For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps.” -- 1 Peter 2:1
Opening Thought
Come, Follow Me
Jesus found those men, along the shore, in town, living their normal life – and He called them. He spoke directly to them, invited them into relationship with Him, and offered them a profound new life purpose. In John 2, they begin to discover just how life-changing this decision would be! As they stood among the crowd at that wedding, they watched this Man demonstrate the reality of Who He was and what He was there to do.
What was Jesus on earth to do? Demonstrate true godliness and provide a way for man to live it through redemption. Jesus wanted to show these men how to “fish” – how to live a life that draws the unsaved to God and then “land” them in the boat of salvation and new life in Christ.
As we walk along with the Lord Jesus, observing how He lived, how He engaged and ministered to people around Him, we will be drawn to be like Him, challenged to walk “in His steps, and to follow Him in His mission to draw people to Him.
Study Notes
Walking in His Steps
1. The Beginning of Miracles
- "Signs" in John - While the other Gospels use the word "sign", only John uses it to refer to Jesus' miracles. The emphasis points to how miracles are much more than just to impress. Each is a special pointer, a directional communication, leading to deeper truth only understandable through the eyes of faith. Something relatively small pointing to something much bigger.
- Look at these additional instances of "signs" in John
- John 2:23
- John 6:14, 26, 30
- John 7:31
- John 9:16
- John 10:41
- John 11:47
- John 12:18, 37
- John 20:30
Bible Study Note: A good way to benefit from looking up related verses, like the ones you might have in the marginal references of your Bible, is to list each reference and just write a short phrase from each that links back to your primary verse. Perhaps for Jn. 2:23, you would write "many believed on His name, beholding His signs." Writing things down (or typing them into your computer journal) will help you retain what you study.
2. Friends of the Family
- John 2:1 begins what is likely the 4th day in Jesus' first week of public ministry
. - Note that John covers the first week of Jesus' ministry, and also the final week, starting with John 12.
- Cana: probably just a few miles from Nazareth
- Either or both of the wedding families very possibly were family or close friends that Mary and family spent much time with.
- The disciples tagged along with Jesus - 6 at this point: Andrew, John, Peter, James, Philip, and Nathanael. Jesus is pictured often enjoying social gatherings.
3. The Abundant Provider
- There was a "predicament" at the wedding feast -- no more wine. The feast often went several days, even a week. Adequate provision of such a critical "staple" as the wine was a real obligation of the host. In that cultural context, it was actually possible that there could have been legal action or financial obligation incurred by allowing the guests to experience such a catastrophe.
- Was Mary expecting a miracle? We know from 2:11 that there had been no miracle by Jesus up to that point (Jesus did no miracles during His childhood). Mary did have some "background information", having spent the last 30 years watching Him grow up. Certainly from the beginning, the angelic announcements, the miraculous virgin birth and so much more, she knew the "hour" would come. She had possibly witnessed the baptism, certainly knew it occurred, so the announcement of the Messiah was at hand. She could have simply been asking her son, Whom she knew to be God, to just watch over and minister in the event in some way that would provide for the wedding family.
- Jesus' new relationship with His mother. While "woman" was not a rude or impersonal reference, it was ususally held for certain settings where more formal interaction. While we find it a bit startling, Mary didn't react and it was likely a comfortable gesture. The predicament was a personal one, and Jesus had now embarked on a new public agenda, which we find quickly to be absorbing His total being. From His response, we knew that His relationship with Mary would now be different.
- The "hour" -- The time when He accomplishes His Father's mission, the great final work of redemption, and all that is entailed in preparing for that work. John uses reference to the "hour" several times--7:30; 8:20; 12:23; 13:1; 17:1 (cp 11:9-10); 13:1; 17:1
- Simple confidence -- Note that Mary seems to have had some connection to the wedding feast, perhaps helping the hosts with planning. She was in direct contact with the servants and they were willing to listen to her instructions. She
- Jesus the Provider -- We are blessed with this story as an early demonstration of Jesus' compassion for the people around Him and His reaching out to touch them gently in a way that points them to God. He was also able to give His new followers an initial opportunity to watch as normal life is broken open with a touch from God's hand.
- Purification vessels -- Interesting that Jesus picked these water pots specifically. They had likely been used several times through the wedding ceremony for ceremonial cleansing. Now He takes these vessels of the old Law and transforms them into vessels of the New Covenant.
- "Exceedingly, Abundantly" -- 180 gallons of the best wine ever made! Each of these pots would hold 20-30 gallons. At 1 cup each, this would have been 2400 servings!
- Think of another couple of wonderful passages where God's abundant provision is expressed
Psalm 23:5, "my cup runs over"
Ephesians 3:20, "exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we ask or think" - He began to show His glory -- Verse 11 is strategic first by indicating this to be His first miracle. Beyond that, the essence of His ministry is beautifully summarized in this statement of "manifesting His glory".
For further study:
1. Use the references above to read through John about the “signs” Jesus did and think about how they point to His deity.
2. Meditate on Psalm 23 and thank the Lord for His abundant provision in your life.Think back in your life to 3 desperate situations you have been in and reflect on how you did (or should have) looked to the Lord for provision.
3. Think back in your life to 3 desperate situations you have been in and reflect on how you did (or should have) looked to the Lord for provision.
