Six disciples, who now trusted Jesus, started on their lifelong walk with Him and from the beginning, they began to learn more about Him. And, each day and each new event brought marvels that were difficult to understand. And so, in this chapter, John recorded three wonderful revelations of Jesus Christ that they learned.
In vs. 1-12, we learn about the Lord’s glory. Jesus had accepted the invitation to attend a wedding and He was often seen at social events, even though his enemies used these times to accuse Him (Lk. 15:1-2). But, Jesus goes to this feast and is accompanied by His mother and His six disciples mention from Jn. 1. And at this wedding, there was a shortage of wine, which indicates a low- budgeted feast. Well, it was the groom’s responsibility under the Jewish wedding feast laws that he have adequate provisions and if it ran out, it would bring embarrassment and there could actually be a fine.
Well, even though “His time” had not come yet, our Lord decides to perform a miracle here. Now, we don’t know if this is the first miracle He ever performed, but it certainly is the first miracle recorded. And, turning water that was in the waterpots into wine was so impressive and superior to that which had already been drank that the man in charge of the banquet highly praised it. Well, this miracles did something for His disciples. It revealed his glory (Jn. 1:14) and gave them a stronger foundation for their faith. Though miracles alone are insufficient evidence for declaring Jesus to be the Son of God (2 Thess. 2:9-10), the effect of them convinced them of His deity. See, this sign (semeion) pointed to something greater, it would cause them to not only believe in Him, but in the Father who sent Him (Jn. 5:14[1]24). This is why Jesus would add a sermon to His miracles after He showed his deity.
Second, in vs. 12-22, we learn of the Lord’s zeal . During these days, each Jewish man was required to attend three annual feasts at the Holy City: Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles (Deut. 16:16). Well, during this Passover, Jesus revealed His zeal for God First of all by cleansing the temple (John 2:13-17). Unfortunately, the priests had established a lucrative business of exchanging foreign money for Jewish currency, and also selling the animals needed for the sacrifices, which had become corrupted. So, when the Lord drove them all out, in vs. 16, we see that He was careful not to destroy anyone’s property (He did not release the doves); but He made it clear that He was in command and that the temple was His Father’s house.
Well, when they saw His courageous zeal, the disciples remembered Psalm 69:9, “The zeal of [for] Thine house hath eaten me up” (vs. 17). Now, it was this cleansing that had declared war on the hypocritical religious leaders, which ultimately led to His death and even further zeal by giving His life (John 2:18-22). It was logical for the religious leaders to ask Him to show the source of His authority. After all, they were the guardians of the Jewish faith, and they had a right to test any new prophet who appeared and even Paul talked about how “The Jews require a sign” (1 Cor. 1:22). So, Jesus used the image of the temple to convey this truth. “Destroy this temple [My body], and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19). Being spiritually blind, those who heard misunderstood what He was saying. They thought it was about the physical temple that Herod had built. But, this was a prediction of His own death and resurrection; and His disciples remembered it after He was raised from the dead even though other mocked it later (Matt. 27:40). Of course this was dealing with the prediction of the Jewish religious system ending and “grace and truth” coming through Jesus Christ. He is the new sacrifice (John 1:29) and the new temple (John 2:19) and John will tell us later, that the new worship will depend on inward integrity, not outward geography (John 4:19-24).
Third, in vs. 23-25, we learn about the Lord’s knowledge . While in Jerusalem for the Passover, Jesus performed miracles that are not given in detail, but it must have been these signs that attracted Nicodemus (John 3:2). It also attracted other because many professed to believe, but notice how Jesus did not accept their profession. And, no matter what the people said, the Lord did not accept their testimony because He knew their hearts and minds. You see, it was one thing to respond to a miracle, but quite something else to commit oneself to Jesus Christ and continue in His Word (John 8:30-31). And so, John makes it clear that it takes more than believing in miracles for a person to be saved. Seeing the signs and believing in them would be a great beginning; in fact, even the disciples started that way and had to grow in their faith (compare John 2:11 and v. 22). Thus, our Lord’s accurate knowledge of the human heart is another evidence of His deity, for only God can see the inner person. And, it is this chapter that prepares us for the interview that takes place between Jesus and Nicodemus.