John 2

As part of my homework this past week, a chapter of John had been given for each day.  That's pretty interesting because that's where I'm at in my own readings.  In any case, looking back at my homework and looking over John 2, we see two main stories.  First, we read about the first sign that Jesus performs, which is turning water into wine.  The second is of Jesus cleansing the temple.  Thinking about these two I ask, how do these stories fit with the main purpose of this book?  As a reminder, we look ahead to chapter 20.

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

John 20:30-31

So, how does John chapter 2 fit in with this purpose?  How do these two stories help the reader to "believe that Jesus is the Christ"?  Well, the first is a sign and at first it may not seem that relevant.  All he does is change water into wine.  Yes, this is a miracle and it's not something I can do like Jesus.  However, what does this have to do with believing in Jesus?  He turned water into wine.  If that's all there is to it, how is he any different from some magician you might find performing at a birthday party or in Las Vegas?  Well, this is a sign and it points to Jesus.  The wine helped save face for the bridegroom and it was the best wine so far.  The custom was to serve the good wine first, but then to serve the lesser wine later.  However, the surprise was that the good wine was saved until now.  Like the wine, Jesus is the best that has been saved until now.  He is the greater wine.  I don't know if that makes any sense, but it is a sign pointing to himself.  Sure, he did something miraculous and that does point to belief in Jesus.  But Jesus did many signs and how is this one different?  He is the greater wine that has been saved until now.

What about the cleansing of the temple?  Jesus had zeal for the temple and spoke about destroying the temple and raising it in three days.  He was obviously speaking about his body and it is a reference to his dying and resurrection.  Jesus referring to this beforehand is something that even the disciples remember.  Jesus' foreshadowing helps point his disciples towards belief in him.  Not only that, but Jesus is referring to and talking about the temple.  This holy place of worship was a big deal for the Jews.  And Jesus and the temple of his body and the destroying and raising up of it is greater than the temple building that the Jews were concerned about and that the Jews had "destroyed" by making it into a house of trade.  Jesus is the greater temple.

Jesus is the greater wine and Jesus is the greater temple.  Wine may not be anything special and we may not understand the significance of the temple nowadays in our western culture.  However, Jesus in these illustrations and stories that we read is shown to be something greater than the shadow of these things.  He really is something else and he is someone we are to believe in.  And by believing, we may have life in his name.