[:en]SCRIPTURE: JOHN 2
Bible Verse:
“Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” (John 2:7-8)
“When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 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. To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” (John 2:13-16)
“ Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” (John 2:19)
JESUS CHANGE WATER TO WINE (vs. 1-11)
Jesus with his mother and his disciples were invited to a wedding event. It was a weekly festival where people came to celebrate the new life of the married couple. So, careful planning was needed. During the banquet, they ran out of wine, which was very embarrassing because that would break the written law of hospitality. Mary sought Jesus for help but Jesus had his own timing and Mary submitted to his decision. Jesus told the servants to fill the jars with water and take it to the master of the banquet. The wine turned out to be the best. That was the first miracle Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee.
JESUS CLEAR THE TEMPLE (vs. 12-25)
Jesus went to Jerusalem to attend the passover celebration. When he reached there, he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves and others exchanging money. They were a mockery of God’s house of worship. So Jesus was consumed with righteous anger. He made a whip and drove the money changers out.
When the Jews demanded Jesus to prove his authority, he answered: “Destroy this temple and I will rise it again in three days (v. 19). The Jews could not believe that Jesus could torn down the temple and rebuild it in 3 days because what he meant by “temple” is his body. His disciples understood it only after his resurrection.
LIFE APPLICATION:
- The reply of Jesus to his mother may seem difficult to understand but it teaches us to follow God’s time, not ours.
- Mary submitted to Jesus’ way of doing things. We should also submit and allow Jesus to deal with the problem.
- Jesus changed the water into best wine. We should also allow God to change us to a better person.
- The religious leaders misused the temple by turning it into the market place instead of being a house of worship. We must not use the church as a place for personal contacts or business advantages. Make sure you attend church to worship Him.
- Jesus’ anger was ignited due to righteousness. It is right to be angry about injustice and sin, but it is wrong to be angry over trivial personal offenses. So we must careful in anger.
- Jesus had God’s authority to use whip in chasing out the money changers. This does not mean that we can use violence against wrongdoers. God had given authority to certain people. Police officer has the authority to use weapon to restrain people. Judges have the authority to imprison the guilty. So we should never try to claim authority which is not given to us.
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