Bible Commentaries
John 2

Verse 1

John 2:1

In John 2:1-11, we find the first recorded miracle of Jesus’ public ministry. Interestingly enough, His first exhibition of supernatural power was turning water into wine. If taken excessively, wine is a substance that causes a lack of self control, and we are admonished through both stories (Genesis 9:20-24, Genesis 19:30-36, Deuteronomy 29:1-6, 1 Samuel 25:36, 1 Kings 16:8-10, 1 Kings 20:16-19) and verbal warnings (Deuteronomy 21:20, Deuteronomy 29:19-20, Proverbs 20:1, Proverbs 23:20-35, Proverbs 26:9, Isaiah 5:11-13, Isaiah 5:22-25, Isaiah 28:3, Joel 1:5, Habakkuk 2:15, Matthew 24:49, Luke 12:45, Luke 21:34, Romans 13:13, 1 Corinthians 5:11, 1 Corinthians 6:10, Galatians 5:21, Ephesians 5:18, 1 Thessalonians 5:7-9, 1 Peter 4:3) not to over indulge in our use of wine. Instead, we are encouraged to “be sober” (Ecclesiastes 10:17, 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8, 1 Timothy 3:2, 1 Timothy 3:11, Titus 2:2-7, 1 Peter 1:13, 1 Peter 4:7, 1 Peter 5:8). Jesus drank wine Luke 7:34, but He never sinned (John 8:46, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Hebrews 4:15, Hebrews 7:26, Hebrews 9:28, 1 Peter 2:22, 1 John 3:5) or acted counter to those things encouraged by God. Therefore, we know that Jesus was always sober and was not a drunkard.

The resulting substance, i.e., the wine, wasn’t miraculous in itself. The miracle was in the incredible transformation of one substance into another. It is a picture of the greatest miracle. The miracle of miracles is the transformation of one type of life, a sinful man, into another kind of life … one clean from sin and standing in the righteousness of Christ.

It is not by chance that this miracle was done at a wedding. Weddings are the ceremonial marking of a new covenant between two parties. The two have decided to join together as one. It has to do with relationship, and Jesus wants a relationship with us (Hebrews 8:8).

Verse 2

John 2:2

The host of the wedding likely didn’t know Jesus had disciples, seeing that Jesus’ ministry only just began two days before, so it is as if the entire area was invited.

At this point in His ministry, Jesus had only called John, Andrew, Peter, Philip and Nathanael.

Verse 3

John 2:3

They wanted wine, because it had run out. The manager of the caterers providing food and refreshments had evidently not planned for the number of people that had attended the wedding reception (John 2:9).

Verse 4

John 2:4

Jesus would use the term “woman” as almost an affectionate greeting (John 20:15, John 19:26, Matthew 15:28, John 4:21, 1 Corinthians 7:16). He called her “woman” though and not mother, perhaps for the first time. He was bridging the gap between existing under her authority and entering full time into his role as Messiah.

It was a playful rebuke between a son and his mother whom, more so than any mortal, knew best his personality, his calling, and his destiny. He, of course, even until the end, would have a lot to do with His mother. However, then He asked, “Woman, what have I to do with thee?” It was a bond and familiarity only the two of them fully understood.

Verse 5

John 2:5

One is left wondering why the servants would listen to her. Taking service requests from a guest is different from taking directions. Receiving the instructions courteously is different from actually obeying them and following through. Equally puzzling is how Mary gave the order as though it was natural for her to do so. Perhaps in those days it was accepted practice for guests to command the servants and the servants to heed the guests’ directions, regardless of the guests’ station in life. Perhaps, God’s choice for Jesus’ mother was a woman comfortable with exercising authority and equipped with a commanding presence. Regardless of why the servants listened to Mary, they did do as she directed (John 2:7).

Also note how Mary ignored her son’s objection (see notes on John 2:4) and acted as though He had agreed to help.

Verse 6

John 2:6

The vessels were used to hold water to clean the outside of their bodies. The traditional and ceremonial washings, practices wrapped in the law, dealt with cleaning the flesh. However, Jesus has always been interested in what’s happening on the inside of a person (Matthew 23:25-28). He was more concerned with what was within the wrappings (John 11:44).

Their legalistic religion, however, only worked to clean the outside. His way was to teach how to be clean inside and out through Him and what we need to know in order to stay cleansed. He wants us to keep the vessel sanctified. He wants us to control our vessels (1 Thessalonians 4:3-4), and believers are given self control as part of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Jesus’ way isn’t legalistic or religious. He isn’t interested in our ritualistic attempts to be good enough for Him. He wants us to accept on faith His attempts to have relationships with us (see notes on John 2:1).

He cleanses us with His own blood (Acts 20:28, Romans 5:9, Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 1:14-20, Hebrews 9:12, 1 Peter 1:18-19, Revelation 1:5, Revelation 5:9). Our cleanliness, our righteousness, isn’t by anything we have done or can do (Romans 9:31-34, Galatians 2:16, Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:5). Without Him, we can do nothing (John 15:5, Philippians 4:13). Our purification (1 Corinthians 6:11) is a gift (John 4:10, Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:8), and it is given purely by His grace (Romans 3:24, Romans 4:16, Romans 5:16-17, Ephesians 2:7-10, Titus 3:5-7).

Verse 7

John 2:7

In John 2:7-8, we see vessels that were empty and not being used. He had them filled. He took what they usually poured out to clean themselves with, i.e. water, and He had it poured into the vessels. Notice how that where the law ends... Jesus begins.

Following the law, and our attempts to be good enough, are empty of any power to cleanse us from sin (Isaiah 57:12, Isaiah 64:6). Only through faith in Christ Jesus are we given right-standing with God (see notes on John 2:6, and look at Philippians 3:9).

He had the vessels filled with water. It is a picture of the filling of our vessels with the baptism in the Holy Spirit (see notes on John 20:22). What good does that do anyone other than ourselves though, if we keep it to ourselves? We must share God’s gift (Matthew 10:8, 1 Corinthians 2:12), and the fruit of it (Galatians 5:22-23), with those around us (Matthew 5:15-16, Mark 4:21, Luke 11:33, John 2:9-10, John 7:38, John 15:8, 2 Thessalonians 1:10-12, 1 Peter 2:12, 1 Peter 4:14). The world is dry, and it needs a drink from the well that is always filled (John 4:13-14).

Verse 8

John 2:8

They had to draw the water out to get the miracle. We can’t be reservoirs. What gets poured into us was meant to serve someone else (see notes on John 2:7). Let it flow from you (John 7:38) to help others.

Verse 9

John 2:9

Jesus sent the wine to the manager of the caterers to taste it (John 2:8). The servants knew where it came from, but the manager did not. Having tasted the new wine, he called for the person paying for the festivities -- the bridegroom. The manager wanted to tell the bridegroom how much he approved of not only the new wine, but the good form of bringing it out towards the end of the party (John 2:10).

Verse 10

John 2:10

The usual nature of mankind is evident in the fact that most people will try to use trickery to gain something from others at the others’ expense (see notes on John 1:47). The manager then is rightfully surprised, because this bridegroom, to the manager’s thinking, has chosen to break the norm by serving the best wine even when most people wouldn’t notice and wouldn’t care.

From the manager’s approving comments, we see also that Jesus’ miracle produced a robust and flavorful wine that measured up to any the manager had previously encountered.

Verse 11

John 2:11

The turning of water into wine is one of the most remembered of Jesus’ miracles, and Jesus’ disciples believed on Him, because they saw this incredible wonder. They focused on the miracle done right before their eyes though, and they missed the symbolism (see notes on John 2:6-7) of the miracles Christ would do in men’s hearts hidden away from view.

Verse 12

John 2:12

In Mark 6:3 we see that Jesus had brothers and sisters that were born to Mary and Joseph after He was born (see notes on John 7:3). Obviously, Mary didn’t stay a virgin, and Jesus’ birth was the only virgin birth (Matthew 1:23, Luke 1:26-35).

Verse 13

John 2:13

“The Passover” events were seven day festivals (Exodus 12:14-17, Numbers 28:17, Deuteronomy 16:1-6) cumulating to the feast day (Leviticus 23:5-6, John 13:29, see notes on John 13:1, John 18:28). During the Passover period, people would gather together to eat a ceremonial meal, the Passover Meal, performed as an ordinance (Exodus 12:24, Exodus 12:43, Exodus 13:10), remembering the final plague before the Israeli exodus from Egypt (Exodus 12:13, Exodus 12:23, Exodus 12:26-27). Jesus went, because the Law required it.

John is the only gospel writer that gave accounts of Jesus attending Passover Feast events after He began His ministry.

Verse 14

John 2:14

“Found in the temple” that is, in the temple grounds.

There were three layers of the temple enclosure, The Court of the Gentiles or the Outer Court (Ezekiel 40:17-20, Revelation 11:2), the Inner Courts (there were three... Women’s Court, Israelite’ Court & the Priest’s Court) (1 Kings 6:36, 1 Kings 7:12, Ezekiel 8:16, Ezekiel 10:3, Ezekiel 44:27), and the Temple itself. Additionally, there were three main parts to the Lord’s temple, the Porch (1 Kings 6:3, 2 Chronicles 3:4, 2 Chronicles 8:12, Ezekiel 40:15, John 10:23), the House or the Holy Place or the Sanctuary (different names all for the same thing... 1 Kings 7:50, Psalms 46:4, Ezekiel 41:21-23, Ezekiel 42:20, Ezekiel 43:21, Ezekiel 44:27), and the Most Holy Place (Exodus 26:33, 1 Kings 6:16, 1 Kings 8:6, 2 Chronicles 4:22, Ezekiel 41:4, Ezekiel 45:3).

Interestingly enough … and here’s where it gets really good … there had been also three main levels of closeness allowed by Jesus to those around Him. First, there was the Outer Court around Jesus. The Outer Court were the twelve apostles. The Inner Court was made up of, and get this, three disciples; Peter, James and John. Finally, there was the Holy Place. Only one disciple was allowed close enough to rest upon Jesus’ breast (John 13:23-25). John, the disciple whom Jesus loved (John 21:20, John 21:24) was allowed past the Inner Court and into the Most Holy Place where he could hear the very heart beat of God.

Also note: This was not Jesus’ first visit to the temple. The 2nd chapter of Luke records two other appearances there. The first was when Joseph and Mary “Presented” Him before the Lord, and the second was when He was found discussing the scriptures with theological scholars in the temple at the age of twelve.

Verse 15

John 2:15

The temple shop keepers would have doves, sheep, and oxen (Matthew 21:12, Luke 19:45, John 2:15) for sell to the people wishing to offer sacrifice without bringing the beast along with them. Which would have been fine, if sold outside the temple grounds (see John 2:16 “take these things hence”). There were Money Changers (Mark 11:15), because the citizens would carry the approved currency of the government (Roman coinage as seen in Matthew 22:19-21, Mark 12:15-17), but the people that worked in the temple would only recognize Jewish money. So, one would have to convert their money first, then use Jewish Temple coin to buy the desired animal to sacrifice. The rate of exchange was very high, and it brought in a lot of money used to support the temple every year. With all the business that was conducted, the temple must have looked like a mall of retailers scattered around doing business as usual.

Anyone making a disturbance and physically attacking the wares and merchandise in today’s malls or stores would be quickly escorted out of the shopping centers. Why didn’t they resist Jesus or stop Him? The power of His anointing (Acts 10:38) was staggering (John 18:5-6) when people came under the influence of His virtue (Mark 5:30, Luke 6:19, Luke 8:46).

The Lord’s anger was inflamed (see notes on John 2:17), but it was not a ranting rage, as some would suppose. He didn’t just blow up and act out with blind fury in the heat of the moment (Ephesians 4:26). He didn’t simply pick up something lying around and whip it at people either. The KJV Bible said that Jesus made a scourge. He literally took the time to fashion a scourge before He began to drive out the businesses.

Ironically, something He made, that is, a scourge, would later be turned against Him (Matthew 27:26, Mark 10:34, John 19:1). Likewise His own creation, man, turned against Him and slew Him. Adding to the irony, Jesus had probably created things out of wood, seeing that His Earthly father was a carpenter (Matthew 13:55, Mark 6:3), and He was nailed to a wooden tree (Acts 5:30).

Verse 16

John 2:16

The doves and other animals (see notes on John 2:15) were in the temple as resources to facilitate religious ordinances involving the sacrifice of such creatures. However, the Lord had issue with the retail practices surrounding the keep and sell of the animals and the effect of those practices both in and to the house of God.

The temple was His Father’s house. Should we set up shop in your father’s house? Should we clutter it with cages and animals? What about the noise and smells? Would that be disrespectful? Would you defend your father’s house? Why would we protect our Earthly father’s home and allow people to treat God’s house as though no one lives there? We should have a zealous respect for the holiness of our heavenly Father’s house (Psalms 5:4-7, Psalms 93:5, Psalms 99:5-9, Zechariah 14:20-21, 1 Corinthians 3:16-17).

Verse 17

John 2:17

The scripture John referred to is Psalms 69:9. In that verse it says about His zeal for the house of the Lord, “the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.” Jesus took the shameful way the temple was treated (see notes on John 2:16) personal. The disrespect shown the house of the Lord was personally disrespectful to the Lord.

Verse 18

John 2:18

People seeking a sign as proof of the anointing and calling on Jesus is a recurring theme throughout His ministry (Matthew 16:1-4, Mark 15:32, John 6:30, John 6:36, John 10:38, John 12:37, John 20:25-29, 1 Corinthians 1:22). Many people came to Him essentially to see the signs and wonders they heard that He performed. However, Jesus repeatedly informed the followers that it is an indication of a wrong heart to simply seek a sign (Matthew 12:38-39, Matthew 16:4, Mark 8:11-12, Luke 11:29, Luke 11:30).

See notes on John 4:48.

This sign seeking was prophesied about (Exodus 4:8, Isaiah 5:19, Isaiah 7:11-14).

Verse 19

John 2:19

Jesus was prophesying that the Jews (see notes on John 1:19) would be responsible for tearing down the temple of His body (John 2:21, 1 Corinthians 3:16, 2 Corinthians 6:16-19, Ephesians 2:21-22, 1 Peter 2:5), and that He would be raised up from the dead on the third day (Matthew 12:40, Matthew 27:63).

From this point on, God no longer dwelt in the temple made with hands, Jesus was saying He was now the temple of God. God dwelt in Him (Luke 4:1, John 3:34). After Jesus was resurrected and ascended, the Holy Spirit was sent to the Earth and now resides within the Believers (John 6:56, John 14:17, John 14:23, John 17:23, 2 Corinthians 13:5, Galatians 2:20, Galatians 4:6, Colossians 1:27, 1 John 4:4).

Verse 20

John 2:20

The Jews’ response to Jesus indicated that their thinking towards the comments from even a spiritual teacher of the people was based in merely the physical and temporal frame of reference. They didn’t think in spiritual terms, because they were not led by the Spirit. They thought in the natural, fleshly terms, because their thinking was dominated by the flesh. Such is the case with those that are lost even now. However, we that believe are to stop being led by our flesh and be led by the Holy Spirit instead (Romans 8:5-14, Galatians 5:16, Ephesians 4:17-24, Ephesians 5:5-8, Colossians 3:4-11, Titus 3:3-7).

Towards the end of Jesus’ ministry, although they didn’t believe it, they would eventually understand what Jesus had meant (Matthew 27:62-68).

For “the Jews,” see note on John 1:19.

Verse 21

John 2:21

See notes on John 2:19. See also Colossians 1:19, Colossians 2:9.

Verse 22

John 2:22

Later, His disciples would recall this statement when they saw the empty tomb and then came face to face with the risen Lord (John 20:6-9, John 20:26-29, Matthew 28:8-10, Luke 24:12-31). Having seen the resurrected Christ, they believed.

The scripture John referred to is likely Psalms 16:10 (see also Acts 2:25-32). They believed that prophesy, because they had seen the fulfillment of it. Jesus said it is better though to believe without seeing it physically happen (John 20:29). Belief through faith alone is pleasing to God (Hebrews 11:6), and faith is the evidence of things that are not seen (Hebrews 11:1).

Verse 23

John 2:23

See notes on John 2:13 about the Passover. The festival was seven days, but John made it clear that he was writing about the Feast Day.

Many people believed, because they saw miracles. In other words, they were impressed by signs and wonders not the awesome presence of almighty God right in front of them (Matthew 12:38-39, Mark 8:11-12, Mark 13:21-22, John 4:48). Don’t miss the awe of the Lord’s presence. He is with us always (Matthew 28:20).

Verse 24

John 2:24

Jesus told us to be careful, because people can’t always be trusted (Matthew 10:16). We might think we are good judges of character, but our ability to discern whether a person is trustworthy or not is limited by our inability to know for certain what’s in a person’s heart. However, Jesus’ discernment wasn’t handicapped by fleshly outward appearances. He could look fully into a man’s heart (see notes on John 2:25).

Verse 25

John 2:25

See notes on John 2:24. Jesus knew what was in people’s hearts (Jeremiah 17:10, Matthew 9:4, Hebrews 4:12).