In John 2, it's easier to see how John has carefully chosen the accounts of Jesus that he includes and he also provides some extra insight so that we, the readers, will understand the man and his actions. In this chapter, John tells about Jesus changing the water to wine at the wedding in Cana and clearing the temple...2 very different stories, but in each, his followers come to know more about him.
So Jesus and his party go to a wedding and when the wine runs out, Mary tells Jesus about the problem. He tells the servants what to do and they do it and better wine than they'd had before is now in the waterpot...and no one knows about it except Mary, the servants and the disciples. And about this miracle John says:
This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.
From this story we know that Jesus was working on God's timetable, waiting for His direction and command to make himself known. Clearly, fixing the problem wasn't that difficult. And he didn't do it because Mary asked him to (she didn't but she put her faith in his decision) or for his own glory (not a very public display of his power) but to strengthen the belief and knowledge of the men following him.
Then there's the story in the temple, a very public display of his righteous anger, his power, and his conviction. Jesus clearly felt anger at the commercialism in the temple, the place were believers should worship and bring others. From the private miracle at Cana to the public stance at Capernaum, Jesus was building his name. And first, he strengthened his disciples, who were learning him and even though they didn't believe yet, they knew his power, and then he proclaimed his authority:
17His disciples remembered that it is written: "Zeal for your house will consume me."18Then the Jews demanded of him, "What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?"
19Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days."
20The Jews replied, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?" 21But the temple he had spoken of was his body. 22After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.
23Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name. 24But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. 25He did not need man's testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man.
And then, just as today, there were people who said they believed. It would be difficult in the face of clearly miraculous signs to not believe. Right? Maybe. But then, as today and certainly someday when we meet Jesus again, Jesus didn't need to hear what they said. He sees the heart.
So from these stories, what do we know about Jesus...
Social-he was out in the world, enjoying a festive occasion like a wedding
Committed-he could change the water to wine for his mother, but the calling from the Father was more important.
Power-making wine from water was simple
Anger-clearing the temple is about returning the focus to the worship of God
Authority-Jesus did not hestitate to run the men out of the temple and when he was challenged, he had an answer.
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