< John 2 >

Jesus performed many miracles by the power of God and many people believed in him as a result.v.23John 2:23XWaiting for response John records eight of these miracles, which he called “signs”, and they not only prove Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, John 20:30-31John 20:30-31XWaiting for response but they also illustrate his work of redemption.

For example, Jesus “gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” Titus 2:14Titus 2:14XWaiting for response and the Jews thought they could purify themselves by washing with water and they had many traditions to achieve this Mark 7:3-4Mark 7:3-4XWaiting for response but Jesus taught that we can only be pure in God’s sight because of the shedding of Jesus’ blood and by imbibing his word. Both Jesus’ blood and the Word are symbolised in the scriptures by wine, therefore Jesus illustrated the true purifying process by turning the water in the Jews’ purifying jars v.6John 2:6XWaiting for response into wine.vs.7-11John 2:7-11XWaiting for response

Jesus and his family moved from Nazareth to Capernaum on the northern shore of the sea of Galilee which then became “his own city”. Matthew 9:1Matthew 9:1XWaiting for response He then went to Jerusalem and drove the moneychangers out of the temple saying: “Make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise”.v.16John 2:16XWaiting for response This was at the beginning of his ministry and he did it again three years later Matthew 21:12Matthew 21:12XWaiting for response manifesting his zeal for God as prophesied of him in the Psalms.v.17;John 2:17XWaiting for response Psalms 69:9Psalms 69:9XWaiting for response

The Jews sought signs from him as evidence of his authority to clear the temple and, although Jesus did many miracles to prove he came from God, he cited his own resurrection from the dead and referred to the temple of his body:v.21John 2:21XWaiting for response “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up”.v.19John 2:19XWaiting for response The Jews misunderstood his words, thinking he was speaking of the temple built by Herod the Great.v.20John 2:20XWaiting for response Later his words were distorted to form a false accusation against him. Matthew 26:61Matthew 26:61XWaiting for response The Jews were able to accomplish his crucifixion, but he was delivered from the grave according to his word, and the disciples then remembered what he had said on this occasion and believed both his word and the scripture.v.22John 2:22XWaiting for response