- What was John's purpose in writing this gospel, and specifically, for including the accounts of Jesus' miracles?
The Purpose of This Book:
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
John 20:30-31
Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and HE SAW (horaó: to see, perceive, attend to) and BELIEVED (pisteuó: to believe, entrust).
(for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead).
Short Definition: I believe, have faith in
Definition: I believe, have faith in, trust in; pass: I am entrusted with
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Jesus answered him, “Are you THE TEACHER of Israel and yet you do not understand these things (Spiritual cleansing & transformation)?
John 3:10
Cognate: 1320 didáskalos (a masculine noun derived from 1321 /didáskō, "to teach") – a teacher, an instructor acknowledged for their mastery in their field of learning; in Scripture, a Bible teacher, competent in theology. See 1319 (didaskalia).
"If I have told you earthly things and you do not BELIEVE, how can you BELIEVE if I tell you heavenly things?"
John 3:12
Jesus focused on the idea that unbelief is the cause of ignorance. At heart, Nicodemus's failure to UNDERSTAND Jesus' Words centered not so much in his intellect, but in HIS FAILURE TO BELIEVE JESUS' witness.
The problem of unbelief John 3:11-12;
The answer to unbelief vs. 13-17;
The result of unbelief vs. 18-21
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Jesus said to her, “Woman (Definition: a woman, wife, my lady), why are you WEEPING?
(Definition: I weep, weep for, mourn, lament cf. John 20:9)
Whom are you SEEKING?”
(Definition: I seek, search for, desire, require, demand)
Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.”
Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
the good shepherd calleth to him by name every sheep of his flock (John 10:3).
That voice of the shepherd, therefore, enters into Mary's heart, opens her eyes, arouses all her senses, and affects her in such a manner, that she immediately surrenders herself to Christ.
Thus in Mary we have a lively image of our calling; for the only way in which we are admitted to the true knowledge of Christ is, when he first knows us, and then familiarly invites us to himself, not by that ordinary voice which sounds indiscriminately in the ears of all, but by that voice with which he especially calls the sheep which the Father hath given to him. Thus Paul says,
After that you have known God, or rather, after that you have been known by him
(Galatians 4:9).
She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).
4462 rhabboní (rabboní) – the emphatic form of 4461 /rhabbí ("rabbi"), note the suffix (-oni). 4462 /rhabboní ("high-rhabbi") REFERS TO THE TOP RELIGIOUS LEADER IN JUDAISM, like the president of THE GREAT SANHEDRIN who functioned as the religious leader of the nation. Cf. John 3:10, 12
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Jesus said to her, “Do not CLING (Short Definition: I touch or handle
Definition: prop: I fasten to; I lay hold of, touch, know carnally) to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
John 20:8, 15-17
We ought, therefore, to conclude, that they were not forbidden to touch him, until Christ saw that, by their foolish and unreasonable desire, they wished to keep him in the world.
"For I am not yet ascended to my Father." We ought to attend to this reason which he adds; for by these words he enjoins the women to restrain their feelings, until he be received into the heavenly glory.
All who endeavor to go to him must rid themselves of the earthly affections of the flesh, as Paul exhorts,
If ye then be risen with Christ seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God,
(Colossians 3:1)
- What do you learn about Jesus and His mother from verses 3-5?
When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.”
When the wine ran out/They have no wine:
hustereó: to come late, be behind, come short
5302 /hysteréō ("failing to fulfill a goal") means to be in lack and hence, unable to meet the need at hand because depleted ("all run out"). This state of lack (insufficiency, privation) naturally results when a person misses out on what is vital.
Wine:
Acts 2:13
But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”
gleukos: sweet new wine
Short Definition: sweet wine
Definition: the unfermented juice of grapes; hence: sweet new wine.
And Jesus said to her, “Woman (Definition: a woman, wife, my lady), what does this have to do with me?
My hour (hóra: a time or period, an hour), has not yet come.”
2240 hḗkō (a primitive verb) – properly, to reach the end-destination (goal).
His mother said to the servants, “DO whatever HE TELLS you.”
poieó: to make, DO
Definition: (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause
legó: to say (I TELL, Command)
properly, to say (speak), moving to a conclusion (bringing it to closure, "laying it to rest").
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Mary did you know?
Isaiah 7:14
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son (THE LORD IS WITH YOU), and shall call his name Immanuel (God with us).
Luke 1:28
And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O FAVORED ONE, THE LORD IS WITH YOU (Immanuel, (God with us)!”
Luke 1:30
“Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found FAVOR WITH GOD.
Luke 1:35
And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore THE CHILD TO BE BORN WILL BE CALLED HOLY—THE SON OF GOD.
Luke 1:42
And she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is THE FRUIT OF YOUR WOMB!
Luke 2:51
And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.
Luke 11:27
As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!”
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Mary did you know
-Jeremy Camp
Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you.
Mary did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand?
Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
And when you kiss your little baby, you have kissed the face of God.
The blind will see, the deaf will hear and the dead will live again.
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, the praises of the lamb.
Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
This sleeping child you're holding is the great I am.
- What TIME is Jesus referring to when He says, "My time has not yet come"?
(John 2:4; 12:23-27; 13:1)
2:4
And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.”
12:23-27
And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
The Son of Man Must Be Lifted Up:
“Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour.
13:1
Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
He was on a divine scheduled decreed by God before the foundation of the world.
The Messianic Age
(a time when wine would flow):
Jeremiah 31:12; Hosea 14:7; Amos 9:13-14
The necessity of the cross (having become a "curse" for us), must come before "the blessing" of "The Millennial Age."
Curse cf. Deuteronomy 21:23; Galatians 3:13
"Millennium" is a theological word derived from the Latin words MILLE, meaning "THOUSAND,"
and ANNUS, meaning "YEAR."
The theological word "MILLENNIUM" has been used to refer to the "THOUSAND YEARS"
mentioned in Rev. 20:2-7 (The Length of The Millennial Kingdom).
Blessed:
Those who die in the Lord (Rev. 14:13), are blessed with the privilege of entering His kingdom.
Hour:
This refers to the time of Jesus's death, resurrection and exultation (vs. 12:27; 13:1; 17:1). Up to this point, Jesus' hour had always been future (2:4; 4:21; 23; 7:30; 8:20).
To the end:
Meaning "to perfection" with perfect love. God loves the world (John 3:16) and sinners (Mt. 5:44-45; Titus 3:4) with compassion in common grace, but loves His own with perfect, saving, eternal love.
- Jesus' miracle of changing water into wine review on his power and glory to his disciples but it also illustrated spiritual truth concerning salvation.
Answer the following questions to help you dig it out.
John 2:11
This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.
What does wine represent at the last supper?
Matthew 26:27-29
And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
Psalm 116:13
I will lift up the cup of SALVATION and call on the name of the Lord.
Isaiah 55:1
“Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
1 Corinthians 10:16
The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not A PARTICIPATION IN THE BLOOD OF CHRIST? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?
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This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.
What does wine represent at the last supper?
Matthew 26:27-29
And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
Psalm 116:13
I will lift up the cup of SALVATION and call on the name of the Lord.
Isaiah 55:1
“Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
1 Corinthians 10:16
The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not A PARTICIPATION IN THE BLOOD OF CHRIST? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?
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- What does the passage tell us about the kind of jars Jesus uses for His miracle?
John 2:6
Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons.
Purification of the Jews
The 6 water jars were made of STONE because STONE was more impervious (IMPENETRABLE), than earthenware (Earthenware is pottery that has not been fired to vitrification and is thus permeable to water) And did not contract on uncleanness. Also, this make them more suitable to ceremonial washing.
(Mk. 7:3-4)
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of THE POWER WILL BE OF GOD AND NOT FROM OURSELVES;
2 Corinthians 4:7
Christ Jesus himself being the cornerSTONE (Ephesians 2:20). The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerSTONE (Psalms 118:22)
Stone (IMPENETRABLE)-
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove THE HEART OF STONE from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
Ezekiel 36:36
IMPENETRABLE (penetrates)-
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it PENETRATES even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12
Jeremiah 2:13
"For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, The fountain of living waters, To hew for themselves cisterns, Broken cisterns That can hold no water (THESE ARE WELL WITHOUT WATER).
Cf.
THESE ARE WELL WITHOUT WATER, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.
2 Peter 2:17
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What is the "banquet Masters" evaluation of the new wine?
Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons.
Purification of the Jews
The 6 water jars were made of STONE because STONE was more impervious (IMPENETRABLE), than earthenware (Earthenware is pottery that has not been fired to vitrification and is thus permeable to water) And did not contract on uncleanness. Also, this make them more suitable to ceremonial washing.
(Mk. 7:3-4)
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of THE POWER WILL BE OF GOD AND NOT FROM OURSELVES;
2 Corinthians 4:7
Christ Jesus himself being the cornerSTONE (Ephesians 2:20). The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerSTONE (Psalms 118:22)
Stone (IMPENETRABLE)-
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove THE HEART OF STONE from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
Ezekiel 36:36
IMPENETRABLE (penetrates)-
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it PENETRATES even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12
Jeremiah 2:13
"For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, The fountain of living waters, To hew for themselves cisterns, Broken cisterns That can hold no water (THESE ARE WELL WITHOUT WATER).
Cf.
THESE ARE WELL WITHOUT WATER, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.
2 Peter 2:17
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What is the "banquet Masters" evaluation of the new wine?
“Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.”
Cf.
OH, TASTE and see THAT THE LORD IS GOOD! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
Ps. 34:8
Isaiah 25:6
On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined.
So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where HE HAD MADE THE WATER WINE. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill.
Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, BUT BECAUSE YOU ATE YOUR FILL OF THE LOAVES.
John 4:46, 6:26
John 4:14 - But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him SHALL NEVER THIRST; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
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Conclusion: what spiritual truths are illustrated by the transformation Jesus made?
which is symbolic for the present age). According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.
how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
Hebrews 9:9-10, 14
1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
Cf.
This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.
the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree.
1 John 5:6, 8
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.
for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.
Ephesians 1:7, 5:8