John 2:23-3:15, Miracles, Born Again, God’s Timing

23 Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. 24 But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men,  25 and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man (John 2:23-3:15 NKJV).

     It is interesting that Jesus performed miracles after cleansing the temple. It’s like he is now going full bore into his ministry. The miracles are not recorded but the results are. Many believed in his name. Point – the miracles are not as important as the results, bringing people to saving faith. This is a big problem with some of the current miracle workers. They are doing it to get donations. Sure, some people get saved but you have to wonder what kind of faith they have. The same applies to these that believed in Jesus. As we continue in John, we’ll find out about their faith.

     Jesus would not commit himself to them. He didn’t trust them and wasn’t about to let the crowd try to maneuver the direction of his ministry. He knew what was in them. At this point, I take this to mean that they were wanting to follow him because of miracles to get the things they wanted but didn’t have any deep desire to live godly lives or have a salvific relationship with him. They wanted a conquering Messiah See John 6:15.

     This is the setting for Nicodemus’ visit. Jesus doing miracles, people believing in him for something, and Jesus being cautious about it all.

3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him."

     I hear a lot about how Nicodemus came at night because he was afraid of being seen talking to Jesus. Afraid of his position, his reputation and being a teacher of Israel, he was supposed to be able to root out any imposter. There is credibility to this thought. But I don’t think his only reason was out of fear of being seen, but humility. Look at all the other instances in Scripture where the Jews and Jesus butted heads. It was all in public. If he wanted to confront Jesus or test him to show that he was not the Messiah, he would have come during the day and publicly to get the accolades for doing his job.

     If he came during the day and in public, he would not have the opportunity to get answers and have a true dialog. No, coming by night was the only way he could have a good face to face with Jesus, away from the crowds. He came to learn, not confront. That’s the way we need to come to Jesus, to his word.

     Nicodemus’ confession includes all the leaders. While he personally may have believed this, it is interesting he said, “We.” Whether the rest of the council agreed with him is up for speculation, but their recognition that a miracle worker must have God with him was probably true at this time. Though they didn’t understand how God was with him and what God was going to do with him.

     The conflicts with the Jewish leaders grow as Jesus’ ministry grows. It isn’t automatically full-blown antagonism. The same the same thing happens with each of us. We are reasoning creatures and often change our opinion as we gather more information, or we become stauncher in our opinion.

3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

     Jesus immediately deflects the praise and gets to the heart of the issue. The miracles are peripheral. At the center is the kingdom of God. Believing that the miracles attest to Jesus having God with him is not enough to enter the kingdom of God.

     Born again. This is new. The Old Testament didn’t have this concept of being born again from above. While there were plenty of verses that talked about God giving us a new heart, this would have been something quite strange to Nicodemus. So he naturally talks of physical birth.

     The word for again is translated more often as “from above” than “again.” Also, from top to bottom and from the beginning. It shouldn’t surprise us that Nicodemus didn’t understand. We would not have either.

     Of course, Jesus used this word to teach. As Steve Lawson clearly teaches, Jesus is using it to explain that those who enter the kingdom of God can only do so when God works in their lives. When He causes their spirits to be born. It is the Holy Spirit who moves and regenerates those who are chosen for salvation. We have no idea who they are until they show signs of a new birth. Even then we sometimes can be fooled by imposters.[1]

4 Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?"

5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.  6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  7 Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'  8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."

9 Nicodemus answered and said to Him, "How can these things be?"

     Nicodemus is stuck in the physical world. Being teacher of Israel, he should have been more aware of the spiritual implications that Jesus was explaining. However, the Holy Spirit had not yet opened his mind.

     Jesus’ rebuke about not understanding these things shows that Nicodemus and, in fact, all the Jews should have been able to see this from the Old Testament. Jesus is telling him that he isn’t born again because he didn’t understand. So Jesus goes back to physical metaphor of the wind representing the Holy Spirit. He should have understood this. It was clear. The Holy Spirit works in ways we don’t know. He enlightens our eyes when and where he chooses. We can’t predict it, but we can certainly see the results. So far, Nicodemus has not shown the enlightenment that comes from the Holy Spirit.

10 Jesus answered and said to him, "Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?  11 Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness.  12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?  13 No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.  14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,  15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

     Jesus now switches from “I say to you” to “we speak.” He isn’t teaching this from his own human knowledge but from the Father and what he knows as being part of the Trinity. He is clearly telling Nicodemus that he is the Messiah, the Son of Man described in Daniel.

     He is telling Nicodemus that he must look to Jesus and believe in him if he is ever to be saved. He gives him clues about what will happen, his crucifixion without which there would not be eternal life for anyone. These words must have stuck with him as he attempted to give Jesus a fair trial in John 7:50 but was shut down by the others in the council. Then he finally comes forward in John 19:39 to help bury Jesus. It is all in God’s timing. The wind of the Holy Spirit finally blew on Nicodemus.

     Is today God’s Timing for you? Has the Holy Spirit blown on you so that you understand who Jesus is? Do you understand that you must do more than acknowledging that you believe about Jesus but must surrender to his sovereign rights over you? Do you realize that your ability to do this comes from the Holy Spirit working in you before you can make a decision to follow Jesus? Finally, if you are willing and want to surrender to Jesus, then you have been born again. If you haven’t already, then make it formal by praying for forgiveness for your sins, committing to repentance, and surrendering to Jesus as your Lord.

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[1] https://www.ligonier.org/learn/series/doctrines-of-grace-john.

John 2:13-22 Cleansing, Zeal, Reformation

John 2:13-22 (NIV)

13 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money.

    To understand what is going on, we need to look at the Passover in the Old Testament. This is one of the feasts that required every male to come to Jerusalem. Passover was part of the Feast of Unleavened bread. In Deuteronomy 14:22-26, regarding bringing tithes to the temple, they were told that they could sell their tithes of animals, grain, produce, and then buy whatever they wanted then present it at the temple. Part of the reason for this is that these feasts included eating and drinking and therefore they had to buy the produce and not just give the money.

    In particular, at the Passover, those who arrived from a long distance had to buy a lamb. All sacrifices of animals had to be without blemish and the priests were the ones who determined if an animal was fit for the sacrifice.

    The requirements to bring regular offerings and the offerings’ physical requirements is what led to the abuse in the temple that Jesus was addressing. 1) The priests would only accept offerings that were bought from their cohorts. 2) The prices for these unblemished offerings were exorbitant. 3) People who brought money from other nations had to exchange the money for the local currency – another place that the established hierarchy could gouge the people. The final straw that broke the camel’s back was that they were doing all this inside the temple courts.

    How do we apply this to our lives and the church?

    We should not come to church with the idea of networking with people to make money. I haven’t seen this for a while, but people from one particular multilevel company used to be really good at this. They met people, invited them to their system and made a lot of money while the lower echelon paid the pipers. It still happens with other companies also, insurance sales and people trying to peddle their business.

    Churches have an obligation not to be distracted by things such as making money. Selling things to the congregation like books etc. except to cover expenses of providing them.

    Churches and pastors should never be in the position of selling indulgences such as the Catholic church has done, or prayer cloths with blessings attached. All these things are distorting and undermining what the church is all about. This is not to say we should never let people know what we do for a living. We should be offering our businesses to other and using the businesses of others in the church but not for inordinate gain or expectation of deep discounts. If anything, we should be giving our church family the best deal possible. The abuse comes when the main reason for going to church is to get business, not to worship God.

15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!"

    Take note of how he dispersed the marketeers in the temple. We know that Jesus is sinless and it is demonstrated in this action. He chased the people and animals out. They would be able to recapture their animals. He scattered the money changers coins. They could pick them up again. But the doves, which would have flown away not to be seen again, he made them take them out. No one suffered loss at this action.

    There are times when we need to “cleanse the temple.” Had Luther caved to the political pressure of his time, the Reformation may have been delayed. It would have come, but it would have come by someone else (Est 4:14). If we see something within our churches or our society that needs to be reformed to biblical principles, we must weigh how important our position is. Is it something that needs to be said to raise awareness of other Christians or confront a serious issue in society? Or is it simply causing more uproar in a world of uproar? Is this something that should be kept between you and God (Rom 14:22) or is it something that requires a confrontation such as Paul had with Peter (Gal 2:11-21). Reforming the church always brings controversy but sometimes it is necessary. It should never be taken lightly. Reforming is not revolution but bringing it back to biblical standards.

17 His disciples remembered that it is written: "Zeal for your house will consume me."

    John quotes from Psalm 69:9 about Jesus’ zeal. What I find even more interesting is the two verses preceding it.

For I endure scorn for your sake, and shame covers my face.  I am a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my own mother's sons; for zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who insult you fall on me (Ps 69:7-9 NIV)

    This is like a forecast of Jesus’ ministry. The leaders scorn him and, had he not been sinless, surely it would be deemed as shame. His brothers certainly rejected him as the Messiah and taunted him (John 7:2-5).

    Part of the reason that Christians are scorned and taunted about their faith is their zeal for living godly lives. You never (or hardly ever) see Christians being persecuted or singled out as crazy if they are blending in with the rest of society and doing the same thing they are.

18 Then the Jews demanded of him, "What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?"

    Then enter the Jews again to demand some proof to have the right to do as he did. The religious establishment doesn’t like it when Christians go against their traditions or expectations of what is proper. They were pretty sure that they wouldn’t get one. It was simply their way of trying to intimidate Jesus. It isn’t any different than unbelievers who say they won’t believe in Jesus unless they get a sign. It is an excuse to cover up their own sinful desire to remain in control of their rebellion from God. Had the Jewish leaders really wanted to know where Jesus got his authority, they would only have to go back and ask John the Baptist again. He had already pointed them in the right direction, and they had rejected it.  

19 Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days."  20 The Jews replied, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?" 21 But the temple he had spoken of was his body. 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.

    Jesus’ response is of course recognized by us and stated by John as a reference to his resurrection. However, had we been there at that time we would have been as confused about his statement as the Jews were. We need to be careful about condemning those who are not yet saved. They don’t have the Holy Spirit and they don’t know Scripture. They operate on human reasoning and that is always dangerous. We need to be careful not to operate on human reasoning also. For Proverbs 28:26 says, “Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered (ESV).

    It isn’t until we have had our minds renewed by the Holy Spirit that we can understand Jesus. The disciples didn’t understand it at the time, so why should the Jewish leaders? Just as Nicodemus was stuck thinking about physically being born again, so these were stuck in the physical and couldn’t see the spiritual.

    We must work diligently developing our spiritual vision. As Paul said, “We fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever” (2 Cor 4:18 NLT). We can only do this when the treasures of our hearts are in heaven (Luke 12:34). Then we will not need any physical signs to convince us.

John 2:1-12 Wedding, Water, Wine, Belief

 

1 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; 2 and both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding.

      It is very easy to get distracted by this passage into all sorts of traps. The biggest trap is to try to make something spiritual out of things that were simply narrative to describe the event and put it in the proper setting. While preachers can often make a sermon out of a single verse or even just a couple of words, we must be careful to exegete the passage rather than eisegete it.

      We get the setting from verses 1 and 2. While commentaries attribute several things to these verse even an allusion to Jesus’ resurrection, there is nothing in the context to justify any more than this.

3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to Him, "They have no wine." 4 And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come." 5 His mother said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it."

     The wine ran out. Same as before. This is not a parable that Jesus is teaching with kingdom meaning. It is a fact of the circumstances. However when we come to the point where Mary tells Jesus about it, we can see that something is happening between them that we should examine.

     Clearly, Mary is not asking Jesus to do anything. She is simply informing him of the facts. Now I’ll be like a preacher and apply this to our prayer life. Generally, we don’t need to tell God anything. He already knows it. But we do tell him things and it is more for us than for him. Usually, we follow up with a request, which makes sense. Did Mary know that his human nature needed to be informed but his divine nature didn’t. speculation! We don’t know what she knew, only what she did.

     Jesus’ response is kindly as commentaries explain. Addressing her as “woman” isn’t harsh but was the polite way to address her. Yet, he didn’t say, “Mother.” This signifies that he is an adult and has his independence from her. He isn’t the son that must do whatever she asks.

     His response can only be interpreted in explaining to her that this is not his problem to solve. Jesus is a guest. Note that he was invited, he wasn’t there as Mary’s + one or son. This is all to show that Jesus is being treated as an adult male in the community. Some say that this narrative is placed here to show that Jesus’ ministry is now separated from his family ties.

     Mary’s response isn’t even directed to Jesus. While we still can’t speculate as to what Mary expected Jesus to do, she did expect him to do something. Sometimes we just need to tell God what is going on to ease our own minds and leave the request up to him. We don’t need to tell him what to do or when to do it. Though we are always at liberty to tell him what we would like. Maybe he gets a good laugh out of some of our requests.

     While his brothers were outwardly skeptical and even hostile (John 7:3-5) we can’t be sure how much Mary held on to the things she pondered in her heart from the words spoken by Gabriel (Luke 1:26-37) and her own prayer of praise as well as Elizabeth’s comments (Luke 1:39-55), and the shepherd’s visit (Luke 2:15-20). She also had Simeon’s and Anna’s prophecies to consider (Luke 2:25-38). We know that at one point, her other kids must have convinced her that Jesus was crazy (Mark 3:21).

     We don’t want to idolize Mary and make her out to be more of a saint than any other person. There was 30 years between all the event of Jesus’ birth and this wedding. She saw him grow up and yet she must have had some faith that he could rescue this wedding from embarrassment.

     We can vacillate in our faith just as it appears that Mary apparently did. She didn’t have the New Testament, only those precious moments that may not have been as clear as they were when she heard them. We have no excuses to vacillate in our faith. We have the Word preserved for us and we have solid teachers as well as community of believers. If we start to doubt our faith we should talk to a strong biblical believer. Usually, trials and a lack of prayer, Bible study, and communion with other saints is the cause. The trials come to get us back on the right path.

6 Now there were six stone waterpots set there for the Jewish custom of purification, containing twenty or thirty gallons each. 7 Jesus said to them, "Fill the waterpots with water." So they filled them up to the brim. 8 And He said to them, "Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter." So they took it to him.

     Some jars were 20 gallons and some were 30. The average amount would be 25 so gallons. Jesus turns approximately 150 gallons of water into wine. Did the party need this much wine? Wow! This is impressive. One commentary said Mary and family were poor, so this was probably a small wedding (I see no reason why this wasn’t a big bash – they had servants – plural – they had a master of the feast. It doesn’t sound small to me). Why 150 gallons more after all the rest had been drunk? When Jesus answers prayers, he doesn’t come up with halfway solutions. He does it right. He lavishes his grace upon us (Eph 1:7-8).

9 When the headwaiter tasted the water which had become wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom, 10 and said to him, "Every man serves the good wine first, and when the people have drunk freely, then he serves the poorer wine; but you have kept the good wine until now."

     It was the best wine. Jesus made the best fermented alcoholic beverage with a miracle. We can’t use this to justify the abuse of alcohol or condone alcoholic consumption. It is a statement of fact that Jesus did this for the occasion in a culture where wine was consumed most likely daily. I heard one preacher say he believed it was grape juice because Jesus wouldn’t defile himself with alcohol. This is not what the word says. Some say it was diluted with water, if so, this would not have been the best wine. This was a party not a normal dinner where they would do that. People were drinking enough to not notice if poor wine was brought in. This shows again that Jesus doesn’t provide second best solutions. It may point out that we don’t always recognize Jesus’ miracles in our lives. We become to accustomed to his provision that we don’t realize when he has provided us with the best. Think about this in terms of our salvation. The best is yet to come.

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

     The first sign Jesus did. He did it for two primary reasons other than bailing out the family of the groom. It was to bring glory to himself and to help the disciples believe. This is only the beginning of believing. John 10:37-38 “If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father” (ESV).

     This is the bottom line of why the narrative is included. So that we may believe.

12 After this He went down to Capernaum, He and His mother and His brothers and His disciples; and they stayed there a few days.

     Here is another small detail that wasn’t provided earlier. Jesus’ brothers were also at the wedding. Did they see the miracle? What was their reactions? It is interesting that their reaction was not recorded. Yet we know they did not have faith in him as was pointed out before. This shows that two different groups of people can see the same thing and believe or not. It isn’t until the Lord opens our eyes that we can believe.