This chapter narrates the first sign Jesus did: he changed water into wine. The water was used for washing. It was not used for drinking. This sign showed Jesus was making something new. Jesus was taking what was not fit for drinking into something that would not only be fit for drinking, but used for celebration. Redemption is not fixing something broken. Redemption is making something new.

Mary and the First Miracle

This sign happened through Mary, the mother of Jesus. Even if it was not yet the time for him to reveal himself, Jesus performed this sign for her. His mother told the servants to do what Jesus said.

When the servants took the wine, was it still water? This verse seems to imply that it was so. Verse 9 says, “the servants who had drawn the water knew.”

Credit the sign then to the faith of the servants. Even if what they were giving the governor of the feast was dirty water to drink, they still did it for the simple reason that Jesus told them. This shows redemption is possible ONLY when one is obedient to Jesus. A new creation is possible only by obeying Jesus.

With the changing of water to wine, Jesus changed the water of repentance to the Spirit of power and joy.

The Temple of His Body

When Jesus went to the Temple, he drove out all the merchants and animals. Confronted by the authorities, he told them to “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up... But he spoke of the temple of his body.”

The temple of his body was not only his physical body, but his Church. At his death, the leaders did not only destroy THE Temple of God, but the God of the Temple in the person of Jesus. He redeemed the Temple by raising up his own body. Since the Church is the Body of Jesus, his resurrection made perfect the Temple. The old Temple was made new with the creation of the New Jerusalem - the Church - the community of believers.

By redeeming the Temple, Jesus made all things new. He created a new nation for his chosen people. This nation is the Church, where Simon is Peter - the Rock.

At the end of Chapter 1, Jesus claimed to be the new Israel. The old Israel was established through Jacob and his twelve sons. The new Israel was established through Jesus and his twelve apostles. The old Israel had a physical temple. The new Israel has a spiritual temple.

This is why in the letter to the Hebrews, the author said we are “citizens of heaven”. Just as the old Temple was the symbol of God's presence, the Church is the symbol of Christ's presence. She is also called the Body of Christ.

Believing in Scripture

When Jesus rose from the dead, “they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said.” This is the second instance when the word believe is mentioned in this chapter. The first was after the miracle at Cana. In the first case, they believed in Jesus. This time, they believed in scripture and his word.

Our faith is based on our belief in Jesus. Faith in Jesus is the key to life. We can only believe in scripture if we believe in Jesus. We can only believe in Jesus when we believe his word.

The author ended this chapter by saying Jesus “knew everyone.” He is God so he knows everyone. He knows me. He knows you. He knows us more than we can ever know ourselves.

The author also said Jesus “didn’t need for anyone to testify concerning man; for he himself knew what was in man.” Jesus knows everything. He knows our deepest fears and doubts. He knows our strengths and weaknesses. The good news is he also has the power to do something about them. He changed water into wine. He is God and therefore, able to help us overcome these and lead us to victory.

Jesus said, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up... But he spoke of the temple of his body.” As members of the Church, we are the temples of his body.

You are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Jesus can destroy the old person: the fearful person, the doubting person, the weak person. By destroying it, he will perfect you and make you new. The resurrection of Jesus proves this. There is victory in following Jesus. Believe in Scripture and believe in his word. Believe in Jesus.