Water, Wine, and Clearing the Courts

 

John, chapter two is where Jesus attends a wedding and turns water into wine. I have to say when reading this part of John, two things came to mind. First turning water to wine seems a sort of "common" miracle for his first. What I mean by common is that it's not on the level of healing someone. Life is important but wine at a wedding not so much. Then I started thinking a bit about it. 

 

 The second thing that make me smile in this chapter is Jesus's response to his mother. "Woman, why do you involve me?"   It brought a smile because it is a very human response to a parent. So perhaps the water to wine miracle was Jesus's love for his mother showing as he appeases her.

 

Healing a person on the surface certainly seems like a more "worthwhile" miracle but really who am I to second guess Jesus. Yet at the same time, Jesus repeatedly stated that he was not concerned with the human body, as it was temporary anyway. In addition, think about it, the wine was transformed from ordinary water, Water that is essential for humans. This basic necessity was transformed into wine, a celebratory drink. In much the same way that Jesus transforms ordinary humans into souls with eternal life. Now that's something to celebrate!  

 

 

Chapter two is also where Jesus clears the temple courts. This is a slightly different Jesus than we normally picture. Here we see him perhaps even a little angry.

 

There are a couple of verses that stand out to me in this chapter.

 

"Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days." John 2:19

 

This is Jesus's response to the Jews who asked him about his authority in the clearing of the courts. They think he is referring to the temple but Jesus is referring to his body and that he will rise three days after his death.

 

"He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person."

John 2: 25

 

This was a reminder to me that Jesus knows our hearts, our minds, and our souls, even better than we do. We hide nothing from him and even though we may fool ourselves we do not fool him.

 

Question to muse:

 

1. How can you see God in both the ordinary (water) and the celebratory (wine).

 

Hugs to each and everyone of you.