Series Theme:   Short meditations in John's Gospel

This Page: CHAPTER 2

Short Meditations in John 2: 1. A Wedding

Jn 2:1,2 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.

The third day? The third day after the last mentioned incident with Nathaniel? Whenever it was what follows happened back in the north in Galilee in the town of Cana. Jesus, presumably with the first of the disciples who had followed him, has gone back north and there is a wedding taking place that both Jesus' mother and Jesus and his disciples (all local Galileans?) have been invited to.

As we often comment, there are those who say these accounts are made up but each of them has a reality feel about them. This is about an ordinary wedding taking place in this community and Jesus and those with him are there. There appears nothing special about this; it is very ordinary, it is just one of those things that occur and go to make up life. A young couple are being married. The only this is that this is a story about Jesus and so the wedding is the background for what was to follow. It was this ordinary event that provided the background for the first of what John is going to call a sign.

This wedding account doesn't appear in the other Gospels and various things in them don't appear here. The reality was that so many things happened in Jesus ministry that there was no way they could all be written down but as John, in his old age, reflected back on those incredible years of his younger life, he remembers this particular incident that the others hadn't recorded and he sees within it a significance missed by the others. Remember, this is the Gospel of significance. John thinking back over many years, realises some of the significance of the things that were happening and he determines to record these in his Gospel.

He's recorded, briefly, some of the preliminary encounters that drew disciples to Jesus and now he records one of the earlier miracles that clearly pointed to who Jesus really was. That is what the miracles in John are – ‘signs' pointing to Jesus, revealing who he really was. But here in the opening verses of this chapter we see that this revelation of the Son of God took place in the midst of ordinary events of life. There is nothing ‘super-spiritual' about this, it is very down to earth. But that is the wonder, that God stepped down to earth and interacted with ordinary human beings in ordinary situations – just like He continues to do today. You have an ordinary life? Watch out for Jesus in it!

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Short Meditations in John 2: 2. An Expectant Mother

Jn 2:3-5 When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine." "Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied. "My time has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."

Life has its little problems and sometimes they are not so little. It is traditional for a celebration to be accompanied by drink and in this culture it was wine and now we find the wedding people have drunk dry the supplies laid in. Problem! Big Problem! We don't often think about this aspect of it but this could have become the talking point of Cana for the next six months: “Do you remember when old (whoever) didn't get enough wine in and they ran out and how the whole celebration went flat! How could someone be that short sighted? Whatever you do, you get in enough drink for this sort of do!”

As yet it doesn't appear to have become a big issue but somehow Mary has heard about it. Perhaps she is close to members of this family, perhaps she was helping out as the women friends might do. Whatever it was, she finds out that they are in trouble. Now here's where it gets interesting: she turns to Jesus and simply tells him “They have no more wine.” She isn't going to tell him what to do but clearly there is implied in this simple statement an invitation for him to do something.

Now of course, knowing all that followed, we assume that Mary is inviting Jesus to do something miraculous but unless some of the weird and wonderful non-canonical stories about Jesus' childhood are true, and he had been known for doing strange miraculous things, even if she thought highly of him she would not be expecting that – but she clearly expects something, otherwise it is pure gossip. Jesus clearly thinks she is putting pressure on him by his response which we'll see in the next meditation, so what is she expecting. Well I suppose it is possible that she expects the miraculous from her son but it may be that she is simply inviting him to go out to neighbours or friends and try and obtain more wine. It could be that simple. It could be that she is about to be surprised, because John tells us this is the first of the miraculous signs that Jesus performed (v.11).

The obvious application question that must flow out of this is, when we start running into difficulties in life, do we turn to Jesus for help (especially as we now know who he is) and is our expectation of him on a par with him being the all-powerful and all-wise Son of God? Mary didn't tell him what to do, only invited his help. Is that how we pray?

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Short Meditations in John 2: 3. Jesus' Timetable

Jn 2:3-5   When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine." "Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied. "My time has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."

As John's Gospel appears to be the recollections of one man, John (as distinct from a collection as in say Luke), it is interesting to speculate that John was one of the ones at the wedding and how, in old age, he mused over the things he can still remember. He sees in his mind's eye Mary turning to Jesus and quietly saying, “They have no more wine.” At this point John has no great expectations of Jesus and so is slightly surprised at Jesus' slightly abrupt, “Why do you involve me?” Well, John might have thought, because she looks to you as the man of the house now your father has gone (no mention of Joseph in Jesus' latter days – we assumed he has died).

But then Jesus adds something that might have had John wondering: “My time has not come.” At the time John might have been a bit perplexed by that but perhaps later on he came to realise that Jesus had a timetable that he was working to. We find similar things later in the Gospel, e.g. “Jesus told them, "The right time for me has not yet come ; for you any time is right…. You go to the Feast. I am not yet going up to this Feast, because for me the right time has not yet come,” (Jn 7:6 & 8) and then, “At this they tried to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his time had not yet come,” (Jn 7:30) and then, “He spoke these words while teaching in the temple area near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his time had not yet come.” (Jn 8:20)

There are a number of other time references in John that indicate Jesus was aware of what was yet to happen, e.g. “Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem….Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth,” (Jn 4:21 & 23) and “I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.” (Jn 5:25) and “Jesus said, "I am with you for only a short time, and then I go to the one who sent me.” (Jn 7:33) and “Jesus said…"Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." (Jn 12:30-32) The message is clear: throughout Jesus is aware of a timetable of things to achieve.

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Short Meditations in John 2: 4. Good Advice

Jn 2:5 His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."

There are times when a verse or piece of Scripture almost seems too simple to heed. Mary has brought to Jesus' attention the fact that the wedding party has run out of wine. We might wonder, in retrospect, if the son of God ever needed anything drawing to his attention! Nevertheless she has done so and he has declined to do anything about it, but perhaps she knows her son and has faith in him that he will not see a need and not do something about it. Whatever is in her thinking she simply says to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

Now this suggests she has a relationship with the wedding party whereby she could give orders to the servants and they would obey, or was she simply someone of such stature in the community that she was used to giving orders. The possibilities are interesting but we aren't given any background. Whatever is the truth, she instructs them accordingly with an instruction which of itself is so simple and, in the light of all that we know of Jesus, must act as the summary of all that is required of a Christian: do what Jesus tells you.

What she thought Jesus might do again is merely a matter of speculation. What Jesus might tell me to do today again is purely a matter for conjecture because until it happens I won't know. It must have been like that being a disciple of Jesus, wandering around Galilee, following him wherever he went, not knowing what the day would bring, never knowing who they would meet and what Jesus would do.

When the apostle Paul wrote, “We live by faith not by sight,” (2 Cor 5:7) his intent must have been something like this. Where Jesus leads, we follow, what Jesus says, we do, or at least that is how it is supposed to be. The fact that today we have his word as general guidance and his Spirit for specific daily guidance – and the latter is not always easy to hear – it may be that we sometimes miss it. Yet that surely must be our intention – to do what he says because putting it most simply, the Son of God knows best. His knowledge is unlimited and his wisdom is unlimited and he knows everything there is to know about us, and he knows what is best for us.

I wonder if, in reality, that is how we live our lives as Christians, with the knowledge that Jesus knows best and we need to learn to hear him and then do what he says, whatever area or aspect of our lives it covers, for that surely is what being a disciple is all about.

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Short Meditations in John 2: 5. Nothing is as it seems

Jn 2:6   Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons

We look at the world around us and we think we know and understand it. This is a brick wall and you can't walk through brink walls. This is water and that is all it is. We know how things work. But that is just the material world that God made and what God made He can change. With God,. nothing is just as it seems. At one point in the Gospels Jesus, and then Peter, walked on water, but you can't do that because water is liquid and liquid won't hold a man – but it did. Here is a blind man and blind me stay blind – except not when they encounter Jesus. Here is a dead man and dead men stay dead - except not when they encounter Jesus. No, when God and Jesus step into the equation, everything is not as it seems, everything is up for grabs!

So John gives us some simple information about the ‘material conditions': “ Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.” (v.6) They are empty jars and so, “Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim.” (v.7) So here we have big stone jars full of water. No questions and no doubt about it. If any clown tries to explain it away by saying Jesus imported good wine, a) where would he have got such wine from at such short notice and b) wouldn't the steward of the wedding have done it if it was possible, and c) how could that volume be got into the house without others seeing and knowing. No, stone jars – and water!

So there it is. Nothing strange or unusual so far – except Jesus getting the servants to fill jars with water. Why would he want to do that? Incidentally, in passing, note that Jesus has become involved and is doing something, though it is a strange something. Note also there are no prayers, no speaking special words over these jars, nothing out of the ordinary happening! But watch!

“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.” (v.8,9) What? Where did that come from, that last little reference to wine? Was the water changed into wine in the jars or was it as they drew some off? Were the servants aware of this and if so, why weren't they making a big fuss about what had just happened? Whatever it was, it was a miracle!

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Short Meditations in John 2: 6. Questions

Jn 2:9,10    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."

Wherever Jesus was and with whatever he was doing, there was always a consequence that we sometimes miss or take for granted – questions were raised. For example at the beginning of his ministry in the Nazareth synagogue, “All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. "Isn't this Joseph's son?" they asked.” (Lk 4:22) Then when he went to the Capernaum synagogue and taught and cast out a demon, “All the people were amazed and said to each other, "What is this teaching? With authority and power he gives orders to evil spirits and they come out!" (Lk 4:36) and then when he healed the paralysed man on a stretcher and proclaimed him forgiven, “The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, "Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?" (Lk 5:21)

Again and again we find that the things Jesus said and did caused comment and raised questions. When God steps into life and changes life and circumstances, it is not surprising that people question and wonder. When God speaks it challenges people: “Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.” Lk 1:29) As with Mary, so with the birth of John the Baptist: “Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, "What then is this child going to be?" For the Lord's hand was with him.” (Lk 1:66) As it happened in the New Testament, so it also happened in the Old: “But sir," Gideon replied, "if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us?” (Jud 6:13)

When God speaks and acts our ideas are challenged and no more so than at this wedding. When the Steward or master of the Wedding Banquet was presented with the new wine that tasted old and good, he was perplexed. Most people used the good wine first and then when people had drunk a lot and probably didn't care so much, they brought out the cheaper wine, but in this place the situation was reversed. The wine that was brought out now was best quality. What was this all about? Of course the bridegroom would not know - but we do. To the embarrassment of many, Jesus made the best quality wine!

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Short Meditations in John 2: 7. Explanation – a sign

Jn 2:11   This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee . He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.

Presumably they told the master of the banquet what happened but we aren't told. John simply wraps up this first miracle in his Gospel in this brief declaration: it is a sign, it points to Jesus and it shows who he is. John sees such miracles as sign posts to Jesus so what does this first sign say about Jesus?

Well first, and most obviously, he can take that which is ordinary (water) and turn it into something special (wine). Indeed isn't that exactly at the very heart of all Jesus came to do? He came to transform lives, he came to take ordinary lives, lives living in the ways of the world, enslaved to sin, estranged from God, lives that were helpless and hopeless, and utterly transforms them.

Any description of Christianity and the Gospel that does not emphasise and declare this falls short. The whole purpose of Jesus coming, revealing the Father and dying for our sins, is so that our lives might be utterly transformed, cleansed of sin, forgiven by God and adopted as His Sons, empowered by the Holy Spirit and promised a place in heaven in eternity, so what more could one ask for? That life on this earth be transformed as well!

And that is his intention, that the work of cleansing, forgiveness, adoption and empowering is not just for eternity after we die, it is also to transform our lives, here and now and for all the years of living that we have on this earth. As different is wine from water, so is the life in Christ from the life before we knew him, that is what this is all about.

There is a sense whereby one wonders if Jesus, when he took up the invitation to go to the wedding, knew exactly what was going to happen and so used it to declare (for those who had eyes to see) the purpose of his coming – life transformation – through the amazing picture of water being changed into wine.

But there should perhaps we something else says to us: whatever and whenever we get into a crisis, if Jesus is there he can transform the crisis. With his grace, his wisdom and his power, no crisis need ever stay the same. He has come to rescue us in more ways that one and it is very practical. Commit today's difficulties to him!

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Short Meditations in John 2: 8. Moving on

Jn 2:12   After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.

Simple verses sometimes say so much but also provoke lots of questions because the Bible narrative never seeks to be complete – merely sufficient. From Cana in central Galilee, Jesus and his family now move to Capernaum . Note there are a whole group of them: Jesus, his mother, his brothers (?and sisters) and his disciples. Already it appears he is taking the role of leadership and the others come with him.

“There they stayed for a few days.” Soon, as we'll see in the following verses he will go up to Jerusalem but for the moment they stay in Capernaum for a short time. We aren't told anything that happened there, simply that they went there and stayed there a few days. Capernaum is going to feature often in the accounts of Jesus ministry, this town on the shore of the Sea of Galilee . It would appear to be outside Capernaum on the lakeside that Jesus called the first four fishermen before going back into the town (Mark 1:16-21). Perhaps this first trip was simply to establish a base there, perhaps rent a house there from which they could come and go. Frustratingly the account leaves us wondering.

Again and again we find this in the Gospels. They are full of very specific accounts and yet those accounts are really just the bare bones of what took place. The fact is that Jesus moved on from Cana ; that had been just a temporary stop before moving on elsewhere. That's how it seems again and again with Jesus' ministry – he keeps on moving on to the next place.

We like to establish ourselves in one place (and there's nothing wrong with that) and we like what is familiar – but Jesus is constantly wanting to move life on, move on encountering people, move on to bring his Father's love to more and more people. In our lives today he will be seeking to move us on. Perhaps we like sermons that are familiar and predictable, covering the basics of the Gospel over and over again, but Jesus wants us to change, to grow up in understanding, in character, in personality, in service. The writer to the Hebrews chided his readers: “ We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again.” (Heb 5:11,12) Jesus wants us to grow up!

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Short Meditations in John 2: 9. Following the Law

Jn 2:13   When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem .

Of course when the feasts were first inaugurated in the Law, Jerusalem did not exist as the capital of Israel (as they had not yet even entered the land!). Yet within the Law we find, “ Three times a year all your men must appear before the LORD your God at the place he will choose: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks and the Feast of Tabernacles. No man should appear before the LORD empty-handed.” (Deut 16:16) With the advent of kings of Israel and the taking of Jerusalem , it became usual for the various feasts to have their main focus at Jerusalem and for many this became a regular pilgrimage. Passover was one of the most important of the feasts.

Thus we now find that because it was the time for Passover Jesus went up to Jerusalem . Note John's insertion of the word ‘Jewish' because he is now writing for a world-wide audience and thus needs to spell out specific Jewish things. John mentions these feasts a number of time, e.g. 5:1(a feast), 6:4 (Passover), 7:2 (Tabernacles), 10:22 (Dedication – Hanukkah) , 11:55 (Passover) and 13:1 (Passover). These feasts were firmly held by the Jews because they were one way that they held on to their identity under the yoke of Rome . It was also, of course, a way of keeping the Law.

For whatever the reason, Jesus appears to have faithfully attended the feasts in Jerusalem which, while he was fulfilling his ministry in the north in Galilee , was both an interruption and a threat. The Jews of Jerusalem clearly found him a threat and it was that which eventually caused the confrontation and his death. Nevertheless Jesus was confident in his safety and so continued to follow the Law and go to Jerusalem , perhaps also to be an example to his followers to remain good Jews.

Each time he appeared in Jerusalem something happened which perhaps just kept him before the attention of the powers in the city. Perhaps we might say, he just kept the kettle boiling over those three years until the crisis at the end of the third year. The feast of the Passover was particularly significant as it remembered the events of the Exodus and the deliverance from Egypt and God's judgement on Pharaoh and his people, and also His means of saving His people from the destroying angel – the blood of a lamb. As John has recently declared Jesus to be the Lamb, this is perhaps especially significant.

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Short Meditations in John 2: 10. A Degenerate Religion

Jn 2:14 In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money.

Arriving in Jerusalem it is not surprising that Jesus made his way to the Temple . Now one would assume that he had come there many times before on pilgrimages to Jerusalem and would have known what the state of the place was like. It was unlikely that it has just come about like this in the relatively short period since he had last been here for one of the ‘feasts'.

The ‘temple courts' were likely to have been the outer area where any Gentiles who wished to worship God could pray, so it still was supposed to be a ‘worship/prayer' area of the temple.

Now of course sacrifices were a large part of the ceremonial elements of the Law and so what we find is that the temple authorities, partly to make life easier for worshippers who wanted to conform to the requirements of the Law, but largely no doubt to make money, were providing beasts for sacrifice. How much easier not to have to herd a cow or sheep all the way from home, often many miles and many days travel away. How much easier to buy an animal there at the temple and then just had it over for sacrifice. How easy! No sacrifice on behalf of the worshipper. The truth is that the Law did not specify that the animal had to come from your own flock or herd but what we find here is ‘managed religion' that has become more of a business than a holy procedure before the Lord.

The temple also had its own money that was different from Roman coinage (and had no heathen embellishments) and so the authorities provided a means for people coming with Roman coinage to change it into the less idolatrous local money. Hence the presence of money changers in the temple courts.

One way or another, religion became a business and we'll see that upset Jesus. However, as much as we might look down on such a time, honesty compels us to ask ourselves, are some modern expressions of church life as much a business-led activity? Do we rely on human wisdom, human rules, humans ways of working and planning and strategising and making money to run the church? How much of modern church life depends on human reasoning and planning and so on instead of Jesus-led, Holy Spirit inspired, God honouring good works that have their origins in heaven?

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Short Meditations in John 2: 11. God in Action

Jn 2:15    So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.

Gentle Jesus, meek and mild. So a children's song might go, but not on this occasion! To say that Jesus was annoyed would be an understatement. To purposefully make a whip and then drive all the animals out of the temple area, took perseverance and strength of will and character to resist the opposition that there would have been. This was a forceful and possibly violent event.

Now there is a question mark over this event because the three Synoptic Gospels all record it happening at the end of Jesus' three years of ministry whereas John places it firmly at the beginning. Possibilities put forward are that it was at the end but John put it here to signify God's judgment coming through the Messiah, or very simply that there were two times when Jesus came to the temple and cast out the market. The details of the first and last events are actually different in small ways.

It is unlikely that the three synoptic writers got it wrong because of the variety of sources they used. Likewise it is unlikely that John got it wrong because in all other ways he exhibits such a clear mind and clear memory. We tend to lean towards the latter explanation and suggest that he cleared them out at the beginning of his ministry but over the space of three years the practice of the market continued.

It is consistent with the story that Jesus came to the Temple and did this twice. At the start of his ministry, having had the affirming encounter at his baptism, then performing the miracle of the water into wine, he is clearly ‘under way' as far as his ministry is concerned and it is not simply to be nice to people but to reveal God to the world and to bring the truth of His being to the world. That God is holy, the Old Testament has no doubts. That He is a God who warns and warns again and then takes disciplinary action, again there can be no doubt.

It should not surprise us, therefore, to find Jesus bringing corrective action when he finds an abuse of the temple. He will do it again in three years time but then it will also be, not only because the abuse has continued, but even more to act as provocation to stir up the authorities against him to bring about his final arrest etc. Is the God we worship one who tolerates wrong or acts against it?

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Short Meditations in John 2: 12. God Corrects

Jn 2:16 To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!"

A parent who chastises a child without explanation would be judged unfair. An employer who dismissed an employee without explanation would be considered unjust. Correction and explanation go together. In the Bible, and more specifically in the Old Testament, God explained and explained and explained and then disciplined. Originally the explanation came in the form of the Law, including the blessings and curses, but as Israel's history went on, the ‘explanations' came more and more through prophets.

John gives us no more detail of Jesus' ‘explanation' than this verse. In the second expulsion Matthew records , “ It is written," he said to them, "My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you are making it a `den of robbers.” (Mt 21:13). Mark reports, “And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written: " `My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it a den of robbers.” (Mk 11:17) Luke is similar but omits the idea of him saying it while teaching.

Whether two occasions or one, Jesus conveys distinct unhappiness about what was happening for three primary reasons. First this temple was supposed to be God's house, the place where God made His dwelling. When the Tabernacle was completed and when Solomon's first temple was completed, the glory of God filled the place, visibly revealing the presence of God there. That had not happened with subsequent temples and certainly not Herod's great building – yet it still remained at the very least a monument to God, some place that drew people to God. That was, theoretically at least, why pilgrims came to the temple.

The second reason was that the temple was supposed to be a place or prayer or place of encounter with God. As we noted above, that is why people came to it.

The third reason, which ultimately is why Jesus acted as he did, is that the sense of awe, peace and holiness was shattered by the presence of dozens (if not more) of animals. It has become more like a market than a place of prayer and encounter with God. The religious leaders and temple authorities may have made excuses why they were doing it, but it still detracted from the purpose of the temple – to create a place of prayer, contemplation and encounter. Right, clear out!

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Short Meditations in John 2: 13. Disciples Understand

Jn 2:17 His disciples remembered that it is written: "Zeal for your house will consume me.

How often do we read Scripture and yet not take it in, I wonder? I don't know how many dozens of times I must have read this verse and yet never really taken it in. It is an odd verse; it appears almost as a commentary on what is going on. Does it mean that at that moment his followers remembered that verse from Psalm 69 or was it years later as they reflected on what happened, they remembered that verse and saw it as an outworking of what happened here?

What did the original verse in Psalm 69 mean? “ I am a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my own mother's sons; for zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who insult you fall on me.” (Psa 69:8,9) In its simplest outworking, David the author of the psalm laments that he stands out in his day as one who has a heart for the Lord and for His House, and that everyone else is apathetic if not hostile towards him, and thus he faces rejection.

Psalm 69 is quoted a number of times in the New Testament and is clearly seen as a messianic psalm and so it would naturally be taught as one applying to the Messiah, and perhaps as his disciples meditated on it in the years to come they remember this incident and see how it is a fulfilment of these words of David. Perhaps because it is linked with the messianic psalm is the reason why John quotes it here. It is yet another of his subtle and not so subtle ways of saying, Jesus is the One! He is the messiah! He is the Son of God!

What this verse and quotation does also do is create a sense of emotional passion to what has just happened. Jesus acts because what has been going on has been wrong but even more he acts because he has zeal for his Father's honour. Dictionary definitions for ‘zeal' are ‘ intense enthusiasm, as in working for a cause; ardent endeavour or devotion; ardour; fervour'. Another way of putting it might be ‘strong emotional energy released in action for a cause' and the cause in this case would be his Father's honour.

Perhaps this should cause us to reflect on whether or not we are ‘moved' by desire or concern for the Father's honour. Is the Father honoured and glorified by the modern church? Does the state of the church and what it says about the Father move and stir me to action to improve it to honour the Lord in the eyes of the world?

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Short Meditations in John 2: 14. Religion Challenged

Jn 2:18 Then the Jews demanded of him, "What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?”

It is interesting when you ponder on this verse to note that nobody was asking “WHY did he do this?” So often when something happens we miss the main point – why is it happening? When young children kick over the traces we fail to ask why they are doing it, and we fail to see that we, the parents, have failed to lay down boundaries that provide a sense of security of our children. When we come across terrorists we fail to ask why is it they are acting and fail to see the injustices they are rebelling against. No, so often it is easier to point fingers at the person and fail to face the issues behind the behaviour.

So instead of asking of Jesus, why have you done this – for they probably knew in their hearts that what had been going on was wrong – they challenge him as a person. Note John says, “the Jews”. It is a collection of people, the religious people of Jerusalem , the people who habited the temple who, as a group, stood against him. So often in history wrongs have been perpetrated by people who have been part of a crowd. When a crowd comes together people take on a new courage to act badly. In this case they stand against the one man, and they challenge who he is. The come against him in an aggressive manner, they “ demanded of him…”

The wanted to know by what authority he acted. Their authority came from the fact that they were expressing the indignation of the religious authorities of the temple. That is what gave them the temerity to challenge him. They knew that what had been done challenged the religious authorities who presided over the temple and over Judaism, who had in act set up this ‘market' in God's house. So in effect what they were saying is, we represent the authority of Judaism, the authority of the temple, and you are no part of us, so who do you represent? You're a nobody! You are wrong!

And to prove their point, they make an interesting challenge: "What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?” Now why should they ask such a thing unless they know people are already wondering is he is the expected messiah. They exercised no miraculous works, but they demand such things of him. Now of course, as we look at his ministry, we see exactly this, but they are blind to this. Prejudice (or guilt) blinds minds to the truth. Unbelievers challenge God to act on their terms. Wrong!

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Short Meditations in John 2: 15. A Provocative Challenge

Jn 2:19 Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days."

There are times, it seems, when you look at the things that Jesus says, when he seems to be deliberately provocative; not provocative in the way to make you angry, but the way to make you confused! It is this same old thing that we have considered before, that sometimes Jesus says things in a particularly obscure way that only those who know him and can ask him personally what it means, get to understand. Those who are unbelievers, those asking to be awkward, and those who are shallow in their belief, miss out; they fail to come to understanding. This is the wisdom of God that knows that only those who are whole hearted in their commitment to Him can understand spiritual matters and respond in the right way to them. The Lord is not interested in titillating the minds of those who are merely playing with belief.

So here we find Jesus coming out with one of these obscure sayings that we can almost guarantee is going to cause confusion in his listeners, the unbelieving Jews of Jerusalem. Remember he is responding to their demand for a miraculous sign. Very well, he will give them one within a few years. We now know that he was referring to his own death and resurrection, which we'll see in the coming meditations, but for the moment what he says, when taken literally just doesn't seem to make sense.

Consider this a bit more. He is standing in the temple courts and to all intents and purposes he is saying that if you pull down these massive buildings, I will rebuild them within three days – buildings which had taken years and years to build! At least that is what Jesus appears to be saying if you are thinking in purely literal, materialistic terms.

But isn't this just what we find again and again throughout the whole of the Bible – picture language used to convey something else. A metaphor is ‘a figure of speech in which a name or quality is attributed to something to something which is it not literally applicable.' Read the prophets or the psalms, say, in the Old Testament and they are filled with such figurative picture language.

So here is the key question for us: when we come across such picture language in the Bible, do we appear lazy and say, “Oh, this is too difficult to understand,” or do we seek the Lord for understanding? Your honest answer reveals the sort of Christian you are.

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Chapter 3

Short Meditations in John 2: 16. Misunderstanding

Jn 2:20 The Jews replied, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?"

Obtuseness is not only the prerogative of the unbeliever but unbelievers certainly can be obtuse when it comes to spiritual matters and these ‘religious' Jews of the temple in Jerusalem were certainly being obtuse. As we noted in the previous meditation, of course it was not humanly possible to rebuild the temple there in the centre of Jerusalem in three days.

Now when you think about it, there are only a limited number of things we could say about Jesus' declaration. First we could say he was a madman. Well, they don't quite seem to be saying this because actually everything else about Jesus and all his actions and words are remarkably sane and far from the appearances of madness. Second, we could say he was claiming that he could actually do this and that this would be the miraculous sign that they were asking for. The only way that could happen was if he was God; was that a step too far even for the expected Messiah? They couldn't countenance that option because everything their history told them was that God was big, holy, and dwelt in heaven. This cannot be. The third thing we could say is that somehow he was playing with language and meant something completely different – which of course is exactly what he was doing – but the meaning and application of what he was saying was still beyond their possible understanding.

Which leaves one asking, why did he say it? Jesus knew people and he must have known they would be confused and so we have to ask, why? The answer must be so that we would see in the future that he knew exactly what he was doing and exactly what would happen in the days to come. The Gospels are quite clear on this point, e.g. Mt 16:21.

But the bigger challenge from this verse I find, which I touched on in the previous meditation, is how we respond when things happen we don't understand or we read Scripture we don't understand. If I am honest there have been times when I have gone through confusing times – and I've grumbled! Sin is not far under the surface! When it comes to the Bible I like the comment that says, “Well I trust the Lord with the things I don't understand because of all the things I DO understand in the Bible”. Read long enough and pray long enough and the “I don't know” things become fewer and fewer. The question is, though, will I keep on reading and keep on praying?

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Short Meditations in John 2: 17. Body and Temple

Jn 2:21 But the temple he had spoken of was his body

Suddenly all is revealed! In the next verse John will explain this a little more but for the moment we are simply told that the ‘temple' he referred to was his own body.

Of the some 680 references to ‘temple' in the Bible, the vast majority refer to the building built by men as the ‘house of God', so it was understandable that these unbelieving Jews would have their minds fixed on a building – especially as they were standing right next to it! Theoretically, of course, it was supposed to be the place where the presence of God dwelt. Jesus was the first one to use the word to refer to his body but when you think about it, his body was exactly where the presence of God dwelt.

The apostle Paul went on to use the same analogy: “Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple.” (1 Cor 3:16,17) and again, “For we are the temple of the living God.” (2 Cor 6:16) and “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord . And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” (Eph 2:19-22).

In that last quote he combines the pictures of citizens (of a kingdom), household (reference to God's family), and a building, a temple (the visible expression of the church where God dwells.). In the New Jerusalem in John's revelation, the temple in the city is the Father and the Son: “the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.” (Rev 21:22)

So, when we put together the thought of the presence of God dwelling on earth, with the picture of the Son of God being the incarnate presence of God we see the perfection of Jesus' description – and of course it now applies to us – the church, the body of Christ, the temple of the Holy Spirit. This temple, Jesus' body, was to be put to death and then raised from the dead on the third day, but the listeners would not understand that – yet!

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Short Meditations in John 2: 18. Post Understanding

Jn 2:22 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.

Quite often in the Christian life we are told things or things happen that don't quite show the whole picture and we are left wondering. I've often wondered why that is? I've concluded that sometimes the Lord just wants us to trust Him. Faith is responding to what He says but trust is hanging in there when we are not quite sure what is going on.

Jesus has just come out with this amazing statement about rebuilding the temple in three days and all his listeners – including his disciples, I suspect – were confused. What does he mean? But he doesn't spell it out and he doesn't even do what he did sometimes with his disciples, and let them in on it when they are alone with him later. In fact there is no record of the subject coming up again. It is only, John tells us having pondered over it for years, after he has died and been raised from the dead that the disciples remember this event. Oh my goodness, that is what he was talking about when he said that thing about rebuilding the temple in three days!

But there is a significant principle behind all this. It is the one that Paul spelled out: “ We live by faith, not by sight.” (2 Cor 5:7) Sometimes we wish we could understand everything in the Bible – right here and now! Sometimes we wish we could understand everything that is going on in our lives – right here and now! Sometimes we wish we could see the path ahead and know where it is taking is – right here and now! But the truth is that in all three instances we are not given those insights.

Quite often, I have found, I've come across a passage of scripture that seems strange and whose meaning eludes me. It is only later – sometimes a long time later – that the meaning shines through. There are times when I have wondered whatever is going on in my life or the life of others around me, and yet it all remains unclear. It is only later – sometimes a long time later – that understanding comes. In fact I have found that more often than not I understand what went on in retrospect. I had to wait years to be able to look back with understanding – just like the disciples here. And as for understanding the future? Someone recently said to me, “Who knows what will be happening in five years time.” It wasn't a question but a statement of understanding. So often we can't guess what the years ahead will bring, but we have the comfort that the Lord knows. Trust that.

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Short Meditations in John 2: 19. Initial Belief

Jn 2:23 Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name

If we are honest, this is one of those annoying verses that leave us wondering. What miraculous signs? Isn't it interesting; as John looks back and reflects on all that happened at that time the thing that stuck in his mind was the fact that at that point a lot of people were believing in Jesus simply because of the things he did there. What those things were, weren't the big issue for John. Jesus had done so many in the overall picture of his three years of ministry, that a few here in Jerusalem didn't feature big. In fact when you look at John's Gospel he only speaks of the miracles that he considered were ones that acted as signs for those who really wanted to know about Jesus.

The fact that Jesus had performed miraculous signs there in Jerusalem didn't fit in with John's intent, to only pick out a limited number of things that unequivocally pointed to Jesus being the Son of God. These things that Jesus did in Jerusalem at this time certainly pointed him out as someone special and for the moment many people followed him. But John's design is to only record certain things that stood out to him that he could use to point out to the wider world in the centuries to come that would speak volumes about Jesus.

We have already noted, “ This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee .” (2:11) A little later, back in Cana again after healing an official's son, John records, “This was the second miraculous sign that Jesus performed, having come from Judea to Galilee.” (4:54) Whether that was the second sign up there in Cana in Galilee or simply the second that John wants to use to show who Jesus was, is unclear. After the first one we read, “He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.” (2:11) and after the second one, “ So he and all his household believed.” (4:53)

After these things that happened in Jerusalem (whatever they were), “many….. believed in his name.” So belief was the end product of each of these signs, whether the specific ones used by John, or the general ones he simply mentions in passing. The difference between these general ones and the specific ones, seems to be these create belief in large numbers of people and crowds start acting over-emotionally. Later on a crowd would start suggesting they make him their king. Stirring up ‘group belief' was not Jesus' intention; in fact it could act counter to his final plan to be rejected.

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Short Meditations in John 2: 20. Careful Restraint

Jn 2:24,25   But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. He did not need man's testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man.

It is a mistake to take people's enthusiasm over you or over something you have said or done. That is not a cynical comment; it is a warning based on the truth. A person's enthusiasm today can turn to scorn, criticism or even hostility on another day. Our emotions fly with the events or circumstances that face us and because they change, we change.

Now Jesus knew this, Jesus understood us and knows what we are like. So Jesus knew that this crowd of people in Jerusalem were responding in a surface way to what were in some ways surface miracles. Yes, they were the simple (and wonderful) expressions of the Son of God, and as such they had the power to stir people's admiration, yet there is a great deal of difference between someone saying, “ we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." (Jn 3:2) and, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." (Mt 16:16) One are words of admiration and the other is a declaration of commitment to an amazing belief and thus a commitment to Jesus himself (even if Peter did at one point deny Jesus).

Jesus does not look for temporary admiration for the miracle he performs, but looks for permanent heart-change commitment to himself that comes out of understanding who he is. One is response to a miracle (and event) and the other is a commitment to a man (Jesus himself) and there is an amazing difference. Indeed we should be aware of this when people make a declaration of faith based on one good thing God has done for them. Salvation does not come in response to a single good thing received but in response to a deep conviction, a conviction of need and a conviction that Jesus alone is the answer to that need.

Jesus' parable of the Sower (Mt 13:3-) shows us that there are many and varied responses to Jesus' words. Some reject them from hardness of heart, some receive them but soon fall away, some receive them gladly but under the pressures of life soon fall away, while others receive them and they go deep in them and it brings total change and fruitfulness. No, miracles in themselves don't bring salvation, but they can act as signs to point people to a place of eventual total commitment – that is when they have open hearts. Hallelujah!