John 2:1-25
This passage recounts two remarkable events that display Jesus’ authority over nature, and his passion for the honour of God’s house. They also show us Jesus’ humanity in conceding to his mother’s wishes and blessing the young couple getting married, as well as his concern for those being charged in the temple for the opportunity to bring their sacrifice to the altar. John chooses these two events to underline Jesus’ power over creation; he was involved in it from the beginning. The cleansing of the temple indicates the confrontation there is going to be with the Jewish leaders who are ruled by the law of Moses whereas Jesus is bringing a Kingdom of grace and truth. The temple practise required those from outside of Israel to change their money to a different currency before animal sacrifices could be purchased. This is happening in the court of Gentiles. The temple is his father’s house and meant to be a place of prayer, Isaiah 56:7 speaks of the temple as a House of Prayer for all nations not just the Israelites. The only place a non-Israeli can go to pray is being turned into a marketplace. Jesus is going to bring salvation to all peoples of the earth, not just the Jews.
This Kingdom can only fully come after Jesus’ death and resurrection, an event he alludes to in this passage. He knows what it will take to bring salvation to everyone who believes. Although many come to believe or trust Jesus, John tells us Jesus does not entrust himself to anyone, he knows what we are like.
Response: Choose a word, phrase, idea or action that strikes you as significant at this moment in your life and spend a few minutes reflecting on it.