[:en]Jesus Changes Water (vs. 1-11)
Wedding in Jesus’ day were celebrated with a week-long festivals where banquets were prepared for many guests. Often the whole town was invited and everybody would come because it was considered an insult to refuse an invitation to a wedding. Careful planning was needed to accommodate many people. It was an embarrassment for the married couple if they run out of wine because it broke the unwritten law of hospitality.
Jesus’ mission was to save the world. He came to be with people so he attended the wedding and took part in its festivities. We should also take time out from our “Important” work for social occasions because joyous time of celebration with others maybe part of our mission to let people know Jesus. Bring balance to your life by bringing Jesus into times of pleasure as well as times of work.
During the wedding celebration, the wine was gone. Mary, the mother of Jesus told Jesus: “They have no more wine” (v. 3). Jesus replied to her: Dear woman, why do you involve me? My time has not yet come” (v. 4) His response was difficult to understand yet Mary trusted Him when she said to the servants: “Do whatever He tells you” (v. 5)
When we bring problem to Christ, we may have our own idea of how He can do it for us. But God has a completely different plan. We should submit and allow Him to do whatever He wants to solve the problem.
The stone water jars were used by the Jews for ceremonial washing which hold from 20 to 30 gallon (v. 6). According to the Jew’s ceremonial law, people became symbolically unclean by touching objects of everyday life. Before eating, the Jews would pour water on their hands to cleanse themselves of anything that they had touched.
Jesus told the servants to fill the jars with water. Then he told them to draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet. The master of the banquet tasted the wine and it had turned into the best wine. When the disciples saw Jesus’ miracle, they believed His power.
Jesus Clears the Temple (vs. 12-23)
Jesus with his mother and brother and His disciples went down to Capernaum. the hometown of His ministry in Galilee. When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went to Jerusalem.
In the temple, he found men selling animals and exchanging money. People bought animals to make sacrifice to sin and the merchants charged them high price. Foreigners had to exchange their foreign currency to local currency and the money changers charge exorbitant exchange rates. Jesus was angry at the dishonest and greedy practices. He was furious because they exploited those who came to His house to worship. They had make the temple grounds a mockery of God’s house of worship. He made a whip out of cords and drove all from the temple area. He scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables (vs. 15).
Anger can be classified into uncontrolled rage or righteous indignation. To Jesus, the evil acts in the temple was an insult against God. He was aroused with righteous anger against disrespect for God.
Our attitude toward the church is wrong if we see it as a place for personal contacts or business advantage. When we go to church, our main purpose is to worship God.
“Destroy the temple, and I will raise it again in 3 days” (v. 19). The temple that Jesus was referring to was about His body. After He was raised from the dead, His disciples recalled what He had said and believed the Scriptures. Jesus knew all about human nature. He was discerning and He would not entrust Himself to people.
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