Fingerprints · Of · God

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please book the dates on your calendarrr!!

John 2

Part 1: Jesus Turns Water to Wine

• In here, we see a wedding, a feast that in the olden times can continue for many days. Mary, Jesus’ mother then presents him with a statement that they have no more wine
• You know sometimes when people tell you a statement like that, there’s usually a need for a response
• One of the reasons was that Jesus and His friends were probably invited to the wedding because they happened to be there and as such, they increased the guest list, for in the past, almost anyone could be invited to a wedding as long as they were present.
• Therefore when Mary told Jesus that there was no more wine, she probably did it because firstly He indirectly created the problem, and also she believed that He would help resolve the problem
• When you look at Jesus’ response, don’t you think it sounds a bit rude?
•  ⁴"Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied, "My time has not yet come."
• But the term used "woman" was so respectful that it might be addressed to the queenliest, and so gentle that it might be spoken to those most tenderly loved. It is used by servants to queens, and Jesus uses it when he, from the cross, commends his mother to the care of John
• Therefore, the answer He gives is not that of one rejecting His mother, but of one who would show her that, having borne him, would avail nothing, were she not faithful
• At the same time, think about it, up till now, Jesus has yet to display his “powers” he has not started his ministry YET.
• So isn’t it strange that Mary is asking this of him?
• But if you look deeper, you’d realize that maybe Mary is also waiting for that climax to happen.
• She knows that Jesus is the son of God and she is pushing for the start of his ministry.
• And he was obedient, he did as his mother asked. It was not that he was forced into doing it; rather he just did it to show his love towards his mother, honoring what she says.
• In the same way, Jesus listens and provides a response that shows us how to deal with such a situation
• Later as Jesus begins His ministry, the glory mentioned in v11 refers directly to the goodness and providence of God/Jesus
• Trust is always honoured
   

Part 2: Jesus clears the temple

The second part is marks the official start of Jesus’ ministry.

• And boy did he start with a bang
• Did you know that it is highly possible that Jesus cleansed the temple twice, once in the beginning of his ministry and the other nearing the closing of his ministry, where the priests and scribes begin to conspire to kill him
• Now, why did Jesus have to cleanse the temple? I mean like is the market place wrong? Does it mean that we can’t conduct businesses as Christians?
• No! In fact what Jesus was angry about wasn’t that there were businesses, but more of the way they were being conducted, in the temple courts, the temple which is supposed to be sacred, they de-fouled it
• When the Master looks at the church and he sees the priests/pastors charging people for their services, like for burial or services/masses he becomes angry. It is not enough to say that they’re doing it for the sake of God, when in reality, their hearts say otherwise. When the house of God becomes a place for shows, festivals, raffles, etc., the Father's House is made a house of merchandise. There is then a need of the whip of small cords to scourge out the traffickers.
• That’s because if we don’t do that, God will depart from the “temple” and he will abandon it to destruction.
•  Here, Jesus is not saying that we can’t do businesses, not even that we can’t do it in church, instead, it is in the motives
• Nowadays there’re many reasons why people come to church, for friends, and even for business purposes, to make contacts
• But, Master still knows what is in every heart. He has no need to be told what is in mine or yours, but he sees every thought and motive every day. Our lives are naked and open to him with whom we have to do.
• I think then that it is very significant that Jesus started his ministry with the cleansing of the temple. He was making sure of the motives of the people who were coming to “worship” God.
• So before we do any “Christian” thing, we should first check our hearts and our motives

• Jesus’ response in v19 was then amazing
•  ¹⁹Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days."
• He was asserting His authority
  the power and majesty that was "released" revealed to people the person of Jesus
• It is significant because it highlights that unbelief would do its work in destroying the temple of His body, and its argument would be overthrown by his resurrection from the dead. the temple itself was only a type of the spiritual body of Christ. His body contained within itself the spiritual temple that would be developed. It was appropriate to point to it as the temple, though the Jews did not comprehend his words
• Here we reach the “revelation” the understanding (at least for us)
• And Jesus’ answer was quite smart, he did give them the sign that they wanted, although they had to destroy the temple first in order to see it.
• At the same time, the whole time he was talking about his resurrection, his body being the temple of God.
• Think, the temple in Jesus’ time was a place of sacrifice, of repentance
• When Jesus says that his body was the temple of God, he essentially means that his body now becomes the sacrifice and through him, all men are saved.
• Through him, the water becomes wine, we become refined because of the relationship that we can have with God
• He becomes the new temple, where only through him, can we come into a relationship with God.

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CASSS!

this week we have NO cell group because there is church wide cell leaders meeting!!!!

from 27th to 30th May, we have our annual CELL CAMP!!!!
more details will be out soon so stay tuned!!! Just keep those dates free noww!!!!!!!