The Wedding at Cana
2-8 On the third day, at a wedding in Cana that Jesus, his mother, and his disciples were attending, Jesus’ mother persuades him, though his “hour has not yet come,” to help when they run out of wine. He asks for six 20-30 gallon stone jars full of water, then tells the servants to take them to the chief steward.
9-11 When the steward tastes it, he tells the bridegroom how uncommon it is that he has saved the best wine until last. This is the first of Jesus’ signs. It’s not enough for Jesus to perform a miracle here; it’s a miracle of excellence.
12 He leaves with his mother, brothers and disciples and goes to Capernaum to stay a few days. I had not noticed the time frames mentioned so consistently in John before. If I’m not mistaken, the incident in Cana is five days after John the Baptist identified Jesus as the Lamb of God.
Jesus Cleanses the Temple
13-16 Close to the time of Passover, Jesus finds sellers of livestock and money changers at the temple and drives them out with a whip of cords, dumping all their money, and telling them his Father’s house is not a marketplace.
17-22 His disciples remember the prophecy “Zeal for your house will consume me” (Psalm 69:9). The Jews ask Jesus for his authority to do this, and he answers with a cryptic prophecy of his death and resurrection, which they think refers to the temple. His disciples understand the connection after the resurrection. Here is both a prophecy and the fulfillment of a prophecy.
23-25 At the Passover in Jerusalem, many believe in him because of his signs, but he does not reveal himself, but he doesn’t need their testimony, knowing “what was in everyone.” When Jesus met his first apostles, he knew their hearts. He chose not to reveal himself to those whose faith he perceived to be untrustworthy over a period of time. (Which seems to suggest that he would also have known the heart of Judas Iscariot when he chose him.)
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