Who is Jesus: The only one who came from the Father full of grace and truth
Warm-up: Read Jn 1:14. What makes it difficult for us to be both “full of grace and truth” at the same time? i.e. can we be gracious at the expense of truth, or truthful at the expense of grace? How so?
Read: John 2
1) The first sign (wedding in Cana):
- Why was the lack of wine a problem?
- Was there a real need for Jesus to step in?
- Remember him saying: “Come and see!” (Jn 1). What did the disciples see here?
- Who was from Cana (ca. 8 miles north of Nazareth)? Jn 21:2
- How did this sign compare to Nathanael’s initial expectation? Jn 1:46
2) vv7-9: How is Jesus said to have done this miracle?
- Were ‘prayers’ of anyone else instrumental, v4 ?
- vv8-9. The water “had been turned” into wine: Why didn’t John offer any explanation?
- In your eyes, does this lack of explanation increase or reduce John’s credibility ?
3) Why would John call this event a sign, as opposed to just a miracle (two different greek words)?
- v11: What was the purpose of this sign? cf v23, and Jn 3:2; 4:48; 5:36
- 6 water jars, normally used for ceremonial washings, but they were empty, and their number was short of 7 (i.e. not full either): A metaphor for the emptiness these people experienced? Why?
- How would you describe what is meant by ‘glory’?
- What effect did this manifestation of glory have on his disciples?
- 6 water jars, normally used for ceremonial washings, but they were empty, and their number was short of 7 (i.e. not full either): A metaphor for the emptiness these people experienced? Why?
4) What did this first sign reveal about Jesus, his character, identity, and mission?
- Did Jesus look for any attention or praise?
- vv9-10: Who did actually learn what happened – did it become public knowledge? v11
- Why did Jesus make far more wine than the party could drink ?
5) The other feast (vv13-25): How did the actions and attitude of Jesus differ here from those at the wedding in Cana?
- v17: What exactly was Jesus so upset about?
- Why did he act so severely, v17?
- Would Jesus still do anything like that today, and if so when and where ?
6) According to Matthew, Mark and Luke, Jesus cleansed the temple shortly before he was killed. This was widely known. Nevertheless, John chose to instead place it directly after the wedding in Cana. To what end, i.e. why didn’t he consider the chronological order more important?
- How does this illustrate John’s main point that Jesus is full of both grace and truth?
- What could be sound reasons for John’s gospel narrative to give higher priority to the symbolism of events than to their chronological order?
7) Personal & application
- How do you react to biblical accounts that Jesus performed such miracles as in Cana?
- If you have no problem with them, why not?
- What makes people prejudiced against the possibility of miracles?
- When you read of miracles in the Bible, how do you discern whether they are there to convey some specific spiritual truth?
- E.g., what do the huge empty jars that the Jews used for their ceremonial washings stand for metaphorically?
- What are our empty jars that wait to be filled by Jesus ?
- Wine is a symbol of gladness and prosperity. How do we resemble the people who ran out of wine at this wedding ?
- Where does the sign of Jesus point us to find the joy of life (again)?
- What should we ‘do’ to have more of it? =>
- Our experience of God’s goodness can also become obstructed by filling ‘the temple’ with things that do not belong there:
- What hinders you to see more of Christ’s goodness? Do you welcome Jesus to take a whip and drive out all corruption?
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