Christ Church

Dr. Ben Merkle

John 2:1–12

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THE TEXT

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. 3 And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.”

4 Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me?My hour has not yet come.”

5 His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”

6 Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. 7 Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it. 9 When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. 10 And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!”

11 This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and [a]manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.

12 After this He went down to Capernaum, He, His mother, His brothers, and His disciples; and they did not stay there many days.

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The Winker

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THE TEXT

A worthless person, a wicked man,
    goes about with crooked speech,
13 winks with his eyes, signals with his feet,
    points with his finger,
14 with perverted heart devises evil,
    continually sowing discord;
15 therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly;
    in a moment he will be broken beyond healing (Prov. 6:12-15).

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John 1:29–51 (CCD)

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The Text

John 1:29–41

1:29-34 THE TESTIMONY OF JOHN

In some sense, John the Baptist did not know who Jesus was. This was revealed to him at the baptism of Jesus, when the Holy Spirit descended as a dove upon Jesus. This prompted John the Baptist’s testi- mony that Jesus was the long-foretold “lamb,” which God would send to take away the world’s sin. This was the lamb that God promised Abraham he would provide (Gen. 22:8), which was symbolized at Passover ( John 19:36), and was prophesied of Jesus (Is 53:7). Jesus was the lamb that God said he would provide.

This testimony culminated at the baptism of Jesus, when John beheld the descent of the Spirit, which confirmed a prophecy that he had been given as a key part of his own ministry. This was indeed the Son of God. John doesn’t describe the actual baptism of Jesus, but he does provide us with the place where this happened.

35-49 CALLING THE DISCIPLES

Two of John’s disciples, Andrew and probably John, leave John the Baptist to follow Jesus. It is said of Andrew that every time he shows up he is bringing someone to Jesus. Here, Andrew recruits his brother, Simon, whom Jesus renames Cephas (or Peter). Next, Jesus calls Phillip and Nathanael, and demonstrates his power to Nathanael by revealing to Nathanael his vision of him from afar.

50-51 JACOB’S LADDER

Throughout this section there is a constant testimony that Jesus is being recognized as the “Son of God” – 1:34 and 49. This is a declaration the Jesus Christ was the eternal Son of God (1:18). But now Jesus introduces himself as something new. He says that he is the “Son of Man” – 1:51. With this he points back to the prophecy of Dan. 7:13-14. This refers to the pre-ordained earthly ministry that the Son of God came to perform. We should note that this launches the fulfillment of Daniel’s prophecy. And from here, Jesus adds the reference to Jacob’s ladder (Gen. 28:12), the upcoming union of heaven and earth.

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John 1:1–28 (CCD)

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The Text

John 1:1-28

Background on John the Apostle

Personal, first-hand account, and yet at some distance from the events because he writes to correct false accounts that have been passed on. Called as a fisherman.

1-5 Creator

When John opens his Gospel, he introduces us to the Son as the Creator. These first few verses are packed full of references to Genesis 1 and are meant to reveal to us something critical about who Jesus is – he is our Creator. And we should understand that the act of creation is a revelation of divine authority. The act of creation uniquely belongs to God. And the fact that the Father created by means of the Son is a testimony to the full divinity of the Son.

6-13 John the Witness

John the Baptist, who was introduced to us at the end of Malachi, was sent as a witness to Jesus. He was sent before, so that he could stand and point at Jesus and declare just who he was. But here, John the Evangelist introduces us to a dilemma, namely that we can have someone sit and point clearly at an obvious and brilliantly lit up truth, and we can still not see it.

14-18 The Word Became Flesh

We cannot overcome our own spiritual blindness. We require the grace of a loving God who stoops and reveals himself to us. This is what the incarnation was, God revealing himself to a blind people by sending his Son in the flesh. And we behold his glory because he gives us eyes to see it.

19-26 John the Baptizer

So how do you open your eyes to this? It is worth noting that the one who came to prepare the way for the Son came with a baptism of repentance. You get ready for Jesus through repentance.

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