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John 2

25 verses

TL;DR

Jesus performs His first miracle by turning water into wine at a Cana wedding and then cleanses the Jerusalem temple, showing divine authority and challenging religious commerce.

Summary

The chapter opens with Jesus attending a wedding in Cana of Galilee, where He transforms water into wine upon his mother’s request, demonstrating His divine power and prompting faith among His disciples. The miracle, described in detail with the waterpots and servants, reveals Jesus’ early sign of glory. Afterward, He moves to Capernaum and later to Jerusalem for Passover, where He discovers merchants and money changers profiting in the temple. Jesus confronts them with a scourge made of cords, driving them out and overturning the tables, condemning the commercialization of the holy place. He declares that the temple will be destroyed and rebuilt in three days, speaking of His body as the temple. The Jews question this claim, and Jesus explains that He refers to His own body. The chapter ends with the Jews remembering His words after His resurrection, and many believers witness further miracles, yet Jesus does not seek to identify Himself publicly.

Outline
  1. Wedding at Cana – water turned into wine;
  2. Cleansing of the temple – expulsion of merchants and money changers;
  3. Prophecy of the temple’s destruction and rebuilding – a foreshadowing of His death and resurrection.
Themes
Divine authority and interventionTransformation and renewalCritique of religious corruption and commercialization
Keywords
miraclewinewatertemplecommerceprophecyfaithdisciplesauthority
People
JesusMother of JesusJesus’ disciplesGovernor of the feastRuler of the feastJewsDove sellers
Places
Cana of GalileeCapernaumJerusalemTemple
Things
waterpotswinesmall cordsmoneytablestempletemple of his body
Key Verses
  • John 2:1-11: Jesus’ first miracle, turning water into wine, establishes His divine power and faith of disciples.
  • John 2:14-16: The cleansing of the temple illustrates Jesus’ authority, condemnation of commerce in sacred space, and prophetic action.
  • John 2:19-21: Jesus’ prediction of the temple’s destruction and rebuilding foreshadows His death and resurrection, linking body to temple.
Questions
  • What does the water‑to‑wine miracle reveal about Jesus’ identity?
  • How does the cleansing of the temple critique religious practices?
  • Why does Jesus refer to His body as the temple?
  • In what ways do the miracles influence belief among the witnesses?
  • How does Jesus’ handling of the situation reflect His understanding of human nature?
Sentiment

mixed
miracles evoke praise, but the temple cleansing introduces conflict and tension.