April 6, 2012

AND THE ANSWER IS . . . JESUS!

John 2

Sheri Johnston
Friday's Devo

April 6, 2012

Friday's Devo

April 6, 2012

Central Truth

Jesus is the answer to all our questions. His body is now the temple by which we are cleansed from all of our sins.

Key Verse | John 2:19

Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." (John 2:19)

John 2

The Wedding at Cana

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

Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 1 2:6 Greek two or three measures (metrtas); a metrts was about 10 gallons or 35 liters Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. 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 2 2:12 Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated brothers) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters 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.”

18 So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, 3 2:20 Or This temple was built forty-six years ago and will you raise it up in three days?” 21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body. 22 When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

Jesus Knows What Is in Man

23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. 24 But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people 25 and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.

Footnotes

[1] 2:6 Greek two or three measures (metr&emacron;tas); a metr&emacron;t&emacron;s was about 10 gallons or 35 liters
[2] 2:12 Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters
[3] 2:20 Or This temple was built forty-six years ago

Dive Deeper | John 2

I grew up in a home where my mom taught piano. In fact, at one point when I was very young, the extra piano was in my room. For as long as I can remember, I have played the piano and taught music. Throughout college, and also here at Watermark, I've had the privilege of leading children in chapel times where we sing Bible songs. I always love it that when you ask a group of kids at church any question, at least one child will usually blurt out the answer, "Jesus!" at the top of his lungs. Jesus IS the answer to our deepest needs and to the question of what really satisfies the longings of our hearts.

This passage begins with Jesus' first miracle -- the changing of water into wine. The nature of this seems so clear. Jesus came to bring about conversion: water to wine, sinners to saints. Clear and simple! This act proved so convincing to the new disciples that they put their faith in Him, knowing Jesus must be the Messiah. Jesus is the answer (just like the kids at chapel time already know)!

Sometime later in Capernaum, Jesus was disgusted with what was happening at the temple. What had started out as a way to help travelers buy their animals for sacrifice at the temple, had become merely a moneymaker and a mockery of the seriousness of what was supposed to be happening at the temple. This can often happen with us -- the original and beautiful purpose of something becoming distorted by sin.

After He was raised from the dead, the disciples recalled what Jesus had said, and THEN they believed the Scripture and the words that He had spoken. He was referring to Himself as the temple that would be destroyed and raised again in three days. He was and IS the answer! Before Christ, the atonement for sins happened at the temple, an actual building. After Christ's resurrection, this happens through a relationship with Him. When we trust in Christ, the temple is built in us and remains in us. What a promise -- what a Savior!

Discussion Questions

1. Have you ever considered that Jesus is the Answer? Look ahead to John 3:16 if you have not.

2. Look up 1 Corinthians 3:16 and 6:19. What does Paul say about the temple? Does this challenge you or encourage you?

3. What is the promise that Jesus makes in John 20:29?

WEEKLY FAMILY ACTIVITY

LUKE 22-JOHN 2 (APRIL 2-6)

This week, we will read through Luke 22-24. Break it up however you need to for your kids.

Each day ask:

• What happened to Jesus is today's Scripture?
• What was hard? What was sad?
• Did you learn anything new about Him?

On the last day also ask:

• Why did Jesus choose to go through all the really hard things that we read about this week?
• Why did He have to die on a cross?
• Have you accepted His sacrifice as the payment for your sins?