DESTINATION GOD

HE'S GOT THE ANSWER

In Chapter 2 our main concept is going to be just that: He's got the answer to a variety of situations.

Jesus is going to a wedding. In those days marriage meant more to the Jews than just a time for a party. They thought that marriage carried with it the forgiveness of sin. This included the symbolism of the union between God and Israel.

The seriousness of the idea can be understood in the tradition of betrothal. Legal documents were exchanged that bound an engaged couple together legally for a period up to 12 months. They would not live together during that time, but had all the legal coverings of being married. To "break off" an engagement (or betrothal) required a certificate of divorce. At the end of that period, the actual wedding ceremony and feast would take place. And it would be a great feast. Everyone would be invited.

And that is where the problem arises. Somehow, they didn't have enough wine. What would easily be the biggest event for that family, and maybe the entire community because Cana (in Galilee) was a small village, and they ran out of wine?  This event is apparently important to someone close to Mary, because she is the one who attempts to solve the problem. She also has some authority over the servants in the home. So she goes to Jesus and tells the servants to do whatever He says.

(John 2:8,10) -- (Jesus) said, "Now take some water and give it to the man in charge of the feast." The servants did as Jesus told them. (the host said)"The best wine is always served first. Then after the guests have had plenty, the other wine is served. But you have kept the best until last! (CEV)

This can teach us something about grace in our own lives.Look at what Jesus did. He asked for six barrels of water.  Each one held between twenty and thirty gallons apiece.  So, let's do the math.  Average it out to twenty-five gallons a barrel.  If you do the math:

• Six barrels times twenty-five gallons = 150 gallons
• 150 gallons times 128 ounces in per gallon = 19,200 ounces
• 19,200 ounces divided by six-ounce glasses = 3,200 glasses of wine

The very first thing we see about Jesus is grace.  In the face of somebody else's mistake, in the face of somebody who doesn't deserve it, Jesus pours out an abundant, extravagant statement of grace. Jesus answer was, I will meet your needs over and above.

Well, that brings me to the second situation for which Jesus has the answer. And I am going to go about this one backwards. I'll explain what I mean first, then tell you what it is last. To properly understand this next incident, we need to look at how all the Gospels recorded it. We also need to understand exactly what was taking place.

John 2:12-17--To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market! (NIV)

Luke 19:46--He told them, "The Scriptures say, `My house should be a place of worship.' But you have made it a place where robbers hide! (CEV)

Matthew 21:13--He quoted this text: My house was designated a house of prayer; You have made it a hangout for thieves. (Msg)

Mark 11:17--He taught them saying, 'Is it not written, 'My house is to be called a house of prayer for all the nations'? You have made it a place of robbers.' (NLV)

All people over the age of 19 had to pay a Temple tax. This tax was almost 2 days wages. The tax could only be paid in a certain currency. Since people from all over the known world would come to the Temple, they came with a variety of currency. This would have to be changed to an acceptable kind. The people who made the exchange would charge a bit to make a profit, and legitimately so. However, they had taken the practice and thoroughly abused it. Not only would they charge to change the coins, they would also charge to "make change". If someone brought a coin larger than necessary and needed change, the money-changers would charge a fee to make the change. Then charge another fee to exchange the currency.

In addition, obviously people would come to the Temple to worship. This worship included animal sacrifice. Some would bring their animals with them but others would purchase an animal once they got to Jerusalem. Once in the Temple, they had to have their sacrifice inspected to insure the animal was spotless, and worthy as a sacrifice. The charge for this was about 1/3 of a day's pay. If the animal were rejected, as would often be the case (go figure), the worshipper would then have to buy one. Of course, animals available at the Temple were often 15-20 times more expensive, nearly a month's wages in some cases.

You can imagine the hoopla that would be taking place in the Temple nearly all the time. Arguments over money exchange rates, disputes about the animals and whether they could be used for sacrifice, confrontations about the costs of the animals at the Temple. And all of this going on in the same location that was also supposed to be used for worshipping God, the Court of the Gentiles.

And into this fray Jesus waded. There are at least 3 reasons Jesus acted as He did:

1. People were approaching God casually, without due realization of His Holiness. Theirs was worship without reverence.
2. Sacrifices were but a show. There was no true worship intended. He tells them, in effect, "I've seen enough stuff from you. But I haven't seen enough stuff in you."
3. Look at this incident in Mark 11:17, 'My house is to be called a house of prayer for all the nations'. It was in the setting of all this noise that Gentiles were expected to pray and worship. For all intents and purposes, because of the mannerisms and methods of the Jewish leaders, they were turning strangers away from their closed, little social club.

2. Jesus' answer is REVERENT WORSHIP

Finally, what is Jesus' answer to ignorance and stubbornness?

John 2:17-22--That's when his disciples remembered the Scripture, "Zeal for your house consumes me." But the Jews were upset. They asked, "What credentials can you present to justify this?" Jesus answered, "Tear down this Temple and in three days I'll put it back together." They were indignant: "It took forty-six years to build this Temple, and you're going to rebuild it in three days?" But Jesus was talking about his body as the Temple. Later, after he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered he had said this. They then put two and two together and believed both what was written in Scripture and what Jesus had said. (Msg)

We have already talked about how the Temple worship had degenerated into something less than true, heartfelt, reverent worship. The people believed their only way to God to be through Temple-based worship. Jesus was not commenting on the building itself, but the worship, or lack thereof, which took place inside it. What He meant was:

• Their man-made worship was ending, to be replaced by worship in Spirit and Truth
• Animal sacrifice and ritual was being replaced by direct access to God through Jesus? sacrifice.
• The Temple of God in Jerusalem was being replaced by the Temple of the Holy Spirit in our hearts

And this is only possible by the death and resurrection of Jesus. Of all the miracles Jesus performed, the Resurrection is the one that counts. That is how chapter 2 reveals Jesus to be a MIRACLE WORKER. One of the three different words are used for the miracles of Jesus is semeion, which means sign. This is John's favorite word. Miracles are not just extraordinary things that happen. They are signs. Jesus' miracles told others something about Jesus' character. The fact that Jesus used His power to heal, to feed, to comfort showed God cares for our sorrows and needs. To John, miracles were a sign that God loves us.

So, to say that Jesus is a miracle worker is also to say that Jesus loves us and cares for our sorrows, hurts, and deficiencies. Not only does He have the answer, He is the answer. The answer is the hope we have in the resurrection, by which we can make an offering of reverent worship, which leads to the practice of generous grace, both on Jesus' part to us and on our part to others.