
ADULT STS LESSON 130 CHRIST’S FIRST MIRACLE AND CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE
MEMORY VERSE: “This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him” (John 2:11).
TEXT: John 2:1-25
Two days after His encounter with Nathanael, Jesus received and honoured an invitation to be guest at the marriage in Cana of Galilee. His manifest presence and power at the occasion, recorded only in the gospel according to John, was an attestation to the divine institution of marriage designed to achieve partnership, purity, procreation, provision, protection and preservation of posterity. Marriage, the union between a man and a woman, was God’s creation right from the beginning (Genesis 2:18).
The Scripture affirms that “Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD” (Proverbs 18:22). This favour came the way of the couple Jesus attended their marriage in Cana of Galilee where He performed His first miracle. Miracles are primarily designed by God as sacred seals of the teaching and preaching of His word. In the text, Christ also cleansed the temple in Jerusalem and gave a sign that confounded insincere sign-seekers.
CHRIST’S FIRST MIRACLE AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE (John 2:1-11; Genesis 2:18-24; Matthew 19:4-6; 6:11; John 14:13, 14; 16:24; Isaiah 44:3; 55:1; Matthew 5:6; John 7:37; Revelation 7:16; 22:7)
The first miracle, which Jesus wrought during His earthly ministry was that of turning water into wine at a marriage in Cana of Galilee. “And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage” (John 2:2). The effort of the couple to invite Jesus to their marriage ceremony was a step in the right direction and a lesson, not only for the celebrants who tasted the miracle of “good wine” but also for believers who intend to marry. Marriage relationship will only be beautiful, enjoyable, glorious and fulfilling if Christ is made Guest and exalted as Lord in it.
It is important for intending couples to keep themselves chaste, virtuous and pure as the Lord would not honour an invitation to a marriage ceremony that is founded on immoral practice (Habakkuk 1:13). While it is fanatical to claim to be too spiritual to attend marriage ceremonies of other believers, it is carnal to be so pre-occupied with the issues of marriage to the extent of losing consciousness of the imminent return of the Lord. The presence and participation of Jesus at this marriage teaches us to have proper social interaction with others.
However, the vicissitudes of life reveal the inadequacy of humans to meet all their needs. Here, the wine finished! But with faith in the divinity of Christ, Mary – Jesus’ mother – made a supplication to Him on behalf of the couple. To Mary’s request, Christ replied, “Woman, what have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not yet come”. The response of Jesus reveals that there is a set time for everything. Mary then turned to the servants and said, “Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it”.
Her instruction revealed to the servants the sovereignty and lordship of Christ in whom alone people should put their faith for desired miracles. This also happened in the case of the centurion whose servant was healed by Christ. Prior to that, he told the Lord, “…speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed” (Matthew 8:8). Jesus instructed the servants to fill six pots with water. “And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it” (John 2:8). Behold, they drew out good wine, better than what had been served in the beginning. This was a living, undeniable miracle. Even the governor of the feast testified to the groom whom he thought had kept the good wine on purpose till that time (John 2:10).
Christ’s power over nature is irresistible and excellent (Matthew 8:26; 14:20,25; 17:27; 21:19; Mark 4:39; Psalms 65:7; 89:9; 107:29; Jonah 1:15). If Christ has power to turn water into wine, He can turn curse into blessing and a stony heart into a heart of flesh. Jesus did not turn water into intoxicating wine for people to drink and continue in sin. Some people erroneously misinterpret “wine” in our text to be alcohol. It needs be clarified that there are two types of wine produced from grapefruit or pomegranate in the Middle East, namely, unfermented wine and fermented wine. The unfermented wine is non-alcoholic fruit juice. This is nutritious food used as beverage at festivals (John 2:3), drink-offerings in the temple (Exodus 20:26; Numbers 15:4-10), part of the “first-fruits” (Deuteronomy 18:4), celebration of the Passover, and by extension, the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 26:27-29).
Intake of fermented, alcoholic wine that intoxicates is unarguably sinful as it results in degrading behaviours (Genesis 9:20; 19:3136; 1 Samuel 25:36,37; 2 Samuel 13:28; 1 Kings 20:12-21; Esther 1:10,11; Daniel 5:23; Revelation 17:2). Misery, woes, errors, folly and wickedness are words that describe those who take alcoholic wine (Proverbs 23:29-35; Isaiah 5:22; 28:1-7; 5:11,12; 56:12; Hosea 4:11; Joel 3:3; Amos 6:6). And these are not the descriptive qualities of the redeemed children of God. God forbids His children from taking it (Leviticus 10:9; Numbers 6:3; 1 Samuel 1:14; Proverbs 23:31; 31:4,5; 1 Timothy 3:3; 1 Corinthians 6:9,10; Revelation 21:8, 27).
Paul’s advice to Timothy to “use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities” should not be misconstrued as license to drink intoxicating wine or alcohol. Alcohol is sometimes used as a solvent in medicine or drugs to cure ailments and this is not sinful. Thus, Christ’s first miracle of turning water into wine was performed to show forth the glory of God. Miracles, signs and wonders attest to the potency of the power of God, draw sinners to Him to be saved and boost the believer’s faith in the sovereignty of the Almighty. As a result of the miracle, “his disciples believed on him” (John 2:11). This marriage reminds us of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb immediately after the rapture of the saints and the need to prepare to be there (Revelation 19:7).
CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE BY CHRIST AND ITS IMPLICATIONS (John 2:12-17; 2 Chronicles 29:3-15 Nehemiah 13:9; Matthew 21:12; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Isaiah 1:16; 2 Timothy 2:21)
After the marriage ceremony, Jesus left for Capernaum with “his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples”. From Capernaum, He went to Jerusalem to attend His first Passover since the commencement of His earthly ministry. The Passover of the Jews instituted in Exodus 12:1-51 was celebrated annually. He took advantage of the occasion to make Himself and His doctrine known. Strangely, however, He “…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…” (John 2:14, 15).
The Lord Jesus Christ frowned at the act of turning His Father’s house into a business centre and took appropriate steps to remedy this unwholesome practice. He was displeased with those who made worldly gain out of the temple. Apparently, the priests were indulgent; and all the scribes and Pharisees who claim to be the guardians of the law could not enforce the truth about not making the temple a place of merchandise. They were complicit in the financial transactions and, as such, could not rebuke the temple merchants. Bazaars and other commercial activities encouraged by hordes of prosperity preachers in many acclaimed ‘house of God’ amount to sacrilege.
Like Christ, heaven-bound believers should zealously defend the house, name and word of God from being defiled and corrupted (Jude 3). We should be wary of the spirit of covetousness that always seek to make financial gains out of the spiritual gatherings rather than seeking to deepen our relationship with God. Moreover, the believers are referred to as the “house” or “temple” of God (Hebrews 3:6; 1 Corinthians 3:16, 17; 6:19,20). And as such, we must keep our bodies, the temple of God, pure from defilements (Romans 12:1). If defilement in the physical temple grieves Christ and necessitated cleansing, then those who have defiled their bodies through unclean practices have grieved God and need cleansing in the blood of the Lamb.
The consequence of defiling God’s temple and remaining unclean is grievous. “If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are” (1 Corinthians 3:17). There is continual cleansing in the efficacious blood of Christ for believers who walk in the light (1 John 1:7).
CHRIST’S RESPONSE TO SIGN-SEEKING JEWS (John 2:18-25; 6:30; Matthew 12:38-40; 6:33; Luke 12:31; Proverbs 21:21; 1 Kings 3:13)
The Jews asked the Lord to prove His authority by showing them a sign. They expected that He would confirm His claim of being on a divine mission through some miraculous operations as Moses did (Exodus 4:30). Jesus did not give the Jews an instant sign but gave them a prophecy of His death and resurrection, which they misunderstood. They thought it strange for Christ to build in three days the literal temple which took forty- six years to build. Christ, however, was referring to His body (1 Corinthians 2:14). Christ is the Temple in which the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily (Colossians 2:9). As the temple in the wilderness, so also was the temple in Jerusalem a type of Christ (Acts 7:44).
Therefore, He, speaking concerning His body said, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up”. His desire was to draw the attention of the Jews from glorifying the physical temple building to the spiritual temple, which Himself is (Hebrews 9:11,23,24). Christ’s disciples themselves did not completely understand what the Lord said. There were many things that they did not distinctly understand until after His resurrection when they saw those things accomplished.
“Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures” (Luke 24:45). They clearly and more firmly believed the Scriptures and were able to make a clearer interpretation and application after the resurrection of Jesus. Their eyes were opened the more when the Holy Ghost came upon them at Pentecost (John 14:26; 15:26; 16:13-15; Acts 2:1-4). The clarity of insight and harmony of the Old Testament Scripture with Christ’s words under the New Testament confirmed and strengthened the disciples’ faith in God’s word.
The consistent Christian who reads, studies, listens to the Word and meditates on it will always discover doubt-clearing proofs of the inerrancy of Scripture truths (Hosea 6:3). Christian ministers must not give up just because the truth they preach in simple and clear words are not understood by some people. Being co-labourers with God, it is God’s part to open the understanding of those who listen to His word to comprehend and obey. Notwithstanding, gospel ministers must adequately prepare through constant study of the Scripture and prayer, and seek the power of the Holy Ghost for effective, result-oriented preaching.
“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” (John 2:23). Christ performs miracles with the purpose of bringing people to God. However, the faith of people must not rest on the miracles they see, but on the person of Christ. True justifying faith requires understanding and agreeing with the truth of the revealed Word. A simple evidence of genuine repentance is spiritual hunger to learn more of the word of God, coupled with prompt obedience to it. This was evident in the converts of the early Church as they continued in fellowship, prayer, doctrine and sharing with other people of God. Christian workers must note that many of those who turned back from Christ when He preached the truth had earlier claimed to believe on the Lord (John 6:53-66).
Christ’s principle of non-committal in our passage to those whose Christian experience of salvation is but spurious should be our guide in life and service. If Jesus did not commit Himself unto such, we should emulate Him. The divine nature of Christ accorded Him the perfect knowledge of all men. He knows His true followers and their sincerity, genuineness and determination to follow Him in all Circumstances (John 10:27; Luke 9:23). Spiritual leaders must pray for spiritual insight and understanding of the state of their flock.
Questions for review:
- What is marriage according to the Scripture?
- How can believers contribute to the success of marriage ceremonies of fellow brethren?
- What are the conditions for receiving miracles of provision?
- What are the reasons Christ performs miracles?
- How does the purging of the temple apply to believers today?
- What changed the disciples’ understanding of Christ’s mission to the world?
- How can you identify a false believer and a genuine one?