The First Sign

INTRO

We continue talking about Jesus as the Son of God. In Luke, we saw Jesus as the Son of Man. Now we identify with Jesus as the Son of God. Today, we are going to break down the Scripture into two parts: Jesus as the miracle worker and Jesus with all authority.

TEACHING

John 2:1: The first half of this chapter concerns the wedding in Cana, a story that only appears in John’s Gospel. The wedding was on the third day, which suggests that Jesus and His disciples had been traveling for two days.

John 2:2: Jesus and His disciples were attending the wedding. Jesus’ mother, Mary, and probably more of His family, were attending the wedding as well. Was this the wedding of James, the brother of Jesus? We can’t be sure, but we know Mary definitely had a role in the wedding. Whoever’s wedding this was, they were connected, not only to Jesus, but also to the disciples.

John 2:3–4: Mary ran to Jesus and told Him they were out of wine. It is important to remember that Jesus had a mom, and they had a special relationship. You can choose to think that Jesus’ response was really sassy or a gentle, playful banter. I think it was the latter, and I think they had a unique relationship. Mary knew exactly who Jesus was. Jesus claimed His time had not yet come, but He respectfully obliged His mother’s request out of love.

John 2:5–7: I think this shows Jesus and Mary’s playful relationship. Mary went to the servants and told them to listen to Jesus. It is clear that Mary had a key role in this wedding. She had some type of servant role in which people listened to her. The fact that people did what Jesus said, showed a crazy level of faith.

At the wedding, they had purification jars. These jars would have been the only ceremonially clean jars, as they were made of stone. They were huge. Guests would wash their hands in the jars so they would be clean before they ate. This was not drinking water.

John 2:8–10: The crazy amount of faith Mary and the servants had, was shown by them actually taking this water to the chief servant. He had no idea where it came from, and maybe that’s a good thing. He called the groom and chastised him for saving the best wine for last. This was about Jesus coming right out of the gate; He is the wine of life. It was a prophetic act.

John 2:11–12: This was Jesus’ first miracle. Then Jesus, the disciples, His mother, and other family members traveled to Capernaum. This is another detail pointing out that this wedding was probably a family affair.

John 2:13: Then Jesus went to Jerusalem for the Jewish Passover. At times, John’s Gospel seems to be chronologically jumbled when lining up events next to the other three Gospels. Some theologians agree John’s Gospel is out of sequence, as though it is an error. One theory is the manuscript got dropped and the pages were put back in the wrong order. Others have come up with far more complicated theories like each Gospel writer had different styles of writing, while other theologians have completely ignored the problem altogether. The bottom line is this – the story is in harmony with the other Gospels.

John 2:14–17: When Jesus arrived at the temple, He found livestock being sold and moneychangers everywhere. Jesus created a whip and drove the livestock and moneychangers out of the temple (Psalm 69:9).

Why was Jesus so angry? First, worshipers on pilgrimage to Jerusalem for Passover couldn’t bring animals that long distance. Those selling livestock to these travelers were extorting worshipers with their prices. Second, these acts were happening in the temple, which was supposed to be a house of prayer. Third, for buyers, it was like cheap grace. It was little work for the people to make a sacrifice.

John 2:18: The Jews replied, “Who do you think you are? What gives you the right?”

John 2:19–21: In response, Jesus answered them, “Destroy this sanctuary, and I will raise it up in three days.” (v. 19). But the people did not understand what Jesus was saying! Jesus was talking about His own body. They were focused on the brick and mortar; they were ignorant and oblivious. The Son of God could be the only one to perform this sign. In John 11:25, Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life.”

This temple the Jews were talking about was completed in 515 BC. It took 46 years to build (v. 20). (1 Corinthians 6:19 talks about your body being a temple of the Holy Spirit). Jesus was saying, “I am aware that I am the temple of the Holy Spirit.” He was showing us a glimpse of what the Christian life is supposed to look like.

John 2:22–23: Romans 10:9 says, “If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” That’s what this is all about. That is the Gospel, and the disciples changed the world with that simple belief.

John 2:24–25: There were few people to whom Jesus explained everything. Jesus revealed Himself to Peter, John, and James on the mount of transfiguration. There were others He could trust, but not as intimately, such as the other disciples. For these religious leaders, Jesus held His cards close, and reasonably so. Verse 25 describes another supernatural trait of Jesus’ Sonship: “and because He did not need anyone to testify about man; for He Himself knew what was in man.” The Father would reveal to Him the hearts of men - revealing the good, the bad, and the ugly.

CLOSING

So what about you and me? Are we a people God can trust? A people God can reveal Himself to? Do we follow Him to chase signs and wonders? Do we pursue Him for a free meal? For a miracle? For a healing?

Matthew 16:13–17: “When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ ‘But you,’ He asked them, ‘who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God!’ And Jesus responded, ‘Simon son of Jonah, you are blessed because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father in heaven.’”

John 1:49: “‘Rabbi,’ Nathanael replied, ‘You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!’”

John 6:66–69: “From that moment many of His disciples turned back and no longer accompanied Him. Therefore Jesus said to the Twelve, ‘You don’t want to go away too, do you?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘Lord, who will we go to? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that You are the Holy One of God!’”

To whom will we go? Will we acknowledge Jesus truly is the Son of God? Where else can we go? After all, He does have the words of eternal life.