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The Power and Humility of Jesus: Summary John Chapter 2:1-11

John chapter one speaks to the Deity of Jesus in statement of fact form and briefly introduces John the Baptist as the forerunner of Jesus, the Lamb of God. In Chapter 2 through 12, we are given tangible evidence of this fact. We will read about eight miracles that paved the way for many to believe the testimony of John the Baptist and the disciples of Jesus. Each miracle reveals specific characteristics about Jesus as God, and Jesus in all of His humanity. There are big lessons to learn as well as subtle teachings that Jesus gives which serve as examples of how His followers should live.

John Chapter 2:1-11 not only tells of the first miracle, but it also reveals two important things about Jesus:

1) The concern of Jesus’ heart in His purpose for coming to earth.

2 ) His Humility in His use of power as God. These will be our focus in this summary.

READ JOHN 2:1-11"

And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, ‘They have no wine.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what does your concern have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.’” John 2:3-4

What an interesting response. What did His response have to do with her concern?

Mary’s concern was earthly and immediate. They were at a wedding celebration and they ran out of wine. This should not be a big deal, it isn’t detrimental to life. Although for some, I suppose it can be. Did she want him to run out and get more? What was she expecting him to do? Whatever it was, I am sure did not expect His response.

Though Jesus and his disciples were at this special celebration, it is apparent that Jesus had bigger concerns on His mind. His purpose was beyond providing for the immediate comforts of His fellow man – this we know by His response, “ My hour has not yet come.” It’s as if He was saying, dear woman, you are concerned with earthly things, but I am concerned with heavenly things.”

What hour is Jesus speaking of?

In John 7:6 & John 8:20 Jesus says this same thing – each time in context with a miracle, or a sign to “prove Himself” as requested of Him by His followers and skeptics alike.

Where can we find the answer?

“Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, ‘Sit here while I go and pray over there.’ And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, ‘My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me. ’ He went a little farther and fell on his face, and prayed, saying ‘O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.’….So He left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. Then He came to His disciples and said to them, ‘Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold the hour is at hand and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.” Matthew 26: 36-39;44-46

Jesus knew why He was on earth. He knew His mission. I believe He was gently reminding His mother of whom He was and that it is far better to be concerned with the bigger issues of life (Eternal life). Her only response was to tell the others to do whatever he asked of them.

Jesus intended to perform a miracle, but what we learn is that there is a purpose in everything He did and throughout the book of John, we will see that Jesus used every opportunity that others gave Him to teach and challenge whoever was around Him at the time.

“ When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. And he said to him, ‘Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guest have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!’”

Jesus did not parade his miracle. He did not correct the master saying, “Excuse me sir that was water. I changed it into wine. The bridegroom didn’t have any more wine to give.”—or something to that effect. Instead, He let the bridegroom take credit for it. Why is this? I believe it was because it wasn’t about the wine and making the people temporarily happy, it was about showing his disciples that He is God, and He can be trusted. It was to point the way to the one true Master and that He was (is) the way. Secondly, it was the first of many examples of the teaching to come on humility and quietly serving others. “This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him. John 1:11

There is much more we can learn about Mary; the Hour; and how the humility of Jesus is displayed throughout the Scriptures.

To dig a little deeper, follow along with the discussion below.

Please join us next week where we will see Jesus as the Temple of God, are given a clear picture of His righteous anger, and the unbelief of the people in John 2:12-25

In the meantime, what is on your mind?

Discussion questions part 1
 

Discussion questions part 2

Part 4

© Teresa Ortiz – book of John study 2010. All rights reserved.

» left by Lance Ponder⁽⁸⁵⁾ (1 year 216 days ago.)

This passage about turning water into wine is a vital description of Jesus as Creator. His "first" miracle is a creative act. Our Lord demonstrates authority over evil demons, nature (weather), illness and injury, even life and death - but this miracle is unique in both power and authority because it is an act of Creation. The marriage aspects are also important, but for other reasons. It is interesting to note that one of the first events recorded in Genesis is a marriage. One of the last events in John's Revelation is a marriage. In Jn 2 Jesus declares it isn't his time yet - he was saying it wasn't his marriage. And yes, I agree he performed this miracle to benefit others. That's what love is and love is who he is. Thanks for sharing this lesson!

» left by Teresa^(1,657) (1 year 216 days ago.)

HI Lance, you are so right! I hadn't thought about this aspect of it since we spent a lot of time of Jesus being creator in our discussion group in early chapter one. I completely missed out on this one.

This is exactly why I love Bible study and studying with different groups and levels of knowledge. The word of God is truly alive. I am going to incorporate this when we come together for our next class. Thank you for sharing and bringing out this very important point.

I am looking forward to the marriage supper of the Lamb. You also reminded me of how this connects with what Jesus said at the last supper with the disciples when we are told Jesus would never drink of the vine until we are together in the kingdom. 

I do have a few students in class that have never studied the Bible and one has not fully surrendered her life to the Lord. Please keep this in prayer - that I remain in tune with the points the Holy Spirit would have me teach in this particular group.  And please keep sharing to add more meat to this series. Blessings to you! Teresa

» left by Bart⁽²³⁾ (1 year 206 days ago.)

Hello Teresa, I really enjoy reading your studies from John; very refreshing. Something I learned recently about the miracle of turning water into wine is its connection to Creation. If you hold to the view that God created the earth in six literal days (Ex 20:11), then you would have to consider that Jesus had to create the earth with age and maturity (created grown trees, not just planted seeds, etc). Jesus demonstrated this same principle in some of the miracles Her performed, such as turning water into wine. Wine making is a process that takes time and maturing. Jesus made the best of wine in an instant. Another miracle is the feeding of the multitude. The created fish and bread had to have age and maturity being fully cooked and processed. In a way, all demonstrations of His initial creative act. Probably nothing here to build a doctrine on, but I thought interesting. Every blessing as you take us through John! Bart

» left by Teresa (1 year 202 days ago.)

Hi Bart, 

This was recently brought to my attention as well by Lance.  It made me think about so many things including what you mentioned about timing. I believe in the six literal days of Creation. There is much to be discussed on that issue. but for this study, you share a great point about process of time. God planted full grown, just as Adam and Eve were made full grown and fully functioning. What a powerful statement to the men who witnessed Jesus changing water into wine. I am sure they were the understood the process of making wine.

Thanks for your input and encouraging words. I have been gone for 8 days so I haven't had a chance to post the discussion questions for this part and get the second half of chapter two done. The Bible study is moving slowly which is great because we discuss so many things and with new believers in the class, it makes for a beautiful study.  Keep sharing! Blessings to you. Teresa

» left by Cheery Blossom⁽²⁹⁾ (1 year 201 days ago.)

Teresa, this was a very informative study. I enjoyed it a lot and also the comments that you received were thoughts that I had never had before. New believers would have received about all they could absorb with the study itself as it is. You do a great job of writing and interpreting the Scriptures.

» left by Teresa^(1,657) (1 year 199 days ago.)

HI Verna.

Thank you for the encouraging words. You are right. I had to back off and slow down a bit for the new believers in the class. I couldn't add much more. But this is why I wanted to share this study here, because I was hoping to get input to help many others whio may be studying the book of John.  This past Monday we spent a lot of time talking about Jesus being the image of God and what it means by "we beheld his glory"...  I talked about glory in the sense of being like an inprint - the exact image of something.  That when we look at Jesus, we are seeing the father.  This was so helpful when I used the word imprint and explained the difference between giving glory (as in praise) to something and something being the "glory" of something else.  Like we are to go from glory to glory and be transformed into the image of Christ.  In other words our goal as Christians is to be an imprint of Christ.  What a great lesson it was.

I am still working on the discussion questions for this lesson because my class is not quite to this point.  Please pray I continually listen to the Holy Spirit. I want to discuss the creation aspect of the miracle of changing water into wine.

Thanks again, and any thoughts you would like to share are welcomed.  Teresa

 

 

 

 

 

» left by Marijo Phelps⁽¹⁷⁹⁾ (1 year 195 days ago.)

Wonderful and insightful - appreciate you taking the time to dig into the Word and give us an apt breakdown and application. Thanks for sharing this with your readers.

» left by Teresa Ortiz (1 year 194 days ago.)

Thank you for the encouraging words! I have gotten feedback from the "satalite " group that is doing this study down in Irvine (while I hold mine in Glendale). It seems God is using this study as a spring board for some wonderful discussions because Steve, the leader has a wide range of students of the Bible in his group as well. 

It's great to here from others, and hope to continue to gain more feedback as the class continues. This weekend I need to focus on the questions for this lesson.  Today's class was great. I had a young man who has recently come back to the Lord ask if it was wrong for him to be baptized again since he was just a child the first time.  It so beautiful! I told him if He feels the Lord calling him to be baptized because this is is true surrender to Christ, then go for it.  We went from the book of John to First Peter chapter Three to the Book of Malachi.  I'm loving it  because not only am I teaching, more importantly, I am learning and being stretched! What a gift!

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