Bible Reading
John 2:1–251. On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.
[45:37]2. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples.
[45:43]3. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.”
[46:53]4. And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.”
[47:03]5. His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
[48:43]6. Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons.
[48:51]7. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim.
[49:01]8. And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it.
[49:13]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
[49:21]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.”
[49:29]11. This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.
[49:46]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.
13. The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
[50:49]14. In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there.
[50:53]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.
[51:01]16. And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.”
[51:13]17. His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”
[51:23]18. So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?”
[51:29]19. Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
[51:35]20. The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?”
[51:42]21. But he was speaking about the temple of his body.
[51:50]22. When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.
[51:54]23. Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing.
[52:03]24. But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people
[52:11]25. and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.
[52:21]Observation questions
- What details does John include about the jars Jesus used at Cana, and what was their usual purpose? [59:36]
- What commands do Mary and Jesus give to the servants, and how do the servants respond?
- What specific activities had filled the temple courts when Jesus arrived, and what did Jesus physically do in response? [01:04:18]
- What contrast does John show between the disciples’ belief after the Cana sign (v. 11) and the crowd’s belief at Passover (vv. 23–25)? [01:09:08]
Interpretation questions
- John calls the water-to-wine miracle a “sign.” What does the connection between ceremonial-cleansing jars and abundant new wine reveal about what Jesus came to do? [01:00:33]
- Jesus says, “My hour has not yet come,” and later speaks of raising the temple in three days. How do these statements point beyond the immediate events to Jesus’ death and resurrection? [01:02:55]
- Why is Jesus’ cleansing of the temple more than anger at dishonest business practices? What does it mean that Jesus himself is the true temple—the meeting place between God and people? [01:05:14]
- Many people believed because of signs, yet Jesus did not entrust himself to them. What signs in a person’s life may show the difference between crowd-driven interest in Jesus and genuine faith in him? [01:09:43]
Application questions
- Mary’s response was, “Do whatever he tells you,” even without a full explanation. Is there an area of life where Jesus’ direction is clear but obedience feels inconvenient, uncertain, or costly? What would a faithful next step look like? [01:01:21]
- Jesus does not merely supply what is lacking at Cana; he transforms water into wine and transforms sinners by grace. Where do you most need Christ to bring inner transformation rather than simply improve your circumstances? [01:01:06]
- The temple had become full of distractions and barriers to worship. What commonly competes for your attention before or during worship—busyness, your phone, worry, routine, resentment, or something else? How could you prepare your heart differently this week? [01:06:19]
- Familiar religious practices can become routines that are done without awe, surrender, or love. In what ways might prayer, singing, giving, serving, or gathering with the church become “going through the motions” for you? [01:07:29]
- Jesus knows what is in every person, including hidden motives, divided loyalties, and willful disobedience. What “table” in your soul may need Jesus to overturn—pride, control, distraction, secret sin, love of money, or a refusal to forgive? [01:13:06]
- Genuine belief presses toward Jesus when his words or ways are hard to understand. When have unmet expectations or confusion made you tempted to pull away from him? What could it look like to keep trusting and seeking him instead? [01:10:44]
- Christ’s sacrifice invites his people away from the money tables and back to the foot of the cross. Is there a relationship that needs mending, a sin that needs confession, or an act of obedience that would help you respond honestly to Christ’s mercy this week? [01:18:24]
