Jesus is just getting started in his earthly ministry. He will preaching, teaching, exhorting, and healing people for about three and a half years.
The Bible takes note of the first miracle that Jesus ever performed.
John 2:1-2- And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.
Jesus and his disciples went to a marriage in one of the cities of Galilee. Perhaps it was a close friend of the family, since his mother was also there.
The Bible tells us that it was the third day. I could mean that the marriage was on the third day of the week, or maybe it was the third day after Jesus returned from the temptations by the devil.
The Bible uses certain words for a reason. The third day is significant, because there will be two thousand years between the time of Christ's earthly ministry and the tribulation on earth. During the tribulation, beginning the third thousandth year, there will be something called the Marriage Supper of the Lamb in heaven. All those who are saved will be called to this marriage!
John 2:3- And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.
During this wedding, they ran out of grape juice. The Bible often refers to grape juice as wine, or new wine. Remember that Jesus came to fulfill the law, not break it, so He would not be drinking fermented wine.
John 2:4-5- Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.
Mary wanted Jesus to help out with the problem of having no more grape juice. But, Jesus knew that it really wasn't time for Him to be openly showing Himself as the Messiah.
Mary then tells the servants who were serving the food and drink to do whatever Jesus told them to do. That's important! If Mary had any powers she would have been able to take care of the problem herself. But, Mary was a regular, sinful human being. She was chosen by God to be the vessel to bring the Messiah into the world because she was of the descendants of King David, and because she was trying to do right and obey the law- not because she was perfect or holy.
John 2:6-7- And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.
Jesus told the servants to take the waterpots that were usually set out for people to wash their faces and hands in and to fill them with water. The servants were told to obey whatever Jesus said and so they filled them with water.
John 2:8- And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.
I'm sure this struck them as odd. They had just filled these waterpots with water, and now Jesus was telling them to take some out and bring it to the most noble man at the wedding!
I'm sure they were nervous as one of the servants brought a cup of what he knew to be water to the nobleman.
John 2:9- When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,
Their worry must have turned into fear when they heard the nobleman call for the bridegroom! Perhaps they thought that the governor was going to complain that the servants had given him water instead of grape juice!
But, we never need to fear when we obey what Jesus tells us to do!
John 2:10- And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.
The governor was praising the bridegroom for his tact. Most people wait until the guests are full and don't really care how the food and drink taste, then they bring out the not-so-good stuff. But, the nobleman was surprised when this was the best tasting grape juice!
Imagine the relief the servants must have felt!
John 2:11- This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
Jesus' disciples were going to witness many miracles performed by the Messiah. This was just the first. Each miracle was going to cement in their hearts and minds that Jesus was truly the Son of God.
John 2:12- After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days.
After the wedding ,Jesus went with His family and His disciples to Capernaum. He stayed there for a few days.
Then, He took His disciples and went to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover like He did every year.
John 2:13-16- And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.
When Jesus walked into the temple He got angry! He looked around at what should have been a holy place to worship the Lord God Almighty and saw people selling sheep and cattle and birds. There was probably animal poop everywhere, along with hay and bird seed for the animals to eat. Then He saw others sitting at a table with money which they had gotten from selling these animals to the visitors.
When God told the Jews back in the Old Testament to sacrifice an animal for their sin, it was to be an animal that they had raised. It was suppose to be something that they took care of, and something that they would be sad to lose. It was to remind them that sin had a cost!
But, here people were buying animals and sacrificing them without getting the full feeling of how bad their sin was!
Jesus sat down and began to braid a whip out of cords of material. Maybe He was praying that God would help Him, or perhaps He was just looking around and taking it all in.
When He finally stood up and began to drive out the sellers and the merchandise, He had tempered His emotions. He was not doing this out of sheer anger. He was doing this as a righteous man who was grieved by the wickedness He saw around Him.
Ephesians 4:26- Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath
It is not a sin to get angry. It's a sin to allow anger to consume you. If you get angry at evil doers, or at the wickedness that is happening around you it is not a sin. But, if you dwell on how angry it makes you, and don't let it go and give it over to God, then it is a sin.
Remember, Jesus came to fulfill the law, not break it. He didn't sin.
John 2:17- And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.
The disciples were going to learn a lot about Jesus. And, by learning about Jesus and remembering what the Old Testament had to say, they were going to learn a lot about the Lord God Almighty.
John 2:18-19- Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
Now, remember that the Jews always ask for a sign. Jesus just threw everyone and everything that shouldn't be there out of the temple. They wanted to know what sign He would show to prove that He was a prophet.
Jesus told them that if they destroyed this temple He would raise it up in three days. The Jews being human beings thought He was talking about the building.
John 2:20-21- Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body.
I Corinthians 6:19- What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
Jesus was talking about His body, not a building. Our bodies can be considered a type of temple. The temple is where the Spirit of the Lord God Almighty dwelt. When we get saved the Holy Spirit comes to live inside of us, and so our bodies become the temple of the Holy Ghost.
John 2:22- When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.
Later, after Jesus would die and rise again, the disciples would remember that He had said this. And, this would help them to realize the Jesus was not only the Messiah, but He was the Son of God who could know the future.
John 2:23-25- Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.
On the day when they were to eat the passover lamb, Jesus did many miracles which helped people to believe that He was the Messiah. But, Jesus knew that they would try to force Him to become their king and that would start a war with the Roman Empire.
Jesus wasn't here to start a war! He was here to bring God's plan of salvation to pass. So, He left Jerusalem before anyone could try to start a revolt.
Mark 1:35-38- And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. And Simon and they that were with him followed after him. And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee. And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.
Jesus knew how important it was to keep the communication between Himself and the Lord God Almighty open. Sometimes we need to leave all the hustle and bustle of life and find a quiet spot to read the Scriptures and pray. It's easier to hear God's voice when there aren't so many distractions around.
Jesus went out alone to pray. And, His disciples came looking for Him. They told Him that people were trying to find Him.
Jesus said they were going to leave Jerusalem and go to another city. In fact, they were going to travel to many cities in Israel. Jesus was sent to preach to as many people as He could!
Luke 4:42- And when it was day, he departed and went into a desert place: and the people sought him, and came unto him, and stayed him, that he should not depart from them.
When the people finally found Him in the quiet prayer place, they wanted Him to stay in their town. But, Jesus told them that He was sent to all Israel, not just their town.
Jesus was going to travel a lot during His three and a half year ministry!
Luke 4:43- And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.
