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John 2 English Standard Version (ESV)

The Wedding at Cana

¹ On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. ² Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. ³ When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” ⁴ And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” ⁵ His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

⁶ Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. ⁷ Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. ⁸ And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. ⁹ When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom ¹⁰ and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” ¹¹ This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

¹² After this he went down to Capernaum, with his mother and his brothers and his disciples, and they stayed there for a few days.

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

¹³ The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. ¹⁴ In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. ¹⁵ And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. ¹⁶ And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.” ¹⁷ His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

REFLECTION

• Read over this passage a few times slowly. If time allows, read the whole chapter.
• Jesus miraculously transformed water into wine and brought joy and blessing to the would-be-embarrassed groom and displayed His glory (vv1-11).
• In the second event (vv13-17), Jesus purified the temple. He drove out corruption and insisted that the worship of God be holy and clean.
• He does these two things – transformation and purification – in our lives too. As He transforms He cleanses, and purifies us making us worthy to worship and honour God. And the price of transforming and purifying us was the sacrificial death of God’s one and only Son Jesus.
• What have you noticed of God’s transforming and purifying work in your life lately? How did you respond to it?

PRAYER

Dear Lord Jesus Christ, You can turn water into wine, make the blind see, the lame walk, set the oppressed free, and heal the sick! In my own life, I have also witnessed the miracles and wonders You have done: You have transformed my corrupt old life into a new life full of peace, joy and continuous growth; The stone heart was replaced by a soft and fervent heart of flesh. Lord Jesus, I know that it is no longer I who live, but You live in me. I would like to imitate Your image, be humble and meek, take up my cross and follow You. I want to learn Your love and holiness, to have a kind and forgiving heart to love others, and to have a strong and brave heart to fight against evil. May You drive out all kinds of filth and corruption in my heart like you cleansed the temple, so that I can live a holy life with a pure conscience and pure faith, and strive to run the road ahead. Amen!

HYMN

Nothing but the Blood of Jesus – www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYjhGeAIG6k