Reflective Bible Study Gospel Adventure

An Insignificant Miracle: John 2:1-12

Published August 24, 2021 in Written Journal Entries

Focus Passage: John 2:1-12 (NASB)

¹ On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; ² and both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. ³ When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus *This word is present tense in the Greek, but it has been translated as past tense to conform to modern usage.said to Him, “They have no wine.” ⁴ And Jesus *This word is present tense in the Greek, but it has been translated as past tense to conform to modern usage.said to her, “Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come.” ⁵ His mother *This word is present tense in the Greek, but it has been translated as past tense to conform to modern usage.said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” ⁶ Now there were six stone waterpots set there for the Jewish custom of purification, containing twenty or thirty gallons each. ⁷ Jesus *This word is present tense in the Greek, but it has been translated as past tense to conform to modern usage.said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” So they filled them up to the brim. ⁸ And He *This word is present tense in the Greek, but it has been translated as past tense to conform to modern usage.said to them, “Draw some out now and take it to the *Or stewardheadwaiter.” So they took it to him. ⁹ When the headwaiter tasted the water which had become wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter *This word is present tense in the Greek, but it has been translated as past tense to conform to modern usage.called the bridegroom, ¹⁰ and *This word is present tense in the Greek, but it has been translated as past tense to conform to modern usage.said to him, “Every man serves the good wine first, and when the people have drunk freely, then he serves the poorer wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.” ¹¹ This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.

¹² After this He went down to Capernaum, He and His mother and His brothers and His disciples; and they stayed there a few days.

Read John 2:1-12 in context and/or in other translations on BibleGateway.com!

In one of the most unusual miracles Jesus ever performed, when reading about how it happened, it almost seemed like Jesus really didn’t want to do it. This miracle is only recorded in John’s gospel, and very little is known about what happened outside of what John chose to include in his gospel. I’m not sure we even know who was getting married, but what we do know is that this marriage ceremony ran into a serious problem.

Well, in retrospect, the problem probably wasn’t that serious. If it were a life or death situation, then it’s unlikely Jesus would have been called in to help. This event happened before Jesus had done any miracles and there was no fame, glory, or even a track record to lean on.

Just because Jesus hadn’t performed any miracles didn’t stop Mary, Jesus’ mother, from bringing this problem to Him. John tells us the problem and what Mary did: “When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to Him, ‘They have no wine.’” (v. 3)

And Jesus doesn’t really help the situation with His response: “Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come.” (v. 4)

If we take this problem and place it next to the huge problems in the world, it looks incredibly petty. If we place this problem next to Jesus’ big mission for His life, this problem looks insignificant. Outside of a handful of people, this event running out of wine would be forgotten at most months or a few years after the event had happened, and even bringing it up weeks later would be for more humorous purposes. In comparison, Jesus’ mission has eternal significance, and one misstep could cause the entire plan of salvation to fail.

However, Mary is not discouraged. She tells the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” (v. 5)

In Mary’s actions we see an incredible witness. Jesus may have not intended to perform a miracle here, but Mary pushes Jesus’ hand and she has faith in His ability to get them out of this socially awkward situation. Mary may not have expected a miracle. She may have simply know Jesus to be very intelligent and capable of solving unsolvable problems. In an odd sort of way, Mary’s request is a precursor to the tricks and traps of the Pharisees and religious leaders. It’s an unsolvable problem for those who don’t have merchant friends after the sun has set and the shops are closed.

But Jesus bends His plans to help this situation. While He may have been saving the first miracle to be a significant one on a bigger scale than this, what ultimately happens with this miracle is that Jesus shares a different and fascinating picture of God’s character. In this miracle, Jesus demonstrates God’s love for us when facing struggles, problems, and difficult situations, and He wants to help us where we are.

Jesus’ first miracle helped an unknown host with a socially awkward problem that seemed huge in the moment but was ultimately insignificant in the big picture. This says that when we face huge challenges in our own lives, God is willing to step in and help out when we ask. We might not think our problem is in His desire to solve, but Jesus is more interested in helping us, the individual, than on the details of the problem.

This thought was inspired by studying the Walking With Jesus “Reflective Bible Study” package. To discover insights like this in your own study time, click here and give Reflective Bible Study a try today!

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Flashback Episode — When Darkness Reigns: Luke 22:47-53

Published August 23, 2021 in Audio Journal Entries

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After Jesus finishes His prayer in Gethsemane on the night He was arrested, we discover that Judas Iscariot arrives with the soldiers and mob to arrest Jesus. However, while one might think that an arrest like this would difficult, or unpredictable, we discover something profound when we look at the details of what happened.

While each gospel is a little different in the details that it shares, let’s use Luke’s gospel for our time together. Our passage is found in the gospel of Luke, chapter 22, and we will be reading from the New Living Translation. Starting in verse 47, Luke writes:

⁴⁷But even as Jesus said this, a crowd approached, led by Judas, one of the twelve disciples. Judas walked over to Jesus to greet him with a kiss. ⁴⁸But Jesus said, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?”

⁴⁹When the other disciples saw what was about to happen, they exclaimed, “Lord, should we fight? We brought the swords!” ⁵⁰And one of them struck at the high priest’s slave, slashing off his right ear.

⁵¹But Jesus said, “No more of this.” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.

⁵²Then Jesus spoke to the leading priests, the captains of the Temple guard, and the elders who had come for him. “Am I some dangerous revolutionary,” he asked, “that you come with swords and clubs to arrest me? ⁵³Why didn’t you arrest me in the Temple? I was there every day. But this is your moment, the time when the power of darkness reigns.”

In an amazing act of compassion, Jesus heals the only individual who was hurt during this whole arrest. Instead of responding in a negative or emotional way, Jesus is likely the most calm, collected, and in control person in the whole group of people. While the entire situation could have easily burst out of control, Jesus steps in as the leader, diffuses the violence that could have easily broken loose, and then heals the only one who was injured.

Luke tells us that the crowd of people included leading priests, captains of the temple guard, and elders. In other words, this delegation was entirely a spiritual one. The soldiers who were present were the ones tasked with protecting the temple, and with them were priests and elders. Luke describes a spiritual mob arresting Jesus because He was a threat to their religious tradition.

In Jesus’ response to the mob after healing the high priest’s slave, He asks them two rhetorical questions before giving them the true answer. Luke tells us the questions and answer in verses 52-53: “Am I some dangerous revolutionary,” [Jesus] asked, “that you come with swords and clubs to arrest me? Why didn’t you arrest me in the Temple? I was there every day. But this is your moment, the time when the power of darkness reigns.”

Jesus openly challenges everyone present who came to arrest Him. Whether they were hoping to remain anonymous or if they didn’t really care if others recognized them, Jesus knew who each of them were, and Jesus knew that all, or almost all, of them had been in the temple when Jesus was teaching and healing every day during the week leading up to this night. No one in Jerusalem was blind to the hostility that the religious leaders had towards Jesus, and no one would have been surprised if Jesus had been arrested during His teaching and preaching in the temple.

However, Jesus gives the answer, even though the answer isn’t what those present might have first thought it to be. Jesus answers His questions by saying, “But this is your moment, the time when the power of darkness reigns.”

In Jesus’ response, we see an interesting contrast alluded to. Jesus describes the arrest as sin’s moment and as the moment when the power of darkness reigns. Both the time of these religious leaders and the time when the power of darkness reigns are described as a moment.

This response is incredibly powerful because it shows us that Jesus’ perspective models God’s perspective, and this perspective is one that looks through eternity’s lens. From the perspective of eternity, evil has only a moment of time in the spotlight. The only moment that sin has is the time it takes to show the universe how destructive it is, and then it is done away with.

We live in an interesting point in history where sin and evil have already been judged, but God is holding off on executing this judgment because He knows there are still more people who will enter this world who He can save for eternity. God doesn’t want to end earth’s history before every person who is willing to place Jesus first has done so.

While I don’t have any idea how much longer God will delay executing the judgment that was pronounced on the weekend Jesus was crucified, buried, and resurrected, I know that because God delayed executing this judgment, you and I have the opportunity to be saved. God has not forgotten this planet or its inhabitants.

Instead, God is watching closely and looking for anyone and everyone who is willing to place Jesus first. When everyone has made their decision for or against God, then God will wrap up history and return for His people. Jesus’ return is a day I’m eagerly waiting for, because I look forward to the new heaven and new earth that God has promised to recreate. I’m looking forward to the time when there will be no more pain, suffering, tragedy, or sin to spoil God’s perfection!

As we come to the end of another podcast episode, here are the challenges I will leave you with:

While it isn’t always easy to do, remember that when evil looks like it is winning, remember that it has already been judged and that its time in the spotlight is but a brief moment from eternity’s perspective. When evil looks like it has the upper hand, remember that Jesus has already won the victory and look forward with me to the moment when Jesus returns!

Also, be sure to always pray and study the Bible for yourself to grow your personal relationship with God. God wants a personal relationship with you and this is best grown on the foundation of personally praying and studying the Bible. Don’t let anyone get in the middle of your connection with God. God wants to know you personally!

And as I end every set of challenges by saying in one way or another, never stop short of, back away from, or fall away from where God wants to lead you to in your life with Him!

Flashback Episode: Year of the Cross – Episode 34: When the crowd comes to arrest Jesus, Jesus makes an interesting statement that shows us He is looking at history from a different perspective than we do. While moving towards the pain and suffering of the cross, Jesus has something different on His mind, and this thing helps Him face the next 24 hours in a powerful way!

Profaning the Holy: John 2:13-25

Published August 20, 2021 in Written Journal Entries

Focus Passage: John 2:13-25 (NIrV)

¹³It was almost time for the Jewish Passover Feast. So Jesus went up to Jerusalem. ¹⁴In the temple courtyard he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves. Others were sitting at tables exchanging money. ¹⁵So Jesus made a whip out of ropes. He chased all the sheep and cattle from the temple courtyard. He scattered the coins of the people exchanging money. And he turned over their tables. ¹⁶He told those who were selling doves, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” ¹⁷His disciples remembered what had been written. It says, “My great love for your house will destroy me.”

¹⁸Then the Jewish leaders asked him, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do this?”

¹⁹Jesus answered them, “When you destroy this temple, I will raise it up again in three days.”

²⁰They replied, “It has taken 46 years to build this temple. Are you going to raise it up in three days?” ²¹But the temple Jesus had spoken about was his body. ²²His disciples later remembered what he had said. That was after he had been raised from the dead. Then they believed the Scripture. They also believed the words that Jesus had spoken.

²³Meanwhile, he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast. Many people saw the signs he was doing. And they believed in his name. ²⁴But Jesus did not fully trust them. He knew what people are like. ²⁵He didn’t need anyone to tell him what people are like. He already knew why people do what they do.

Read John 2:13-25 in context and/or in other translations on BibleGateway.com!

Two times in Jesus’ ministry, we read about Him chasing people out of the temple. During the first time He threw people out of the temple, Jesus says an interesting phrase that is important for us to remember. While we often focus in on the second time Jesus cleared the temple (which happened during the week He was crucified), there is a unique quality that make’s John’s record of this temple cleansing important for us living today.

On coming up to Jerusalem and the temple for the Passover feast, Jesus enters the temple. “In the temple courtyard he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves. Others were sitting at tables exchanging money. So Jesus made a whip out of ropes. He chased all the sheep and cattle from the temple courtyard. He scattered the coins of the people exchanging money. And he turned over their tables.” (v. 14-15)

When reading this, we are quick to jump to the other gospels to look for an answer. Matthew, Mark, and Luke all record Jesus’ quotation from the Old Testament where He says, “It is written that the Lord said, ‘My house will be called a house where people from all nations can pray.’ But you have made it a ‘den for robbers.’” (Matthew 21:13; Mark 11:17; Luke 19:46)

We are quick to point out that dishonesty drove Jesus to clear out the temple, but these three gospels happen at the end of Jesus’ ministry. John’s gospel shares a different reason Jesus gives for this early-in-His-ministry temple cleansing.

John tells us in His gospel that Jesus told His reason to those selling doves. John says that Jesus said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” (v. 16)

Were the merchants in the temple being dishonest in John’s event? Probably, but here, Jesus does not mention anything to make us think this was His reason. Jesus’ reason for being upset is that these people were “turning [the temple] into a market.” (v. 16)

Jesus was upset by the commerce that was happening in the temple courtyard. This wasn’t outside of the temple, but on property that was owned by the temple and it would have been the first thing visitors would have seen when entering the temple. People who would be coming to pray and worship would have to weave their way through the crowds of merchants to simply find a quiet place to be with God.

Does Jesus hate commerce? Absolutely not when it is done in an ethical way, but in this passage we can find a key idea present for His actions here.

When we look at what God has done for us, and what Jesus has done for us, these are gifts we have been given. Life and salvation cost us nothing. God is a God who gives first, and if we choose to return, then we can choose to do so.

But commerce is all about exchange. Exchanges cost something. We give some money and we then get some item, object, or service. Commerce does not reflect God, but it does reflect society and social interactions.

Jesus is upset with the commerce in the temple because it was pulling people’s focus away from God. It was bringing what was common, ordinary, and typical of every day of the week into God’s home among people and implying that there is nothing distinguishing it from any other place one could go.

In a sort of similar way, churches today fill the role the temple and synagogues played in the first century. Churches today are places where we can go when wanting to feel closer to God. I wonder if we should pay more attention in our own lives and churches on this idea of distinguishing the common from the holy, and society’s commerce from God’s priceless gifts for us.

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Simple, Child-like Faith: Matthew 18:1-11

Published August 19, 2021 in Audio Journal Entries

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As we continue moving through Jesus life as recorded in Matthew’s gospel, we come to passage in Matthew’s gospel where the disciples ask Jesus a question, and mixed in with Jesus’ response is a warning that we all should pay attention to.

Our passage is found in Matthew’s gospel, chapter 18, and we will read it from the New International Version. Starting in verse 1, Matthew tells us that:

¹At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

²He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. ³And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. ⁵And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.

Let’s pause reading our passage here, because I want to draw our attention onto something amazing. As this passage opens, some of the disciples come to Jesus with what seems like a simple and innocent question. These disciples want to know who the greatest in the kingdom of heaven is.

Perhaps something was lost in translation, or perhaps Jesus simply reads more directly into this question, but when I think about who the greatest in the kingdom of heaven is, I am left answering God, and this would include God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. I would picture the Godhead as being the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

It’s possible Jesus would see things in a similar way, however, because He knew the follow-up question would be about who comes next, Jesus simply skips over God and answers this other question.

It is also possible that the disciples really want to know what characteristics God values from those living in heaven, and Jesus decides to answer this question as well.

While the disciples likely didn’t expect Jesus’ response, I’m sure it definitely challenged their way of thinking, because Jesus calls a child over to them and uses this child as an example of what we should be like. One of the other gospel writers who included this event implies that Jesus called over an infant or a toddler, which emphasizes His point even more. If we don’t recapture certain aspects of children, then we will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

What aspects might Jesus be referring to?

When I think about the answer to this question, I would have to conclude that faith, trust, love, and a desire to be obedient. When I think about my children at the age that this child may have been, I can see how these characteristics are clearly visible. While I am not a perfect dad by any stretch of the imagination, I know that when I looked into the eyes of each of my children at this age, their eyes showed love, trust, and faith. Also at this age, while it was sometimes annoying for my wife and I as parents, each child wanted to help and do things for themselves even if it would have been easier had mommy or daddy helped.

I believe God wants all of us to experience the same type of trust when we look at Him. While life is more complex as an adult than it is as a child, our spiritual lives are not meant to be complicated. Instead, a simple faith is a more significant faith, and a simple trust in God is a profound trust in God.

This passage then shifts over to warning about those who cause others to stumble. Jesus shares some pretty harsh words towards them. Let’s continue and read the warning Jesus shared. Continuing in verse 6, Matthew tells us that:

⁶“If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.

⁷Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come! ⁸If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. ⁹And if your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.

¹⁰“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. (And then some manuscripts add or exclude verse 11, which says: ^[11] For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.)

In this passage, Jesus challenges those who cause “little ones” to stumble. He says some pretty harsh things about them. In the context of this passage, Jesus could be referring to literal children, as well as those who are childlike in their faith and those who are new to the faith. We can understand this challenge from quite a number of different angles, and the more angles we have, the more challenging this challenge becomes.

However, I believe Jesus is calling all God’s people to a simple, trusting, faith – specifically a faith that believes that the best is coming and a faith that doesn’t need all the answers.

The only other section of this passage that I want to focus on briefly is Jesus’ challenge that it is better for us to enter life with only one eye or one hand or one foot. While this makes an interesting mental image of lots of disabled people in heaven, I believe Jesus is reemphasizing that we shouldn’t let anything cause our faith to stumble, even if it is a part of our bodies.

For the record, I don’t believe there will be injured or disabled people in heaven because Jesus has promised us new bodies that haven’t been tainted by sin. Our new bodies will be perfect, and while I have no idea what perfect means in this context, I am left having faith that I don’t need to know now, because when the time comes, I will be more than happy with the results.

When we have questions that challenge our faith, we shouldn’t let the questions shake what we believe. If the question can be answered, then great. However, if the question does not have an answer, or if the answer is something that can only be known after history has come to an end, then we should leave the question unanswered and hold tightly to our simple faith.

God has given us enough evidence for His existence and enough evidence to show us His character. It is up to us to open our eyes to the evidence He has given and to have faith that looks past the doubt and into the promises He has given to us about our future with Him!

As we come to the end of another podcast episode, here are the challenges I will leave you with:

As I always challenge you to do, intentionally seek God first in your life and purposefully place your faith, hope, trust, and belief in Jesus and what He accomplished for each of us when He came to this earth to face the cross.

Also, continue praying and studying the Bible for yourself to learn, grow, and strengthen your relationship with God. Through prayer and Bible study, we can know what God is really like, and we can fall in love with Him like He has fallen in love with each of us!

And as I end every set of challenges by saying in one way or another, never stop short of, back away from, chicken out of, or abandon where God wants to lead you to in your life with Him!

Year in Matthew – Episode 33: When asked about who would be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, Jesus responds with an interesting answer — specifically an answer that has some significant challenges for all of God’s people.

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