strong, unwritten laws of hospitality. Jesus was about to respond
to a heartfelt need.
2:1-2 Jesus was on a mission to save the world, the greatest mission
in the history of humankind. Yet he took time to attend a wedding and
take part in its festivities. We may feel a certain duty or obligation not
to take time out from our “important” work for social occasions. But
maybe these social occasions are part of our mission. Jesus valued these
wedding festivities because they involved people, and Jesus came to be
with people. Our mission can often be accomplished in joyous times of
celebration with others. Bring balance to your life by bringing Jesus into
times of celebration with others as well as times of work.
2:4 Mary was probably not asking Jesus to do a miracle; she was simply
hoping that her son would help solve this major problem and find some
wine. Tradition says that Joseph, Mary’s husband, was dead, so she probably was used to asking for her son’s help in certain situations. Jesus’
answer to Mary is difficult to understand, but maybe that is the point.
It showed her that he had his own priorities and was focused on God’s
timetable. Although Mary did not understand what Jesus was going to
do, she trusted him to do what was right. Those who believe in Jesus
but run into situations they cannot understand must continue to trust
that he will work in the best way.
2:5 Mary submitted to Jesus’ way of doing things. She recognized that
Jesus was more than her human s on—he was the Son of God. When we
bring our problems to Jesus, we may think we know how he should take
care of them. But he may have a completely different plan from ours.
2:13-22
Matt 21:12-17
Mark 11:15-19
Luke 19:45-48
Like Mary, we should submit and allow him to deal with the problem
as he sees best.
2:6 The six stone water jars would normally be used for ceremonial
washing. When full, the pots would hold 20 to 30 gallons. According to the
Jews’ ceremonial law, people became symbolically unclean by touching
certain everyday objects. Before eating, the Jews would pour water over
their hands to cleanse themselves of any bad influences associated with
what they had touched. Jesus used ordinary elements to do something
extraordinary, and he still does this today.
2:10 People look everywhere but to God for excitement and meaning.
For some reason, they expect God to be dull and lifeless. Just as the
wine Jesus made was the best, so life in him is better than life on our
own. Why wait until everything else runs out before trying God? Why
save the best until last?
2:11 When the disciples saw Jesus’ miracle, they believed in him. The
miracle showed his power over nature and revealed the way he would
go about his ministry—helping others, speaking with authority, and being
in personal touch with people.
Miracles are not merely superhuman events but events that demonstrate God’s power. Almost every miracle Jesus did was a renewal of
fallen c reation—restoring sight, making people who were lame walk, even
restoring life to the dead. Believe in Jesus not because he is a superhero
but because he is the God who continues his creation, even in those of
us who are poor, weak, crippled, orphaned, blind, deaf, or struggling
with some other desperate need.
2:12 Capernaum became Jesus’ home base during his ministry in Galilee.
Located on a major trade route, it was an important city in the region,
with a Roman garrison and a customs station. At Capernaum, Matthew
was called to be a disciple (Matthew 9:9). This city was also the home of
several other disciples (Matthew 4:13-19) and a high-ranking government
official (John 4:46). It had at least one major synagogue. Although Jesus
