Walking in His Steps – John 2

For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps.” — 1 Peter 2:1

Opening Thought:  Come, Follow Me

Jesus found those men, along the shore, in town, living their normal lives – and He called them. He spoke directly to them, invited them into relationship with Him, and offered them a profound new life purpose. In John 2, they begin to discover just how life-changing this decision would be! As they stood among the crowd at that wedding, they watched this Man who is God demonstrate the reality of Who He was and what He was there to do.

What was Jesus on earth to do? Demonstrate true godliness and provide a way for man to live it through redemption. Jesus wanted to show these men how to “fish” – how to live a life that draws the unredeemed to God and then “land” them in the boat of salvation and new life in Christ.

As we walk along with the Lord Jesus, observing how He lived, how He engaged and ministered to people around Him, we will be drawn to be like Him, challenged to walk “in His steps”, and to follow Him in His mission to draw people to Him.

Study Notes

1. The Beginning of Miracles

• “Signs” in John – While the word “sign” is used in the other Gospels,  only John uses it to refer to Jesus’ miracles. The emphasis points to how miracles are much more than just to impress – they are to validate the reality of Who Jesus is and what He is on earth to accomplish.  Each is a special pointer, a directional communication, leading to deeper truth only understandable through the eyes of faith. Something relatively small pointing to something much bigger. Take a look at these additional instances of “signs” in John…
  • John 2:23
  • John 6:14, 26, 30
  • John 7:31
  • John 9:16
  • John 10:41
  • John 11:47
  • John 12:18, 37
  • John 20:30
    
    Bible Study Note: A good way to benefit from looking up related verses, like the ones you might have in the margin references of your Bible, is to use a notebook or create a computer journal.  List each verse reference that you look up and just write a short phrase from the verse that links back to your primary verse. Perhaps for John 2:23, you would write “many believed on His name, beholding His signs.”  Recording these observations will help you retain what you study and facilitate conclusions based on the insight that multiple verses provide.

2. Friends of the Family

John 2:1 begins what is likely the 4th day in Jesus’ first week of public ministry.  Note that John thoroughly covers the first week of Jesus’ ministry, and then also the final week, starting with John 12.

Cana is probably just a few miles from Nazareth.  Either or both of the wedding families very possibly were family or close friends that Mary and her family spent much time with.

The disciples tagged along with Jesus – six of them at this point: Peter, James, John, Andrew, Philip, and Nathanael.   As you read through the Gospels, you will see that Jesus is pictured often enjoying social gatherings.

3. The Abundant Provider

There was a “predicament” at the wedding feast — no more wine. These feasts often went several days, even a week. Adequate provision of such a critical “staple” as the wine was a serious obligation of the host. In that cultural context, it was actually possible that there could have been legal action or financial obligation incurred by allowing the guests to experience such a catastrophe!

Was Mary expecting Jesus to perform a miracle? We know from John 2:11 that there had been no miracle by Jesus up to that point (Jesus did no miracles, possibly witnessed the baptism, certainly knew it occurred, so the announcement of the Messiah was at hand. She could have simply been asking her son, Whom she knew to be God, to just watch over and minister in the event in some way that He sees best and would provide for the wedding family’s need.

Study Thought:  Put yourself in Mary’s sandals and think back through the last 30 years.  What are her memories about conversations she had with her son?  What behaviors or actions had she observed him display that would frame her expectations.  Note some of these thoughts in your journal.

Jesus’ new relationship with His mother is shown by His response. While “woman” was not a rude or impersonal reference, it was usually reserved for certain settings where there was more formal interaction. While we find it a bit startling, Mary didn’t react and it was likely a comfortable gesture. The predicament was a personal one, and Jesus had now embarked on a new public agenda, which we find quickly in John 2 to be absorbing His total being. From His response, we knew that His relationship with Mary would now be different.

Study Thought:  Read through John 2 and see how Jesus takes further steps to introduce His mission.

The “hour” — This statement in John 2:4 refers to the time when He accomplishes His Father’s mission, the great final work of redemption, and all that is entailed in preparing for that work. John uses reference to the “hour” (the completion of Jesus’ sacrifice) several times–7:30; 8:20; 12:23; 13:1; 17:1 (compare 11:9-10); 13:1; 17:1.

Study Thought:  Look these references up and note a phrase in your journal for each.

We are blessed with this story as an early demonstration of Jesus’ compassion for the people around Him and His reaching out to touch them gently in a way that points them to God. He was also able to give His new followers an initial opportunity to watch as normal life is broken open with a touch from God’s hand.  Note that Mary seems to have had some connection to the wedding feast, perhaps helping the hosts with planning. She was in direct contact with the servants and they were willing to listen to her instructions.

The “purification vessels” in 2:6 — Interesting that Jesus picked these water pots specifically. They had likely been used several times through the wedding ceremony for ceremonial cleansing. Now He takes these vessels of the old Law and transforms them into vessels of the New Covenant.

Ephesians 3:20 says that God provides for “Exceedingly, Abundantly”, more that we could expect or imagine.  The waiters saw 180 gallons of the best wine ever made! Each of these pots would hold 20-30 gallons. At 1 cup each, this would have been 2400 servings!

John 2:11, “this beginning of His signs” is strategic by indicating this to be His first miracle, but also, the reverberating nature of His ministry is beautifully summarized as “manifesting His glory”.

For further study:

1. Use the references above to read through John about the “signs” Jesus did and think about how they point to His deity and mission.

2. Meditate on Psalm 23 and thank the Lord for His abundant provision in your life. Think back in your life to 3 desperate situations you have been in and reflect on how you did (or should have) looked to the Lord for provision.

3. Think back in your life to 2 or 3 desperate situations you have been in.  Reflect on how you looked to the Lord (or should have) for provision.
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