A Johaninne Study (John 2:13-17)

13 The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. 15 And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. 16 And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.” 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

When we get angry, it is often very ugly. Anger causes us to do and say things that we normally wouldn’t. In fact, some of our harshest words materialize only in the midst of it. Anger trashes social etiquette in favour of our personal offence. Even the closest loved one is not outside the scope of our anger. They may even be the most regular subject of our wrath. The problem with anger is that it controls us so thoroughly. Before we even realize it, anger disarms our conscious restraints and replaces it with a maelstrom of hate and ill-intent. If there is such a thing as righteous anger, it is few and far between.

Though there is no mention of Jesus being angry, he acts in a way that seems like he is. First, he fashions a whip. Perhaps, if you are a passivist or get offended by the term corporal punishment, then this might be shocking to you. How could Jesus condone physical harm, or even the threat of it? But we read here that he made a whip to essentially spank the merchants out of the temple! Then he takes takes money and pours it out. How rude would it be if some stranger came up to you, took your wallet or purse, and proceeded to throw all your credit cards, cash and other precious items on the ground? Apparently, Jesus did just that!

Now, as improbable as it might be, it is possible for someone to be very calm and violent at the same time. That, however, doesn’t seem to be the case here. When Jesus acted as violently as he did, the disciples were reminded of Psalm 69:9, “For zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.” Zeal does not make one disinterested and aloof. Here, Jesus is vehemently passionate about his Father’s house. He would rather die or, as it says in John, be consumed than have anyone offend his Father.

Ultimately, Jesus does get consumed. He goes to the cross to die. But instead of condemning those that offend his Father, he saves them. It is the most amazing act of grace.

Jesus was zealous for God. And now, because of grace, we can be zealous too! We have every reason to be enthusiastic about receiving mercy instead of condemnation.The temple has been opened to us. We are free to live with him who saved us. The question is, Christian, who are you zealous for?

A Johaninne Study (John 2:6-12)

6 Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. 9 When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” 11 This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him. 12 After this he went down to Capernaum, with his mother and his brothers and his disciples, and they stayed there for a few days.

When marketing a film, one of the most effective ways to draw an audience is to release a movie trailer. People are intrigued when they watch a trailer that foreshadows an exciting story. Some movies produce trailers that show incomplete action sequences to make you want to watch the whole movie. The result is a hunger for more. How does the movie end? We are enthralled, turned into fanboys and fangirls.

Now why did Jesus choose to turn water to wine as the first sign of his ministry? One would think that God could fashion a much grander miracle to inaugurate the story of the gospel. Perhaps, a movie trailer of sorts that could wow the audience. Surely people would have been significantly more amazed if Jesus caused it to rain wine! But Jesus does not seize this opportunity to reveal the full extent of his wonders. In fact, he covertly performs the miracle without revealing to the wedding party and guests that it was him who did it.

John, the writer of this gospel, is certainly giving an account of the events that unfold in Jesus’ life. But he is also writing a message to us, the readers. The first miracle is not the main point. Turning water to wine is not comparatively significant in light of wonder of the cross. That’s what Jesus subtly refers to when he says in verse four, “My hour has not yet come.”

This does not mean there is nothing to learn from this story. It is pretty evident that when Jesus does something gracious, he does it generously, “Jesus said to the servants, ‘Fill the jars with water.”’And they filled them up to the brim” (verse 7). Jesus provides plentifully.

Secondly, it is evident that Jesus’ gracious provision does not lack in quality, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now”(verse 10). Jesus provides with excellence.

If this is just a glimpse into God’s grace as plentiful and excellent, then it would not be hard to consider a greater gift of grace being even more satisfying and exceptional. The cross is not equatable with the grace that is displayed in the provision of wine. The cross, then, is not subpar. The truth is that Jesus is the better and greater bridegroom, who does not just provide the wine for a wedding celebration, but his blood for the salvation of our souls. Thanks be to God!