John 2 - NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible

2:1—4:54 Early Ministry: Signs, Works, and Words. This conveys what Paul says in 2 Cor 5:17: “The old has gone, the new is here!”

2:1 wedding. Celebrations could last an entire week. Jesus’ mother. Also appears in 19:25–27.

2:1–12 Jesus Changes Water Into Wine. This is Jesus’ first sign in John’s Gospel (see v. 11; see also Introduction: Purpose and Addressees).

2:3 wine. Not merely grape juice (“too much to drink” in v. 10 refers to becoming intoxicated). Wine in the ancient world was diluted with water to between one-third and one-tenth of its fermented strength. gone. Socially embarrassing (especially in a “shame” culture) for the host and groom (cf. vv. 9–10).

2:4 Woman. See NIV text note. hour. The appointed time for Jesus’ death, resurrection, and exaltation and related events (7:30; 8:20; 12:23,27; 13:1; 16:32; 17:1). Jesus’ response to Mary may imply that (1) he detects symbolism, i.e., the wedding symbolizes the consummation of the Messianic age (e.g., Matt 22:1–14; 25:1–13), where wine will flow freely (Isa 25:6; Jer 31:12; Hos 14:7; Joel 3:18; Amos 9:13–14); (2) he is the Messianic bridegroom (John 3:27–30; Mark 2:18–22) who will supply all the “wine” for the Messianic banquet; (3) his mission and its timing must follow the Father’s schedule, not human ones.

2:5 Mary trusts Jesus. She is perfectly content to leave the matter in his hands.

2:6–7 The water in the “water jars” used for “ceremonial washing” may represent the old order of Jewish law and custom, which Jesus replaces with something better (see note on v. 4).

2:10 Jesus’ wine is superior, as is everything tied to the new, Messianic age Jesus is introducing.

2:11 first of the signs. See Introduction: Purpose and Addressees. revealed his glory. See note on 1:14.

2:12 Capernaum. See note on Matt 4:13.

2:13 Passover. See note on Luke 2:41. John mentions at least three Passovers (here; 6:4; 11:55), possibly four (5:1).

2:13–25 Jesus Clears the Temple Courts. This event is probably distinct from Jesus’ cleansing the temple at the end of his ministry (Matt 21:12–13; Mark 11:15–17; Luke 19:45–46).

2:14 temple courts. The court of the Gentiles (the outermost court), the one part of the temple where Gentiles could come to pray (see photo). selling cattle, sheep and doves. For sacrificial worship at the temple. It was convenient to purchase the animals on-site, especially for those who traveled to Jerusalem from afar. exchanging money. Converting money to the approved currency for the required temple tax (and charging a percentage for the service).

2:15–16 Jesus is not condemning the merchants for dishonest business practices but for being in the temple area at all and thus excluding the Gentiles from praying there (see note on v. 14). They transformed what should have been a place for worshipful prayer into a noisy market. Jesus may be fulfilling the Messianic expectations of Zech 14:21, where “Canaanite” could be translated “merchant” (see NIV text note there), and Mal 3:1,3.

2:17 remembered. John does not clarify here whether this remembering took place while Jesus was cleansing the temple or later on, after his resurrection (as v. 22 mentions). This quotes Ps 69:9, where David endures opposition because he is committed to the temple (“your house”). Jesus is David’s greater Son: cleansing the temple shows that he is concerned for rightly worshiping God, and he suffers righteously (“consume” refers to his death).

2:18 Jews. Jewish leaders (see NIV text note on 1:19).

2:19–22 No one understood Jesus’ reply at the time (cf. vv. 20,22), and this sheds light on Matt 26:61; 27:40. A temple is the place where God dwells, where humans can meet God. This was a prominent feature of Israel’s worship starting with the tabernacle and then the temples built by Solomon, Zerubbabel, and finally Herod. Jesus is the new temple, rendering the previous ones obsolete, since he uniquely manifests God the Father (see notes on 1:14,18). The ultimate, once-for-all-time sacrifice took place in this “temple” when others “destroyed” it, but Jesus rose from the dead in three days. See “Temple.”

2:23 believed. Sadly, their faith was spurious, and Jesus knew it (vv. 24–25).