Classic Christianity – Book of John Part 5 (04-09-19)
Bob George continues now in the book of John, chapter 2. He paused briefly to explain that Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are referred to as the synoptic gospels. These gospels provide further details that are left out in the book of John. Each of the gospels had a different viewpoint since written to a different audience. Matthew was writing from the standpoint of legal rights to the Messianic throne. Luke provided a detailed account on the life of Christ. Mark wrote primarily to the Gentiles. John was written in 95 A.D. at the end of John’s life about the love of God.
In the first 18 verses, you read about the beginning and the word of God. Then in verse 19, you read John’s testimony.
John 1:19-20
19 Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders[c] in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.”
In between this time and prior to verse 19, you read in the other gospels other details such as John baptizing in the Jordan river and Jesus temptation in the wilderness. Those other details are recorded in Matthew, Mark and Luke but John excludes such details. After the temptation in the wilderness, pick up now in John 1:19 concerning the Sadducees and Pharisees who sent priests and Levites to ask John the Baptist, “Who are you?”
In Matthew, Mark and Luke, you read about the preparation of Jesus, the baptism of Jesus by John at the Jordan river. In John, we read about where John the Baptist identified Jesus to Israel, the one on whom you see the dove descend is the one, the promised Messiah. Jesus was baptized to fulfill that prophecy and in regard to fulfilling all righteousness in regard to that prophecy. Jesus then called his first disciples.
Bob continues now in John 2, with the first miracle in the wedding at Cana, where water is turned into wine.
John 2:1-12
1 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”
4 “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”
5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.
7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.
8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”
They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”
11 What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
12 After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.
Mary had some kind of job, like a wedding coordinator, at that wedding in Cana. When wine was gone, Jesus reply, “Why do you involve me?” Mary was more than a guest. Jesus said, “My time has not yet come.” She was like any Jewish mother, and essentially said, “Whether his time had come or not, do what he tells you to do.”
Now this was a lot of water, 20 to 30 gallons. Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” The jars were filled to the brim. That prohibits adding some kind of Welch’s grape juice to the water. Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet. They did so. The master tasted the wine and did not realize where it had come from although the servants knew. He master was amazed and said, “Everyone brings out the choicest wine first. You saved the best for last.”
What Jesus is saying is what happens in many parties. Most have rot gut for the end for then too drunk they would not know the difference. This is unusual for somebody to do what Jesus did, to bring the best for last.
Scripture does not say, “Do not be drunk on grape juice. It says to not be drunk on wine. It is fermentation. Wine to be wine must be fermented. The miracle in the wedding feast was in the fermentation of wine. There are those who are so anti-drinking that they will twist scripture to defend against drinking wine. The bible is not against drinking but getting anti-drunk. It is altering your mind instead of renewing your mind that is the issue. Scriptures condemned drunkenness. In those days, wine was more healthy than water, and that is still true in certain countries today. He was not drunk. That is the key. Everything in moderation.
1 Corinthians 10:23
“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive.
Why don’t you serve wine at the Lord’s supper? Because there are people who are addicted to alcohol. That would start them back on the path to alcoholism, and would be a stumbling block to him.
1 Corinthians 8:8-10
8 But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do. 9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols?
Wine was served at the wedding in Cana. Jesus turned water into wine. That is not an excuse to be an abuser of alcohol and get drunk tonight. That would be ruining his mind and ruining his family. I have seen a bunch of families break up on the improper use of alcohol. Overindulgence to alcohol is not biblical in any shape or form. If any of you think drinking a bottle of wine is moderation, something is wrong with your moderation. Yet there are Christians who do that. People drinking beer and see no problem talking about Jesus. Something like that is not consistent. But to Bob that is not something he would do for that would be a stumbling block. Habits of drinking are equated with the lost but really have no business to be in the habit of the saved. You are not being a testimony of Christ Jesus being drunk. Drinking a glass of wine is between you and the Lord. If you see it as a stumbling block to others, then do not do it. They probably did not have those problems back then.
John 2:11
What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
The miracle of Cana was such an extent that those who saw the miracle recalled the words of John the Baptist. Maybe what John the Baptist said about him is true. John the Baptist identified Jesus as the promised Messiah. This miracle to some people convinced them that he is the Son of God. John was the one who had testified that he is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. This is the Son of God or he would not have done what he did.
John 2:12
12 After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.
You see that by the time Jesus started his public ministry, at age 30, his mother had other children. His mother and brothers and disciples went down to Capernaum with Jesus. There are people who want to claim that Mary was a virgin all her life. If that is true then no wonder you do not hear of Joseph any longer. Some want to claim that brothers just mean disciples, but this passage delineates between brothers and disciples.
Other passages testify Jesus had other brothers and sisters. Turn to Matthew 13:55.
Matthew 13:53-58
53 When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. 54 Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. 55 “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56 Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” 57 And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.” 58 And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.
So in that passage, he had four brothers and sisters. So he had brothers and sisters. Mary had not been with a man until the birth of Jesus. After the birth of Jesus, being married to Joseph, she had more children.
Mark 3:31-35
31 Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. 32 A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.” 33 “Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked. 34 Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”
His brothers were outside. His brothers were not too fond of Jesus. How would you like to have Jesus as your brother, always doing right.
John 7:1-6
1 After this, Jesus went around in Galilee. He did not want[a] to go about in Judea because the Jewish leaders there were looking for a way to kill him. 2 But when the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles was near, 3 Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do. 4 No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” 5 For even his own brothers did not believe in him.
Mark 3:20-21
20 Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. 21 When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”
They thought Jesus was insane. We have to get him out of here, for he is out of his mind.
Jesus did have brothers and sisters, and we know that from the word of God. For people to deny that truth is denying truth of the word of God and is holding onto traditions passed on from their denomination. When you make that kind of error as to what is so obvious in scripture then you get worse and worse. So in Catholic theology, Mary is called co-redeemer with Jesus, and that is heretical teaching. Not talking about people but about the teaching.
John 2:13-17
13 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” 17 His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”[Psalm 69:9]
It is always interesting how these themes are depicted in Hollywood. John the Baptist looks like a raging maniac. Then you have Jesus going through the temple like rambo man, out of control. Scripture does not say that. Scripture does not say John the Baptist was a mental case. He lived in the desert, and so did others. He was a man who proclaimed truth, telling people to be ready for God. You do not have to be a wild man to get your point across. If in authority, you do not have to be vindictive, mad or mean to get your point across. He made a whip out of cords, and that is how you drive sheep out. He walked over casually and tipped over tables, and not in a wild manner. He just turned the tables over.
John 2:18-20
18 The Jews then responded to him, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” 20 They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” 21 But the temple he had spoken of was his body. 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.
Quoting from the Psalms, it is recorded, “zeal for your house will consume me”. The Jews demanded what miraculous sign can you show us that you have authority to do this. Jesus response angered the Pharisees. He had said, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” It took forty six years to build this temple yet Jesus said he would re-build it in three days. Yet Jesus was referring to his body. Only later, after Jesus was raised from the dead, did the Holy Spirit reveal to the disciples that Jesus was referring to his body.
When Jesus was here on earth and they believed the scriptures, what scriptures are they talking about? The New Testament was not there yet. They recalled the Psalms about zeal of the Lord will consume me. Note the contrast between the Old Testament scriptures prophesied of a coming Messiah. They recalled the words Jesus had spoken. There were over 600 prophecies fulfilled in Jesus Christ spoken by the prophets.
So what happened when they got recorded in the scriptures we read in the New Testament?
John 14:26
26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
The word and wisdom given by Jesus Christ to the disciples and revealed to the apostle Paul and to others came when they received the Holy Spirit.
