John 2:1-11

Jesus turns water into wine.

His second miracle!? (Ha, ha. For those of you who remember the sermon a few weeks ago, his first miracle was getting three wise men to ask for directions.)

I've wondered forever why Jesus did this miracle first — a wedding, water into wine. Then it hit me, and what hit me was what the emcee at the wedding says after tasting the new wine. Usually the host serves the best wine first, then, when everyone is full and doesn't care he brings out the less expensive wines. But you have kept the best until now. Why is this so significant? think about the setting and how Jesus likens the church to his bride. Then, think about the new wine. To me, it says — and this is just my opinion — that Jesus set the table for his entire ministry. The new wine and the new life is better than the old wine and the old life. So, life with Jesus is better than the life of the old ways.

What do you think?

John 2:12

Jesus chills in Capernaum with friends.

Why is this important?

Two things: Jesus often chills out after doing something extraordinary. Do I even chill out after my mundane lifestyle? I have never performed miracles, and I don't expect to, but I have done some pretty cool things that required all of my strength and attention for long periods of time, and I never chilled out after doing them at all. Does this speak to the idea effectiveness? Did Jesus teach us something about the course of life, and how to be effective?

The second thing I wonder is if Jesus knew what was coming next?

John 2:13-17

Jesus cleans his father's temple form the cheats.

He takes time to make a whip. I wonder, was he collecting himself? (Love is patient?) Then, he proceeds to clean house. Notice that Jesus does not chase them down the street. (Love is kind?) Jesus shows anger, yet does not sin.

I'm not sure if I'll ever be able to do that. I try, but it's tough. I heard that America is the angriest nation, and I'm sure I add to that noise.

Any thoughts?

John 2:18-22

Jesus talks about his death and resurrection when he says, Destroy this temple and in three days I'll rebuild it. Jesus knew his future and he embraced it. He did not ignore it. My thoughts are that it must be tough knowing that you are going to die, and knowing that no one truly understands the significance of it. He gives clue after clue, and no one gets it. Jesus was the Messiah, and he would die, conquer death and ascend into heaven. He tells us this early in his ministry. If the disciples had gotten it earlier, would things have been different?

John 2:25

The most intriguing scripture I've read in a long time.

No one needed to tell him about human nature.

Jesus gets it. He understands. He created us with this nature and yet he tells us, he gets it. Is this why he took time to make a whip? Was he feeling some kind of tension to really clean house, the street, the city and everyone, everywhere? I mean, he's God, and he could have done so, and been right by doing it. But, he took the time.

Maybe it was more than what was written?


Prayer: Jesus, thank you that you show us how to live, how to party and chill, and to be angry, yet not sin. Thank you that even though you knew your future, you went through with it. Thank you for getting it. Thank you for understanding what it's like to be human. You have our nature, even for ignorance, impatience, lack of control. Thanks God, your words are amazing. They keep showing us your ways and causing conversations like this one to start.