A Study on the Gospel of John: Week 2

This week during our Bible study we covered John 2. In this chapter, you will see the first miracle that Jesus performed. This started his public ministry.

Overview of John 2 

• This is the beginning of the signs that Jesus used to point beyond himself to the truth about God after being baptized by John the Baptist
• Talks about Jesus' first public miracle (sign) 
• Miracles are always a sign that points beyond the event of the miracle to the greater truth
• John 2:1-11 tells the story of Jesus turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana of Galilee
• The sign of Jesus changing water into wine shows Jesus' creative power
• This miracle (sign) caused the disciples to believe in Jesus 
• God's purpose for allowing miracles is so He will receive the glory for the miracle

Verses 1-10 of Chapter 2 of the Gospel of John describes how Jesus was given the opportunity to perform a miracle at the wedding in Cana of Galilee in order to reveal his true power to the disciples and the people around him. When the wedding party unexpectedly ran out of wine to serve to it's guests, they were in a panic as to what they should do to keep guests happy. Mary, the mother of Jesus, told the servants to do whatever Jesus told them because she knew that Jesus was the Son of God. Although Jesus was reluctant, telling Mary that it was not his time (2:5), he still instructed the servants to fill 6 stone pots with water. Jesus then had the servants draw out water from one of the pots and take it to the governor, who complemented the bridegroom for saving the best wine for last. This miracle shows that Jesus brings new joy into life. Jesus not only blessed the wedding with more wine to save the wedding party from embarrassment, but also replaced the old wine with new, better tasting wine. This is a great example of what Jesus does in our lives. When our lives without Jesus are empty and dry like the wine barrels at the wedding, He will fill our lives with the best blessings life has to offer if we come to Him with the same faith that Mary had in him. The meaning of the sign is revealed in verse 11. The purpose of the sign was two-fold; to manifest the glory of God and for Jesus' disciples to believe on him.

Moving into verses 12-25 of Chapter 2, we learn about Jesus cleansing the Temple in Jerusalem. The Jewish Passover was being celebrated and Jesus traveled to Jerusalem with his disciples to take part in the celebrations. Passover was celebrated as a time of remembering God's deliverance of the children of Israel from their slavery in Egypt during the time of Moses. While in Jerusalem, Jesus visited the Temple and became so upset by the sight of those that sold sacrificial animals for the Passover. He was so furious because the merchants were extorting money from the people who didn't have sacrifices by charging them high interest rates for the animals. It was more convenient in these times to purchase an animal at the Temple because they did not have to travel far with the animal and the animal would be certified and clean. Jesus made a whip out of small cords and drove out the merchants and their animals. He also poured their money out onto the floor and turned over the tables.

 "And he said to them that sold doves take these things hence, make not my Father's house a house of merchandise." (John 2:16, KJV) 

John 2:17 is a fulfillment of prophecy from the Old Testament: 

"For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproach thee are fallen upon me." (Psalms 69:9, KJV)

 Jesus had the right to show zeal and anger against such desecration of the Temple. He was the Messiah and his act stirred the memory of the disciples. 

"Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, What sign showest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?" (John 2:18, KJV) 

"Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up" (John 2:19, KJV)

"Then said the Jews, forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?" (John 2:20, KJV)

The Jews did not understand that Jesus was referring to his body and not the Temple building. When Jesus had risen from the dead, his disciples remembered what he had said that day and they believed the scripture and the words of Jesus. On the day of the Feast of Passover, many believed in his name when they saw the miracles which he did. Jesus did not trust nor believe in people because Jesus knew all men's hearts; just as he knows our hearts today. He knew man's nature and how easily man could be deceived. Jesus knew the men he could trust and the ones he could not trust. He knew every man who professed to believe, yet those same men would betray him, deny their faith under pressure, turn their back on him, fall back into sin, be easily influenced, and show weakness. They would be untrustworthy, lack genuine commitment, and would not have the courage to stand up for what is right. Nothing is hidden from God even though we try to hide things from others. God sees everything we do, whether it be good or bad, done in the light or in the dark, in the open or behind closed doors, or done publicly or secretly. 
 

A study on the Gospel of John: Week 1

My husband and I started a Bible study in our home last week. These are the notes from that study. We decided to begin with the Gospel of John because we believe the Gospel of John sets a good foundation for explaining who Jesus Christ was and why it is so important to follow him. We invite you to study along with us and learn more about Jesus! 

Overview of the Gospel of John 

• The whole purpose of the Gospel of John is explained in John 20:31. 
• But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name (KJV)

• The Gospel of John does not give a name for its author but it is traditionally believed to have been written by the Apostle John, son of Zebedee and brother of James. The Apostle John was very close to Jesus and the Gospel of John was written from someone who was able to give an eyewitness account to the works of Jesus. 
• The major doctrine of this gospel is salvation. 
• The Gospel of John is a challenge to the world to place faith in Jesus Christ. 
• There are no parables in the Gospel of John. 
• The word "Believe" is mentioned in the Gospel of John 98 times.
• There is a significant emphasis on the miracles of Jesus, showing witness to his deity, and of Jesus attending feasts, showing the importance of the Old Testament feasts. 
• The Gospel of John provides us with the fullest account of Jesus' ministry in Judea. 
• The theological significance of this book is that we learn much about God as the "Father". 
• John's Gospel also tells us more about the Holy Spirit than any other gospel. 
• The ethical significance of this book is described for us in John 13:34-35. 
• A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. (KJV).

• We owe all that we have to the love of God. The proper response to that love is to show love to God and to others. 

John 1:1 says In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (KJV) The meaning of "Word" in this verse is referring to Jesus Christ. This verse is explaining to us  that Jesus Christ has existed since the beginning of creation and has been with God and is God. John 1:14 helps clarify John 1:1 by saying this: And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. This verse is telling us that the Word, Jesus Christ, came in the form of man and lived on Earth with us.

The first chapter of the Gospel of John explains who Jesus Christ is and explains that Jesus is the way to eternal life. John 1:12-13 says But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (KJV). Becoming a child of God is only possible if you believe in Jesus Christ. You do not have to be of a certain blood line, certain social status, or attend a certain a church. You do not have to jump through hoops of fire, wear certain clothes, or dress a certain way. The only think you HAVE to do to become a child of God is to believe in Jesus Christ.

The last half of the first chapter of the Gospel of John tells about John the Baptist, who baptized people in the Jordan River and the first disciples of Jesus Christ.

 John the Baptist is a significant person in the Bible because he was sent by God to prepare the way for Jesus. The Jews mistook John the Baptist for the Messiah and sent priests to ask him who he was because he was preaching to people about God. When he told them he was not the Messiah, they believed him to be the prophet Elias. John the Baptist answered them saying: I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. (John 1:23, KJV). 

 In verses 1:37-51, we learn about the first disciples to follow Jesus. In verse 37 we are told that two disciples heard him speak and began following him. Only one of them is named. Andrew, Simon Peter's brother is the one named. The unnamed disciple is believed to be the Apostle John. Andrew took his brother Simon Peter to see Jesus and upon meeting Simon, Jesus changed his name to Cephas meaning "a stone". This is interesting because Peter (who is also known by the names Simon and Cephas) is nothing like a stone as you will see in later books of the Bible. Most notable is when he denies Jesus three times.

The day after meeting with Andrew and Simon Peter (Cephas), Jesus finds Philip in Galilee and tells Philip to follow him. Philip follows him without any question and tells Nathanael that he has found whom Moses and the prophets wrote about. Nathanael questioned whether something good could come out of Nazareth where Jesus was from and Jesus told Nathanael where Nathanael came from and what he was doing before Philip brought him to Jesus. This proved to Nathanael that Jesus was who he said he was. And Jesus said to him: Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under a fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these. And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man. (John 1: 50-51, KJV). 

 The first chapter of the Gospel of John is important because of the first verse. John 1:1 tells us that Jesus Christ has existed since the very beginning and if you look back into the Old Testament there are examples of his presence even then. For example, the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. When they were thrown into the fiery furnace for not bowing down to Nebuchadnezzar's image of gold, they did not burn in the fire because a fourth person appeared in the fire to protect them. This person, or form of a person, was Jesus Christ before he was made flesh.

Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. He answered and said Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. (Daniel 3: 24-25, KJV)

Jesus Christ has been with us since the beginning and will never leave us. All we have to do is believe in him and have faith in him. What did you learn most from Chapter 1 of the Gospel of John? What questions do you have after reading this chapter? 

Please feel free to leave us questions or comments on this week's study!