The Gospels · Chapter 2 of 21

John 2

At a wedding in Cana the wine runs out, and at His mother's word Jesus quietly turns water into the best wine, His first sign, revealing His glory to His disciples. Then, with startling fire, He clears the temple of merchants, calling it His Father's house, and cryptically speaks of a temple He will raise in three days, meaning His own body.

What happens in John 2

On the third day Jesus, His mother, and His disciples attend a wedding in Cana of Galilee. The wine fails, a social disaster, and Mary tells Him. Though He says His hour has not yet come, she instructs the servants to do whatever He says. Six stone waterpots for ceremonial washing are filled to the brim; the drawn water has become wine so fine the steward marvels that the good wine was saved for last. This first sign manifests His glory, and His disciples believe.

Afterward Jesus goes up to Jerusalem for Passover and finds the temple courts turned into a marketplace. Making a whip of cords, He drives out the animals and money changers, overturning tables, refusing to let His Father's house be a house of merchandise. Challenged for a sign, He answers that if they destroy this temple He will raise it in three days, speaking of His body, though none understand until after His resurrection.

John 2 in context

Following the gathering of disciples in chapter 1, John records the first two of Jesus' signs, one of abundance and one of judgment, bracketing His public ministry with mercy and holiness. The temple cleansing appears early in John, unlike the Synoptics that place it in the final week, framing the whole Gospel as a confrontation between Jesus and a religious system He came to fulfill and replace with Himself.

Main themes of John 2

John 2 (KJV)

1And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: 2And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. 3And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. 4Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. 5His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. 6And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. 7Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. 8And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. 9When 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, 10And 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. 11This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him. 12After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days. 13And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, 14And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: 15And 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; 16And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise. 17And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up. 18Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? 19Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. 20Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? 21But he spake of the temple of his body. 22When 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. 23Now 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. 24But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, 25And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.

Verses to carry from John 2

“This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.”John 2:11

“Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”John 2:19

“And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.”John 2:16

Reflection

Cana asks whether you will trust Jesus with your emptiness, doing whatever He says even before you understand. The temple asks whether your worship has become a marketplace of self interest. This chapter invites both joy and honest cleansing, letting Christ fill what is empty and clear what is corrupt.

A prayer from John 2