Monday, October 7, 2024
Signs
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
This week we begin our look into the seven signs that John has included in his gospel as led by the Holy Spirit. These signs are just seven of many signs and they are included so that the reader may believe and have life in the name of Jesus. When John uses the word “sign” he is using it understanding it to be a miracle that has a deeper teaching. The miracle is meant to reveal the truth about Jesus and his deity. Each of these signs is full of spiritual meaning. For those who were present at the time, it may have seemed as though something miraculous had happened—which is certainly true. However, as John, in the later years of his life reflects on these miracles, he sees something much greater. He sees the glory of God revealed in Christ. He sees the fulfillment the coming of the Messiah brings. Masterfully, he uses these signs to point to the Savior so that people may believe. Most people did not believe that Jesus was indeed God who had taken on flesh. They viewed him as a rabbi. But could not grasp the fullness of who he truly was. John urges the reader of his gospel to follow the signs and find the Savior. He wrote to a people who needed to know the truth that he, the last of the living disciples, could speak to first-hand. Think about the people you know. The people in your life. How many of them truly know Jesus is the Son of God and the Savior? How can knowing these signs help you to help them know Jesus? Pray that God would help you know who in your life he would like you to share with.
Tuesday, October 8, 2024
First week
On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. John 2:1-2
Please read John 1:1-2:11 today. The first 18 verses of John are the prologue. They set the stage for what John will make clear in his gospel. He will make it clear that God came in the Person of Jesus and took on flesh and made his dwelling among us. God lived and walked among men. The Son, who had always been with the eternal Father, came to earth so that he could bring the salvation of God to men. So that people could be reconciled to God. He came to bring the gospel and to bring the kingdom of heaven to earth. John 1:19-2:11 reveal the first week of the earthly ministry of Jesus culminating with the wedding at Cana. This is the first of the signs John will record for us and we will see that it has great significance. Jesus came to walk among us. While John the Baptist was a voice crying in the wilderness, Jesus lived his life among people, engaged in their lives. He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He is the one that John the Baptist has been preparing the way for. Jesus is ready to begin the ministry of revealing God and truth among the people. He calls the first disciples and then heads to a wedding! The humanity and the deity of Jesus both on display testifying to him being the promised one—the long-awaited Messiah. John moves from the calling of Nathanael (who was from Cana 21:2) to the wedding in Cana. Jesus has been invited to the wedding. Some have wondered if it was Nathanael’s wedding! Spend some time today to think about this first week of Jesus’ ministry. Imagine being one of those who were first called to follow him. Imagine what it would have been like to have him tell you that he saw you before you knew him? Then remember that he knew you before you knew him! If you truly know Jesus as your Savior, thank him today for calling you.
Wednesday, October 9, 2024
Wedding
On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. John 2:1-2
Please read John 2:1-11 today. Jesus goes to a Jewish wedding. These were amazing celebrations of joy. R. Kent Hughes gives just a glimpse into the joy of the Jewish wedding.
“The wedding celebration was considered to be the most grand event in life, especially among the poor. Typically the Hebrew wedding ceremony took place late in the evening following a feast. After the ceremony the bride and groom were taken to their home in a torchlight parade complete with a canopy held over their heads. They were always taken along the most circuitous route possible so everyone would have the opportunity to wish them well. Instead of a honeymoon, they held an open house for a week. They were considered to be king and queen and actually wore crowns and dressed in bridal robes, and their word was considered to be law. In lives that often contained much poverty and difficulty, this was considered the supreme occasion. Many would plod all the way through life without ever again having a celebration like this.”
This ceremony would follow a betrothal period which would have united the man and woman for a period of months before this celebration. This would be the culmination of a long wait. Usually, the ceremony would be on a Wednesday. Jesus enters the festivity with his disciples. Imagine the joy involved in this celebration. Jesus is making his dwelling among his people.
Thursday, October 10, 2024
No wine
When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” John 2:3
Please read John 2:1-11 again today. Jesus’ mother was at the wedding as well. It seems probable that she had some role in helping as she became aware of the need. The wine had run out. This would have been a significant issue. The groom and his family were to provide for the wedding, and it would be a source of great shame if the wine were to run out. Additionally, there would have been allowance for a lawsuit from the bride’s family! Wine was a symbol of joy for the Jewish people. The psalmist declares that wine gladdens the hearts of men (Psalm 104:15). The Rabbis said that “Without wine there is no joy.” It would be a great embarrassment and an ending to the celebration and joy if the wine were to run out. It is in this setting that Mary approached Jesus to share the problem. Jesus responds with a referral to Mary as “Woman”. This is a term of respect that he will use for her again from the cross. His question to her can be literally understood as, “what is common to you and me?” For the first time in the gospel John records Jesus speaking of his hour. This refers immediately to his listening to his Father for the time to act, but also most assuredly looks ahead to the cross for that is what John sees repeatedly as the hour in his gospel. Mary moves into a state of faith as she speaks to those who were there to serve the wine. Is there a deeper meaning here? I believe there is. It seems that this first sign finds a setting of joy. There is joy that is represented in the provision of wine and the real risk of joy being removed when the wine is gone. There is a fleeting sense of joy that comes from that which is temporarily supplied. That causes me to ponder what the things in my life may be that are temporary sources of joy. Its not that they are necessarily bad, but they are not eternal. So many things in our lives can bring temporary joy but that joy is illusive. New cars get old; new toys break; new jobs get boring. Are there any ways in your life that you have seen joy slip away?
Friday, October 11, 2024
Good
“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.” John 2:10
Please read john 2:1-11 again today. Take some time to notice what John says about the water jars. What did you notice? They are made of stone. They are for the rites of purification. They are large. They get filled to the brim with water. Stone jars were used for rites of purification because they did not become unclean as did clay jars in the Jewish tradition. Stone vessels did not become unclean. As the water turns to wine and is taken to the head waiter, he declares that this is the good wine. Literally he is saying they have saved the best for last. This is not to say that the wine that had been used before was bad, just that this was that much better! I believe there is great significance in this sign beyond the miraculous and instantaneous wine in great abundance coming from water. It seems the purification jars represent the Jewish ritual system of religion. While there was to be joy in living according to the Law that God had given at Sinai, the leaders of the day had added so many rules of men to the Law that the joy was robbed. But also, as the jars are filled to the brim, there is a Messianic promise being fulfilled. Jesus is the fulfillment of joy. In him is fullness of joy. It is complete joy that is eternal in a reconciled relationship with the Father. It is true joy. The old has gone and the new has come. Jesus is the fulfillment of the promise of God for the New Covenant that he will make with his people. Jesus and the Gospel truly are the good news the world waited for and so desperately needs. The fullness of joy that comes from forgiveness and reconciled relationship with the Father. Take time today to praise God for his amazing gift of Jesus!
Saturday, October 12, 2024
Glory
This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him. John 2:11
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14
Please read John 2:1-11 one more time today. See that within the miraculous event Jesus reveals his glory and the disciples believe in him. They believe after one sign! Amen. When I read these verses, I think about Moses asking God to show him his glory (Exodus 33:18). I think as well of Paul declaring that God is the blessed and only Ruler who lives in unapproachable light who no one has seen or can see (1 Timothy 6:16). Jesus came to reveal God. He came to reveal the glory of God. It was veiled in his human nature, but it was there! The signs revealed it, and the disciples saw it, and they believed. The glory of God remains veiled for so many people. They are still in that place where they are seeking fleeting joy and temporary pleasure. It keeps them from seeing the truth about God as revealed in the Savior. They are left with wine that runs out. Yet, into this man-centered pursuit of significance Jesus comes. He is not just about changing water into wine. He is about changing lives. Have you seen his glory? Have you believed?
Tomorrow we will be looking at the second sign—John 4:46-54 Healing the nobleman’s son