John 2

And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:

And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.

And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.

Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.

His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.

And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.

Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.

And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.

When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,

And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.

This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.

After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days.

And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,

And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:

And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;

And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.

And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.

Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?

Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?

But he spake of the temple of his body.

When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.

Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.

But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,

And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.

What does John 2:18 mean?

Explanation

This verse is part of the Gospel of John and is situated in the story where Jesus cleanses the Temple by driving out the merchants and money changers.

The verse depicts a demand by the Jewish leaders for Jesus to show them a sign as proof of his authority to perform such an act.

They ask this immediately after Jesus' zealous act of purification, questioning the legitimacy of his actions.

This request for a sign reflects the leaders' skepticism and the persistent Jewish demand for miraculous evidence.

It also sets the stage for what will be a dramatic and revelatory response from Jesus.

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Historical Context

The scene takes place in the Temple in Jerusalem during Passover, a pivotal Jewish festival commemorating the Israelites’ liberation from Egyptian bondage.

The Temple was the epicenter of Jewish worship and the precinct where people came to offer sacrifices to God.

Money changers and merchants were there to facilitate the purchase of sacrificial animals and to exchange foreign money for currency accepted by the Temple authorities.

However, these practices had become corrupted and exploitative, which prompted Jesus' actions. The Jewish leaders' request for a sign reflects their understanding of prophetic qualifications, where a prophet would authenticate his message or authority with miracles.

Theological Insights

Within various theological viewpoints, this verse is interpreted to show Jesus' authoritative position in relation to the Temple and Jewish Law.

From a Christian perspective, the demand for a sign can be seen as a lack of faith and understanding of Jesus' divine mission.

In contrast, from the perspective of the Jewish leaders, signs were an established form of divine confirmation.

The forthcoming narrative, where Jesus alludes to his death and resurrection as the ultimate sign (John 2:19-22), foreshadows that Jesus himself will be the sign – his resurrection is the proof of his authority and his identity as the Son of God.

Practical Applications

This verse encourages self-reflection on one's demands for proof in the face of faith.

It calls into question the need for external validation when encountering the divine or the sacred in life.

In practical terms, it challenges believers to trust in what may not always be immediately evident or provable, urging a leap of faith and an understanding that not all answers to spiritual questions come in tangible forms.

Cross-References

Matthew 12:38: "Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee."
1 Corinthians 1:22: "For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:"
John 6:30: "They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?"

Language Study

Key words in the original Greek text include "σημεῖον" (sēmeion) which means "sign," indicating a miraculous event intended as divine proof.

The verb "δείκνυμι" (deiknymi) used for "shewest" means "to show" or "to prove by arguments." The phrase "ἐποίεις ταῦτα" (epoieis tauta), translated as "doest these things," reveals a present continuous action, suggesting an ongoing behavior or mission, rather than a one-off event.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In many ancient cultures and religions, performing signs and wonders often accompanied the leadership of prophets, wise men, and deities to legitimize their authority.

For instance, the Egyptian magicians in the story of Exodus performed signs to challenge Moses’ authority.

In Greek mythology, figures like Asclepius, the god of medicine, were said to perform miraculous healings, thus substantiating their divine nature.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific point of view, miracles such as signs often fall outside of the empirical and observable evidence that science relies on.

However, the psychological aspect of how people interpret unexplained phenomena can be studied. Cognitive science of religion explores why people seek signs and how they may be inclined to interpret certain events as miraculous.

Commentaries

Historically, biblical scholars and theologians have offered varied interpretations of this passage.

Some argue that the Jewish leaders' request was a reasonable expectation for prophetic credentials. Others suggest the incident illustrates a deliberate misunderstanding or rejection of Jesus' ministry.

Many commentaries highlight Jesus' response in subsequent verses as a profound teaching moment where he speaks symbolically of his death and resurrection being the ultimate sign of his divine mission.

John 2

John 2

What does John 2:18 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does John 2:18 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?