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In this lesson:
Jesus' first miracle. Also, Merchants and money changers. Jesus knows the human heart (2:24-25). Study Tip: As you read the Bible, listen closely to what God is telling you. |
Jesus turns water into wine.
By an unknown artist. |
Where was -
Cana -
Located sixteen miles southwest of Capernaum and five miles north of Jesus' hometown of Nazareth, Cana was the hometown of the disciple Nathanael (John 21:2) and the scene of Jesus' first miracle, turning water into wine (John 2:1-11; 4:46). Cana is only mentioned in John's Gospel.
Capernaum -
Capernaum was a large city on the north-west shore of the Sea of Galilee and the hometown of several disciples. Located on the main highway from Damascus to Acco and Tyre, Capernaum was a bustling center of commerce. It also boasted a thriving fishing industry. A customs station (Matthew 9:9; 17:24; Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27) and a large contingent of Roman soldiers were stationed there, and the city became known for its moral excesses. The disciple Peter owned a house in Capernaum, and Jesus made it His center of operations while in Galilee (as prophesized in Isaiah 9:1-2 and discussed in Matthew 4:13-16). Because its citizens witnessed many divine miracles (Matthew 8:14-16; Mark 1:30-34;
Luke 4:38-41) yet still rejected Christ, Jesus denounced the city in Matthew 11:23 and Luke 10:15. Its ancient remains have been excavated near the modern-day town of Tell Hum. Among the ruins are the remains of a synagogue unearthed in 1905 by a German archeology team. It could be the same synagogue built by the Roman centurion who sought a miracle from Jesus (Matthew 8:5-8; Luke 7:1-10).
The Temple -
King Solomon built the original Temple (House of Jehovah) in Jerusalem in 956 BC following God's instructions laid out in 1 Kings 6:11-37. It took seven years to build (1 Kings 6:38) with each stone, beam, and component made off-site and then painstakingly moved into place without the use of hammers, axes, or iron tools (1 Kings 6:7). The Temple was the center of worship and the teaching of Judaism. It was where religious sacrifices were made, and it held the holy relics sacred to Jews. The Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC when they sacked Jerusalem and carried Jews away into captivity (2 Kings 25:1-30). The Temple was rebuilt in 515 BC after the Jews returned from captivity (Ezra 1:1-4:24). Beginning around 15 BC, King Herod the Great embarked on an eighty-year program to improve and expand the Temple. Although the Temple of Jesus' day had been under reconstruction for forty-five years (John 2:20) and was fully functional and stunning to see, it was not yet finished. Remodeling took another thirty-five years to complete. The Temple was made up of numerous buildings and was an awe-inspiring sight. Tens of thousands of workers labored
for decades to build the Temple complex. The main gate was adorned with gold, silver, and polished brass and stood an amazing seventy-five feet tall and sixty feet wide. This is probably the gate that Acts 3:2 calls "beautiful." The Temple walls facing the east were decorated with gold and appeared to shimmer in the morning sun. The other walls were made of beautiful white marble. The largest of the building stones were twenty-seven feet long and weighed an unbelievable
two hundred tons. Some of these stones were decorated with gold. The royal portico was over nine hundred feet long and boasted one hundred and sixty columns. There were several porches; the longest was called Solomon's porch and was nearly sixteen hundred feet long. No wonder the disciples wanted to take Jesus on a sightseeing tour of the Temple (Matthew 24:1). The disciples couldn't imagine the Temple's destruction unless the world was ending. Five years after its completion, in AD 70, Jerusalem was destroyed by the Roman army in response to a Jewish uprising. Just as Jesus prophesied (Matthew 24:2; Mark 13:1-2; Luke 19:41-44; 21:5-6), the Temple was burned and pulled apart stone by stone to collect the melted gold leaf.
Cana -
Located sixteen miles southwest of Capernaum and five miles north of Jesus' hometown of Nazareth, Cana was the hometown of the disciple Nathanael (John 21:2) and the scene of Jesus' first miracle, turning water into wine (John 2:1-11; 4:46). Cana is only mentioned in John's Gospel.
Capernaum -
Capernaum was a large city on the north-west shore of the Sea of Galilee and the hometown of several disciples. Located on the main highway from Damascus to Acco and Tyre, Capernaum was a bustling center of commerce. It also boasted a thriving fishing industry. A customs station (Matthew 9:9; 17:24; Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27) and a large contingent of Roman soldiers were stationed there, and the city became known for its moral excesses. The disciple Peter owned a house in Capernaum, and Jesus made it His center of operations while in Galilee (as prophesized in Isaiah 9:1-2 and discussed in Matthew 4:13-16). Because its citizens witnessed many divine miracles (Matthew 8:14-16; Mark 1:30-34;
Luke 4:38-41) yet still rejected Christ, Jesus denounced the city in Matthew 11:23 and Luke 10:15. Its ancient remains have been excavated near the modern-day town of Tell Hum. Among the ruins are the remains of a synagogue unearthed in 1905 by a German archeology team. It could be the same synagogue built by the Roman centurion who sought a miracle from Jesus (Matthew 8:5-8; Luke 7:1-10).
The Temple -
King Solomon built the original Temple (House of Jehovah) in Jerusalem in 956 BC following God's instructions laid out in 1 Kings 6:11-37. It took seven years to build (1 Kings 6:38) with each stone, beam, and component made off-site and then painstakingly moved into place without the use of hammers, axes, or iron tools (1 Kings 6:7). The Temple was the center of worship and the teaching of Judaism. It was where religious sacrifices were made, and it held the holy relics sacred to Jews. The Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC when they sacked Jerusalem and carried Jews away into captivity (2 Kings 25:1-30). The Temple was rebuilt in 515 BC after the Jews returned from captivity (Ezra 1:1-4:24). Beginning around 15 BC, King Herod the Great embarked on an eighty-year program to improve and expand the Temple. Although the Temple of Jesus' day had been under reconstruction for forty-five years (John 2:20) and was fully functional and stunning to see, it was not yet finished. Remodeling took another thirty-five years to complete. The Temple was made up of numerous buildings and was an awe-inspiring sight. Tens of thousands of workers labored
for decades to build the Temple complex. The main gate was adorned with gold, silver, and polished brass and stood an amazing seventy-five feet tall and sixty feet wide. This is probably the gate that Acts 3:2 calls "beautiful." The Temple walls facing the east were decorated with gold and appeared to shimmer in the morning sun. The other walls were made of beautiful white marble. The largest of the building stones were twenty-seven feet long and weighed an unbelievable
two hundred tons. Some of these stones were decorated with gold. The royal portico was over nine hundred feet long and boasted one hundred and sixty columns. There were several porches; the longest was called Solomon's porch and was nearly sixteen hundred feet long. No wonder the disciples wanted to take Jesus on a sightseeing tour of the Temple (Matthew 24:1). The disciples couldn't imagine the Temple's destruction unless the world was ending. Five years after its completion, in AD 70, Jerusalem was destroyed by the Roman army in response to a Jewish uprising. Just as Jesus prophesied (Matthew 24:2; Mark 13:1-2; Luke 19:41-44; 21:5-6), the Temple was burned and pulled apart stone by stone to collect the melted gold leaf.
The Gospel According to St. John
The King James Bible
The King James Bible
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John 2:1-25
Water into wine 1 And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: 2 And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. 3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. 4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. 5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. 6 And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. 7 Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. 9 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, 10 And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now. 11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him. 12 After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days. 13 And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: 15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; 16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise. 17 And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up. 18 Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? 19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. 20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? 21 But he spake of the temple of his body. 22 When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said. 23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. 24 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, 25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man. |
Margin notes:
"The third day." (2:1) - This could mean three days after Nathanael was called by Jesus (see lesson 166) or the third day of the week. "Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage." (2:2) - "Jesus was invited, with His disciples, to the wedding." "They wanted wine." (2:3) - "They ran out of wine." "Woman." (2:4) - A polite, respectful way to address your mother in Jesus' day. Jesus also called His mother "woman" as he was dying on the cross (John 19:26). "Mine hour is not yet come." (2:4) - "My time has not yet come." God's plan for salvation had a set timetable, and it was not yet time for Jesus to die. See also John 7:30; 8:20; 12:23; 12:27; 13:1; and 17:1. "Six waterpots of stone." (2:6) - These were used by Jews to ceremonially wash before meals (Mark 7:3). "Two or three firkins." (2:6) - A firkin is approximately nine gallons. "Knew not whence it was." (2:9) - "Didn't know where it came from." "This beginning of miracles." (2:11) - Turning water into wine was Jesus' first miracle. Despite claims to the contrary, Jesus did not perform miracles as a child. "Manifested forth his glory." (2:11) - "Revealed His glory." "They continued there." (2:12) - "They stayed there." "Passover." (2:13) - The annual Jewish holiday commemorating the night the angel of death passed harmlessly over the enslaved Israelites in Egypt while killing the firstborn of all Egyptians (Exodus 12:13-14). This fearsome miracle convinced the Egyptians to let the Israelites go free after four hundred years of slavery. To begin the Passover holiday, a sacrificial lamb was killed, and without breaking any of its bones (Exodus 12:46; Numbers 9:12), was roasted. The Passover feast was then prepared with bitter herbs (representing the bitterness of slavery) and sweet spices (representing the sweetness of freedom) and was followed immediately by the Feast of the Unleavened Bread (Exodus 23:15; Leviticus 23:5-8). The two eventually became one holiday (Mark 14:1) beginning on the fourteenth day of the seventh month (Abib) and lasting one week as prescribed in Deuteronomy 16:1-3. Jewish men were required to "appear before the Lord" (Exodus 23:17) on Passover, so thousands of Jews came to Jerusalem each year to celebrate their liberation and offer up a religious sacrifice. Passover is sometimes called simply the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Exodus 23:15; Mark 14:1; Luke 22:1). Another interesting point is that Jesus was sacrificed on the cross the same day the Passover lambs were sacrificed in the Temple. Just like the sacrificial lambs, not a bone in Jesus' body was broken (John 19:36). To learn more about the Passover and its importance, read Exodus 12:1-30; 12:43-50; 13:1-22; and Deuteronomy 16:1-8. "Jesus went up to Jerusalem." (2:13) - This is the beginning of Jesus' early Judean Ministry. It lasted for about eight months. "Sold oxen and sheep and doves." (2:14) - With thousands of people visiting Jerusalem for Passover, merchants set up stalls in the Temple courtyard to sell the sacrificial animals necessary for atonement. "The changers of money." (2:14) - These were vendors who exchanged the foreign money of visitors into the local Jewish or Temple currency. The money changers charged a conversion fee of 10-12 percent. With so many visitors in Jerusalem for Passover, business was always brisk. "Made a scourge." (2:15) - "Made a whip." "Take these things hence." (2:16) - "Take these things away." "The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up." (2:17) - "The passion for God's house consumes me." The disciples were remembering Psalm 69:9. "The Jews." (2:18) - Jewish religious leaders. "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." (2:19) - The Temple being raised in three days is a metaphor for Jesus' body being resurrected. Jesus is predicting that He will die and rise again in three days. When He stands trial, false witnesses will misrepresent Jesus' words (Matthew 26:60-61). Later, while hanging on the cross, people will taunt the dying Jesus with His words (Mark 15:29-31). "He spake of the temple of his body." (2:21) - The Bible repeatedly tells us that our body is God's Temple and that He lives within us (1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19; 2 Corinthians 6:16). "Jesus did not commit himself unto them." (2:24) - "Jesus did not trust them." |
Jesus cleared the Temple another time, as seen in Matthew 21:12-15; Mark 11:15-18 and Luke 19:45-46.
New Living Translation
John 2:1-25
The Wedding at Cana
1 The next day there was a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there,
2 and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration.
3 The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus' mother told him, "They have no more wine."
4 "Dear woman, that's not our problem," Jesus replied. "My time has not yet come."
5 But his mother told the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."
6 Standing nearby were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each could hold twenty to thirty gallons.
7 Jesus told the servants, "Fill the jars with water." When the jars had been filled,
8 he said, "Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies." So the servants followed his instructions.
9 When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over.
10 "A host always serves the best wine first," he said. "Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!"
11 This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him.
12 After the wedding he went to Capernaum for a few days with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples.
Jesus Clears the Temple
13 It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration, so Jesus went to Jerusalem.
14 In the Temple area he saw merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices; he also saw dealers at tables exchanging foreign money.
15 Jesus made a whip from some ropes and chased them all out of the Temple. He drove out the sheep and cattle, scattered the money changers' coins over the floor, and turned over their tables.
16 Then, going over to the people who sold doves, he told them, "Get these things out of here. Stop turning my Father's house into a marketplace!"
17 Then his disciples remembered this prophecy from the Scriptures: "Passion for God's house will consume me."
18 But the Jewish leaders demanded, "What are you doing? If God gave you authority to do this, show us a miraculous sign to prove it."
19 "All right," Jesus replied. "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."
20 "What!" they exclaimed. "It has taken forty-six years to build this Temple, and you can rebuild it in three days?"
21 But when Jesus said "this temple," he meant his own body.
22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered he had said this, and they believed both the Scriptures and what Jesus had said.
23 Because of the miraculous signs Jesus did in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration, many began to trust in him.
24 But Jesus didn't trust them, because he knew human nature.
25 No one needed to tell him what mankind is really like.
This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
The Wedding at Cana
1 The next day there was a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there,
2 and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration.
3 The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus' mother told him, "They have no more wine."
4 "Dear woman, that's not our problem," Jesus replied. "My time has not yet come."
5 But his mother told the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."
6 Standing nearby were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each could hold twenty to thirty gallons.
7 Jesus told the servants, "Fill the jars with water." When the jars had been filled,
8 he said, "Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies." So the servants followed his instructions.
9 When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over.
10 "A host always serves the best wine first," he said. "Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!"
11 This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him.
12 After the wedding he went to Capernaum for a few days with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples.
Jesus Clears the Temple
13 It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration, so Jesus went to Jerusalem.
14 In the Temple area he saw merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices; he also saw dealers at tables exchanging foreign money.
15 Jesus made a whip from some ropes and chased them all out of the Temple. He drove out the sheep and cattle, scattered the money changers' coins over the floor, and turned over their tables.
16 Then, going over to the people who sold doves, he told them, "Get these things out of here. Stop turning my Father's house into a marketplace!"
17 Then his disciples remembered this prophecy from the Scriptures: "Passion for God's house will consume me."
18 But the Jewish leaders demanded, "What are you doing? If God gave you authority to do this, show us a miraculous sign to prove it."
19 "All right," Jesus replied. "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."
20 "What!" they exclaimed. "It has taken forty-six years to build this Temple, and you can rebuild it in three days?"
21 But when Jesus said "this temple," he meant his own body.
22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered he had said this, and they believed both the Scriptures and what Jesus had said.
23 Because of the miraculous signs Jesus did in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration, many began to trust in him.
24 But Jesus didn't trust them, because he knew human nature.
25 No one needed to tell him what mankind is really like.
This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
Key verses from this passage
"Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom." (2:7-9)
"And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise." (2:14-16)
"Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." (2:19)
"Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did." (2:23)
"And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise." (2:14-16)
"Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." (2:19)
"Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did." (2:23)
Today's Question:
1. Why is Jesus skeptical of people who only believe after seeing a miracle? (2:23-25)
You may receive these lessons up to five times per week. Let us know if you would like to change how often you receive them.
1. Why is Jesus skeptical of people who only believe after seeing a miracle? (2:23-25)
You may receive these lessons up to five times per week. Let us know if you would like to change how often you receive them.
Answer: (Do you agree?)
1. Jesus knows mankind. He understands that the human "heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked" (Jeremiah 17:9). Jesus is aware that some will follow any "celebrity" performing miracles. He knows that this type of false loyalty is fleeting. If people see Jesus as a magician and not their Savior, the crowds will leave once the miracles stop. Jesus is looking for solid faith that remains true in good times and bad.
Application thought for the day:
Notice that Mary didn't ask Jesus to turn the water into wine (2:3).
She trusted that He could solve the problem (2:5). How much do you trust Jesus?
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Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress Books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; "The Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies"; "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers published by Barbour publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course the "King James Bible". All were critical in putting these lessons together.
© 2026 evolke
© 2026 evolke