The Gospel of John Made Easy
Chapter 2
Verses 1-25
Verses 1 – 11
The third day there was a wedding in the town of Cana. Cana was in the area of Galilee. Jesus’ mother had gone to the wedding. Jesus and his disciples were at the wedding, too.
The people putting on the wedding ran out of wine. This would be a big embarrassment. Mary went to Jesus and told him that they had run out of wine.
Jesus understood that his Mother thought he could do something about it. Jesus said to her, “Why it that my business? The time to show who I am has not yet come.”
Mary seemed to ignore what he said, She seemed to felt sure he would help. She said to the servants, “Whatever Jesus tells you to do, do it.”
There were 6 large water jars in the room. Each one held about 20 to 30 gallons of water. Jesus told the servants to fill the jars with water. Then he told them to take a cupful to the master of the wedding party. They did what he said.
The master of the party drank some of the water (but it had now turned into wine). He did not know what had happened. The wine was very good. It was better than what was served before.
The master of the party went to the bridegroom (new husband) and said, “Most people serve the best wine first. Then after everyone is full, they serve wine that is not so good. But you have saved the best wine until last!”
Of course, the bridegroom did not know what happened. Later, the servants talked and told what happened. Then the whole town was talking about it.
This was the first miracle Jesus did. This was the first time Jesus showed his power. The disciples believed in him.
Verse 12
Jesus went to Capernaum with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples. They were there for a few days.
Verses 13 – 17
It was time for Passover. Jesus went to Jerusalem.
Passover is a special evening meal to remember when God led the Jewish (Hebrew, Israel) people out of Egypt. This story is told in the Old Testament in the book of Exodus. This was a very holy meal time. Every Jewish person was to have this meal and remember. A lamb was to be cooked and eaten. There were other rules that went with having this meal.
Jesus went to the temple (church). He did not like what he saw happening. There were many men there selling animals. There were other men there with money tables to change a person’s money to Roman money or whatever kind they needed.
Jewish people were coming to Jerusalem from far away. They were coming because it was Passover time. They would make animal sacrifices for their sin, or for offerings to God.
They would not travel with these animals, but they would buy an animal for sacrifice when they got to Jerusalem.
If they were from another country, their money may be a different kind of money, so they would need to change their money for the kind of money needed in Jerusalem.
Then they would buy the kind of animal they wanted—-ox, bull, sheep, dove.
If you were rich, you would buy an ox or bull or sheep. If you were poor, you would buy a dove.
The animal would be taken to the priest to kill for the sacrifice.
When Jesus saw all this buying and selling and changing money happen in the temple, he became very angry.
The temple was for prayer and worship—-not for buying and selling like a store.
Jesus took some rope and gathered it together in his hand so it made a short whip. Then he began to chase out the animals and the men who were selling. He upset their tables.
He said to the men selling doves, take these out of here. My Father’s house is a house of prayer—-not for a store to sell things.
When the disciples saw this happen, they remember words from the Old Testament that said, “Passion (zeal) (deep feelings) for your house burns in me.” Psalm 69:
Verses 18 – 22
One of the men said to him, “What right do you have to do this?”
“Show us what authority or power you have to chase everyone out.”
Jesus answered them with an answer that was like a riddle. A riddle is like a puzzle—-words that you have to think about to understand what it means.
Jesus told them: “Destroy this temple and I will raise it up again in 3 days.” The men said to him, “It took 46 years to build this temple. You could build it up again in 3 days?”
Jesus was not talking about the temple church. When Jesus said the word “temple” he meant his body.
Paul talked about our body being the “temple” that God lived in because the Holy Spirit comes into us when we believe.
So Jesus meant if they destroyed his “temple” body, he would rise up in 3 days. Jesus was talking about when they would kill him on the cross and he would rise from the dead.
Verse 22 Tells that later, after Jesus died and raised from the dead—the disciples remembered this time at the temple when Jesus said these words. When Jesus said it at the temple that day, it did not make any sense. It was a riddle (puzzle). But after Jesus rose again, these words made sense—-the disciples understood.
Verses 23 – 25
Jesus did miracles in Jerusalem. A miracle is a wonderful work, something more than a human can do. He probably healed people.
The people who saw these things happen, believed in Jesus. They believed he was from God to do those things.
Verse 24, 25 But Jesus did not trust them. He knew “human nature”. He knew that people could change their minds fast. One day they can be for you and the next day they can be against you.
Jesus also knew that people liked to see the miracles. It was amazing and interesting to see. They were willing to think he was special.
If they really thought and believed he was from God and spoke God’s words—–they would listen to the words and obey and stop doing wrong and do right. Often the people were not willing to do that. Following Jesus and obeying his words for them was going too far.
People back then were a lot like people of today. Many people will go to see a preacher that has God’s gift to heal people. They get all excited and happy to see that. They talk about it. They think the preacher is wonderful.
But then if you ask the people to stop doing sin and start obeying the Bible they do not want to do that.
Jesus knew how people were. They were happy about him when he healed people, but they would not be so happy when he began talking about their sin.