Frameworks:
John's Gospel, chapter 2
(The
objective of these ‘Frameworks' is to provide an easy-to-read
layout of the text in order then to use these individual verses
for verse-by-verse study or meditation. To focus each
verse we have also added in in italic a description of what is
happening)
[Additional
Notes: any regular reader of the Bible knows that there
are often footnotes at the bottom of pages explaining possible
variants of a few words in the occasional verse. The footnotes
also give references sometimes of the quotes from the Old Testament.
Paul being a Jewish scholar uses such quotes in increasing numbers
in some of these chapters. References to the ‘Septuagint' is in
respect of Greek translations of the Old Testament scrolls that
started to come into being a little under 300 years before Christ,
initially by seventy two scholars but added to as the years went
on. The reason for the Greek translation is that many Jews lived
outside Israel and historians suggest they came under such Greek
influence that they were more comfortable with Greek rather than
the original Hebrew. The Greek and Hebrew scriptures thus often
differed in small ways of interpretation and New Testament writers
often used the Greek words rather than the original Hebrew, hence
the differences. We have not picked up on general footnotes and
have only included references within the text.]
CHAPTER
2
v.1-12
Jesus Changes Water into Wine
v.13-17
Jesus Clears the Temple Courts
v.18-22
Jesus challenged over his authority
v.23-25
Jesus ministers in Jerusalem
v.1-12
Jesus Changes Water into Wine
v.1,2
(venue: a wedding in Cana. Jesus is invited)
On the third day a wedding took place
at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, and Jesus and his
disciples had also been invited to the wedding.
v.3
(his mother points out a crisis) When
the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, “They have no more
wine.”
v.4
(Jesus hesitates) “Woman,
why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”
v.5
(she nevertheless instructs the servants)
His mother said to the servants,
“Do whatever he tells you.”
v.6
(there are six large water jars there)
Nearby stood six stone water jars,
the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding
from twenty to thirty gallons.
v.7
(Jesus instructs the servants to fill them
with water) Jesus said to the
servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the
brim.
v.8-10
(he then told then to draw some. It has turned
into choice wine) Then he told
them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”
They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that
had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come
from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he
called the bridegroom aside and said, “Everyone brings out the
choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have
had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”
v.11
(this first sign stirred belief) What
Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through
which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
v.12
(he then went to Capernaum) After
this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and
his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.
v.13-17
Jesus Clears the Temple Courts
v.13
(at Passover he goes to Jerusalem) When
it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
v.14
(the temple courts have become a market)
In the temple courts he found people
selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables
exchanging money.
v.15
(he drove out the animals and upset the tables)
So he made a whip out of cords, and
drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered
the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.
v.16
(he rebuked the sellers) To
those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning
my Father's house into a market!”
v.17
(later his disciples remember Psa 69:9) His
disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house
will consume me.”
v.18-22
Jesus challenged over his authority
v.18
(the Jews demand a sign) The
Jews then responded to him, “What sign can you show us to prove
your authority to do all this?”
v.19
(he challenges destroy this temple and I will
rebuild it) Jesus answered them,
“Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”
v.20
(they deny this is possible) They
replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and
you are going to raise it in three days?”
v.21
(but he is referring to his body) But
the temple he had spoken of was his body.
v.22
(the disciples remember this after the resurrection)
After he was raised from the dead,
his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the
scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.
v.23-25
Jesus ministers in Jerusalem
v.23
(he heals people and they believe) Now
while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, many people
saw the signs he was performing and believed in his name.
v.24
(yet he didn't open himself to them) But
Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people.
v.25
(he didn't need their testimonies) He
did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was
in each person.