John 2

From: Transition From Judaism to Christianity in John's Gospel: The Distinguishing Features of Christianity in the Lord's Ministry

By: Stanley Bruce Anstey

Narrator: Chris Genthree

John 2 • 1 min. read • grade level: 8

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Through His natural relationship with His mother, the Lord had a connection with Israel and the Law. At the marriage of Cana, when His mother made a demand of Him, He responded by saying, “Woman, what have I to do with thee?” In this statement He indicated that His legal relationship with Israel was about to be dissolved. (Compare Matthew 12:46-50⁴⁶While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. ⁴⁷Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. ⁴⁸But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? ⁴⁹And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! ⁵⁰For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother. (Matthew 12:46‑50).)

The Lord proceeded to do His first miracle by turning water into wine for the people because the time of the severing of His relationship with Israel had not yet come. This indicates another feature of the new dispensation. "Wine" in Scripture often speaks of joy (Judg. 9:13¹³And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? (Judges 9:13); Psa. 104:15¹⁵And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart. (Psalm 104:15)). The problem at the feast was that their wine had run out. This speaks of the old order failing in the hands of men. When the old wine ran out, the Lord brought in new wine, which was better. This indicates that the spiritual joys which were coming in the new dispensation would be superior to the joys one could experience in the old.

In verses 13-17, the Lord drove the corrupt workers out of the temple. This was a symbolic action indicating what God was about to do that with the nation through the Romans (in A.D. 70) because it had corrupted that Judaic order of service. The Lord then spoke of His resurrection (vss. 18-22). They might "destroy" His body in death, but He would raise up the "temple of His body"—"in three days" (vss. 19, 21). Thus, the new order that was about to be introduced would be founded on Christ's resurrection

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