The Next Installment

I read Chapter Two today.

The first part of Chapter Two is where Jesus performs his first miracle of turning water into wine. There is an interesting footnote in my bible that talks about the significance of Jesus choosing to perform this sign. The banquet was put on by some common folk. In the Jewish culture the wine at a banquet was arguably the most important part. A banquet without wine would be a failure. So in providing the wine, Jesus was saving the banquet. Not only did he turn the water into wine, He turned it into good wine. John was probably trying to convey that Christ's saving mission wasn't just mediocre wine. It is the ultimate wine that provides us with eternal life.

Another thing I found interesting was Jesus' failure to deny the opportunity, even though it seemed as if he didn't want to.

"Dear woman, why do you involve me? Jesus replied. "My time has not yet come."

Here's the funny part. His mother tells the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."

This is great, because Jesus, though God incarnate, is following the ten commandments. He is obeying is mother even though he may think the start of His ministry is premature...or did He?

Starting in verse 12 is one of my favorite passages of Scripture. I absolutely love it that Christ used righteous anger to overturn the temple's tables. Verse 17 says, "His disciples remembered that it is written: Zeal for your house will consume me."

This struck me as very important. We should be filled with zeal when it comes to church. Our churches are the houses of God and He dwells there, so why do we sometimes take going to church lightly? I mean, church isn't a building, but it's the house of God no matter whatever sort of building you meet in. We should love going to church because it's a chance to worship and grow with the Creator of the universe. Zeal is such a great word.