In John 2 we see the “first sign” of Jesus.  He comes to a wedding and performs a miracle during the wedding by turning the water into wine.  He gave his disciples an opportunity to see his power.  John 2:11 says “This the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory.  And his disciples believed in him.”  Jesus had given his disciples some physical proof to allow their belief to be strengthened.    Jesus would continue to do this time and time again for these disciples.  It is such a blessing that God chose to allow us to see these things written down to help us be encouraged and strengthened in our faith.  The second half of this chapter in John we are then shown Jesus exercising his authority.  He comes into the temple and clears it of those who had “turned it into a den of robbers”.  We see a righteous God so frustrated with the fact that people had used, an important tradition and ritual that pointed people toward god, as a way of exploiting peoples need for the required elements.  Jesus turns this conversation into one focused on his sacrifice that was to come by saying “Destroy this temple in three days I will raise it up.”  The people did not understand his claim but praise be to God we see his death, burial and resurrection of that temple in Jesus’s sacrifice.  Finally we see the discernment of Jesus.  Jesus saw people who “believed” these miracles were of God but didn’t believe in Jesus Christ.  “But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people”  Jesus knew that they were impressed by his miracles but were not willing to put all faith in him as the messiah and as complete lord of their life.  We see this laid out for us, that just an intellectual knowledge or belief of Jesus and his miracles is not enough for our salvation.  Only through true belief and repentance do we receive salvation.  He must become Lord of our life.

 

-Joshua Dawes

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