John 2 - NIV Grace and Truth Study Bible

2:1–3 Chapter 2 begins a section of this Gospel that goes through John 4:54. The opening story takes place in Cana, where Jesus performed his first sign (2:1,11), and the final story in this section takes place in Cana (4:46), where Jesus performed a second sign (4:54). These are the only two signs in John’s Gospel that are numbered. It is evident Jesus performed other miracles between these two events, but John does not describe them (2:23–25; 3:1–2). The opening chapter in this larger section contains two major events: Jesus turning water into wine (2:1–12) and Jesus clearing the temple (2:13–22).

Jesus began his public ministry at a wedding. Weddings were important community events in the lives of first-century Jewish people. In Isaiah, the Messianic age is described as a wedding (Isa 54:4–8; 62:4–5). Jesus used the same imagery when he referred to himself as the bridegroom (Mk 2:19–20). The Messianic age was to be characterized by abundant wine as well (Jer 31:12; Hos 14:7; Am 9:13–14). This sign (miracle) announced the arrival of God’s kingdom. The wedding took place a few days after Jesus’ conversation with Nathanael (“the third day,” Jn 2:1). Running out of wine was more than a minor social embarrassment since the family had an obligation to provide for their guests. At a deeper level, the lack of wine may also refer to the spiritual emptiness of first-century Judaism. Mary’s involvement implies she had some sort of role at the wedding (v. 3).

2:4–5 Jesus’ response to his mother appears impolite; however, it was not to be taken as an insult; the Greek word for “woman” does not imply disrespect. The wording instead suggests a change in the relationship as Jesus began his Messianic ministry. Mary is not referred to by name in this Gospel but is called simply Jesus’ “mother.” It is not likely that Mary expected Jesus to perform a miracle since this was his first one. She knew him to be a resourceful person, and if anyone could help, he could. Jesus’ comment that his “hour” had not yet arrived (v. 4) is important. Jesus’ “hour” refers to the events associated with his death. The cross was the culmination of God’s redemptive plan. Mary told the servants to do whatever Jesus said—still good instruction for today!

2:6–8 The water jars were for the Jewish ritual of ceremonial purification. People often became ceremonially unclean by coming into contact with impure items or people. Before eating, they poured water over their hands to cleanse themselves from whatever may have defiled them. The six stone jars were capable of holding 20–30 gallons each. Jesus commanded the servants to fill them to the top and then take some to the master of the banquet. The fact that they were filled to the brim suggests the profusion of Jesus’ Messianic provision. The miracle is described without elaborate details.

2:9–12 The master of the banquet was surprised that the best wine was not served first (when people’s taste buds would be more discriminating) and the cheaper wine served last. The concluding comment says that Jesus’ disciples saw his glory and believed in him. The term “signs” (v. 11) emphasizes the significance of the action rather than the miracle itself. Jesus’ signs were not mere displays of supernatural power but conveyed spiritual truth. John describes seven signs in Jesus’ public ministry (2:1—12:50). The first sign was changing water into wine (2:1,11); the second sign was healing the ruler’s son (4:54); the third was healing a disabled man (6:2); the fourth was feeding over 5,000 people (6:14); the fifth was walking on water (6:19); the sixth was healing a man born blind (9:16); the seventh was raising Lazarus from the dead (11:44).

While the servants were aware of the transformation of the water to wine, only the disciples believed and saw Jesus’ glory (2:11). The passage concludes with a reference to Jesus, his disciples, and his family going down to Capernaum (v. 12). Capernaum was approximately 16 miles northeast of Cana on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Capernaum became Jesus’ base of operation for his Galilean ministry.

2:13–17 Jesus went up to Jerusalem near the time of the Passover. Travelers went “up” to Jerusalem because of its elevation. This is the first of three Passovers mentioned in John’s Gospel. The Passover Festival was one of three annual pilgrimage festivals (Dt 16:16). Passover commemorated the deliverance of the Jewish people from Egypt and was celebrated in the early spring (March–April). The Passover was a weeklong festival. The Passover was one day and then the Festival of Unleavened Bread lasted the rest of the week. John mentions other Jewish festivals as well: an unnamed festival (5:1), the Festival of Tabernacles (7:2), and the Festival of Dedication, or Hanukkah (10:22).

Jesus entered the temple. The Jewish temple was the location of Israel’s sacrificial system. Solomon had built the first temple on this same site almost 1,000 years earlier, but it was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC (2Ki 25). The temple at this time (the second temple) was built in 516 BC. Herod the Great began enlarging and renovating it in 20 BC, and the process was still ongoing at the time of Jesus. John’s reference to the temple courts refers to the area surrounding the temple proper. Buying and selling took place in the court of the Gentiles. Jesus was outraged that God’s temple had become a marketplace. The temple tax was to be paid in local currency, so foreigners had to have their money changed. The money changers often charged exorbitant exchange rates. The people were required to make a sacrificial offering as well. Since many of the pilgrims came from great distances, they could not bring their own animals, which meant that animal merchants had a flourishing business in the temple courtyard. The price of the sacrificial animals sold in the courtyard was much higher than elsewhere. Only later did the disciples understand the significance of the event. Jesus’ life was fueled by zeal for his Father’s honor. Psalm 69:9 describes how David’s zeal for God’s house caused him problems with his enemies; one greater than David experienced the same response.

2:18–22 The Jews demanded that Jesus perform a sign to demonstrate his authority to clear the temple. His answer is ironic in that the Jews themselves would be the means of bringing about this sign. Jesus said not that he would destroy the temple but that they would destroy it and he would raise it. They understood him to be speaking about the literal temple. John clarifies for his readers that Jesus was speaking about his own body. After Jesus’ resurrection the disciples remembered his words (v. 22). In the past, God had manifested his presence and glory in the Jerusalem temple, but now it was (and is) manifested in the person of his Son.

2:23–25 Jerusalem’s response to Jesus was unacceptable. Jesus did not entrust himself to the people there, because he knew they did not have genuine faith. A person’s name in ancient times summed up the whole person. The fact that they believed in his name means they believed in him. But Jesus knew they did not have genuine faith; he knew what no ordinary human being could have possibly known.