Monday | Week 2
Our study of John 1 last week started with the revelation that Jesus was with God from the very beginning—and in fact is God. That He came to earth and dwelt among us. It ended with Jesus’ baptism and His choosing of some of the disciples. Quite a lot to digest for sure.
Chapter 2 starts with a wedding in Cana, a fairly common event. Jesus is there with His mother, Mary, and the disciples. He performs His first miracle by turning water into wine. I hesitate to call it a small miracle (is there such a thing?), but it certainly wasn’t as public or as dramatic as other miracles He did. The wedding guests didn’t even know it happened. A friend suggested to me that maybe He used that event simply to anchor the faith of His disciples. It makes sense. They had chosen to follow Him just a few days earlier because they believed who He was, but perhaps they needed this extra confirmation before Jesus began His public ministry.
Soon after, a large crowd in Jerusalem saw Jesus clear the temple area of vendors and money changers. He showed His passion, His heart and His authority, fulfilling a prophecy from Psalm 69:9. I suspect many more people began to realize who He was.
In chapter 3 Jesus explains the need to be born again to Nicodemus, a member of the ruling Sanhedrin. Nicodemus sincerely wanted to understand, but still didn’t get it. In this conversation Jesus utters perhaps the most famous verse in all of scripture,
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16 NIV
His purpose was now clear.
This week’s reading shows the very beginnings of Jesus’ public ministry. But perhaps more importantly, it gives us a glimpse of what God in human form looks like as an adult. He now has a voice, a name, emotions, and authentic interactions with people. As you are reading and studying this week, try to put yourself in the region of Galilee at that time in history. Imagine how it would have felt when the light bulb finally came on and you realized who it was that you were seeing and hearing. It’s amazing just to think about it.
How do you think you would have reacted to Jesus at that time? Would you have been skeptical? What would it have taken for you to become a follower?
Why do you think Jesus chose the wedding for His first miracle? Why do it so privately?
Why was Jesus so upset by what He saw in the temple court (John 3:14-17)? How did this episode fulfill Psalm 69:9?
Jesus told Nicodemus, “You must be born again.” Why do you think Jesus used that metaphor? How would you explain to someone what it means to be born again?