This is Spoken Gospel.

We’re dedicated to seeing
Jesus in all of scripture.

In each episode, we see what’s
happening in a Biblical text

and how it sheds light
on Jesus and his gospel.

Let’s jump in.

At his mother’s insistence,
Jesus performs his first miracle.

He saves a wedding
from running out of wine.

But this miracle points beyond itself,
John calls it a sign, to something else -
the greatness and glory of Jesus.

When Jesus’ mother first asks
him to act, Jesus seems hesitant.

He says: “My hour has not yet come”.

But later he then instructs several servants to fill
six jars used for Jewish purification rites with water.

But when the water is poured into the wedding guest’s
cups, it becomes the best tasting wine of the wedding.

Shortly after this, Jesus shows up at the temple
and drives out all those buying and selling animals.

He accuses those in the temple of
turning God’s house into a house of trade.

Jesus’ anger at these common temple
practices assumes authority to prescribe

what should and shouldn’t
happen in the temple.

The religious leaders demand
Jesus prove that authority with a sign.

And Jesus replies, “Destroy this temple,
and in three days I will raise it up”.

John calls Jesus’ first miracle
a sign because it points

beyond itself to the kind of joy
that Jesus intends to bring.

Jesus has come to invite us to a
wedding between himself and his people!

But when Jesus says, “My time has not
yet come,” he’s referring to his death.

Jesus knows our invitation to his
wedding comes at the cost of his life.

Which is why he chooses
the jars for purification.

Before entering into the
temple and into God’s presence,

the Jews would wash the dirt
off of them from jars like these.

When Jesus chooses those jars, he’s revealing
that it’s only through his wine and water
that we’re brought into the presence of God.

And that purifying wine and water is poured out on
the cross when water and blood spill from Jesus' side.

This is also why Jesus has authority to
clean the temple from its impure practices.

Jesus is the purifier.

And just like the wine being poured out is
a symbol of Jesus’ death, purifying blood,

and guarantee of our wedding
day joy, so is the temple.

The temple is where God’s
presence met his people.

Jesus kicks out the buyers and sellers
because the payment to enter into God’s
presence was about to be paid.

The temple of Jesus’ body was going to be
destroyed and three days later the wedding

between God’s presence
and his people would begin.

I pray the Holy Spirit opens your eyes to see
the God who longs to invite us into his presence.

And may you see Jesus as the one who
purifies our hearts so we can have joy with God.