Joh 2 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for John 2:1-16: 2:1–10:42 Jesus illustrated his identity and work through the institutions and festivals of Judaism (see 2:1 ; 5:1 ). Summary for John 2:1-25: 2:1-25 In this section, Jesus appeared at two symbolic Jewish ceremonies. At a wedding in Cana (2:1-12 ), he replaced the ritual cleansing water with his own superior wine. Later, around Passover, he cleansed the Temple (2:13-25 ). 2:1 The ceremonies surrounding a wedding celebration could last as long as a week; weddings often included dramatic processions in which the groom would bring the bride to his home for the festivities (Matt 25:1-13 ).

Summary for John 2:1-16: 2:1–10:42 ^a Jesus illustrated his identity and work through the institutions and festivals of Judaism (see 2:1 ^b; 5:1 ^c).
Summary for John 2:1-25: 2:1-25 ^d In this section, Jesus appeared at two symbolic Jewish ceremonies. At a wedding in Cana (2:1-12 ^e), he replaced the ritual cleansing water with his own superior wine. Later, around Passover, he cleansed the Temple (2:13-25 ^f). 2:1 ^g The ceremonies surrounding a wedding celebration could last as long as a week; weddings often included dramatic processions in which the groom would bring the bride to his home for the festivities (Matt 25:1-13 ^h).
2:3 ⁱ When the wine supply ran out, the host’s family would face embarrassment for failure to plan properly. Perhaps Jesus arrived unexpectedly (cp. Matt 25:1-13 ^j), bringing his circle of disciples, which might explain why his mother brought the problem to him.

• A wedding banquet was a primary celebration in Jewish village life, and this episode also symbolized the joy of the Messiah’s arrival.
2:4 ^k Jesus initially distanced himself from the problem. His mission and its timing could not be set by a human agenda.

• Jesus’ time (literally hour) would come in the future when he was glorified as he was lifted up on the cross (12:23 ^l; 17:1 ^m).
2:6 ⁿ Carved from solid rock, the stone water jars were used for religious washing ceremonies (see Mark 7:1-4 ^o). Jesus was about to fill Jewish ceremony with new content.
Summary for John 2:9-10: 2:9-10 ^p The master of ceremonies cited a proverb. The best wine was always served first when palates were most sensitive; yet this miraculous wine, served last, was the very best. Good wine symbolized God’s blessing (Amos 9:13-14 ^q). The Messiah, God’s greatest blessing, had arrived at last.
2:11 ^r Jesus had offered his first miraculous sign. In it, he revealed the glory of God (see also 1:14 ^s; 11:4 ^t, 40 ^u).
2:13 ^v Passover, an annual spring festival, commemorated Israel’s rescue from slavery in Egypt (Exod 12 ^w). Jews traveled to Jerusalem to participate in the festival (Deut 16:1-16 ^x). Because John refers to three Passover festivals (John 2:13 ^y; 6:4 ^z; 11:55 ^aa), many conclude that Jesus had a three-year public ministry.
Summary for John 2:14-17: 2:14-17 ^ab Those who came for Passover needed to have approved sacrifices for worship. From this need grew a considerable industry for selling animals and exchanging money, but this business was being conducted in the Temple. Jesus, like a prophet, demanded that God’s house be returned to its intended uses—worship, prayer, instruction, and sacrifice. This put Jesus at odds with the Temple leadership.

• The synoptic Gospels place the clearing of the Temple near the end of Jesus’ ministry (Matt 21:12-13 ^ac; Mark 11:15-17 ^ad; Luke 19:45-46 ^ae). John might have placed his account of the event here to emphasize a connection with the miracle that transformed the water in purification jars into wine (John 2:1-11 ^af). The Temple and the stone jars were both instruments of purification in Judaism. Stone jars filled with water for ritual washing now contained Jesus’ wine, and a stone Temple dedicated to sacrificial purification would be replaced by Christ himself (2:19-21 ^ag). Another view is that Jesus cleared the Temple at the beginning and again at the end of his ministry.
Summary for John 2:19-21: 2:19-21 ^ah Destroy this temple: Herod the Great began reconstructing the Temple’s magnificent structure in 20 BC, and work on it continued until AD 64. This explains why Jesus’ audience was amazed when he claimed he could destroy and rebuild it in a few days. However, Jesus spoke figuratively of his own body as the temple where God was present (see 1:14 ^ai, 51 ^aj)—his body was destroyed and restored in three days through the resurrection, rendering the Jerusalem Temple and its services obsolete. Later, at his trial, Jesus’ symbolic reference to destroying the Temple was used as evidence of blasphemy (Mark 14:58 ^ak).
2:22 ^al they believed: Witnessing a miracle from God can inspire belief, but it is not the deepest faith possible (20:29 ^am).
2:24 ^an John uses a play on words here. Because of his signs, many people trusted in Jesus (2:23 ^ao), but Jesus didn’t trust them. This did not refer to specific people Jesus met in Jerusalem, but reflects his knowledge of all humanity.