Day 4 – Miracles and warning signs

John 2

On the third day, there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there. Jesus and his disciples were also invited. When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”

Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does that have to do with you and me? My time has not yet come.”

His mother said to the servants, “Whatever he says to you, do it.”

Now there were six stone water pots there, for Jewish ceremonial washing, that could hold twenty or thirty gallons each. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the water pots with water.” So they filled them up to the brim. Then Jesus said, “Now draw some out, and take it to the head waiter.” So they took it.

When the head waiter tasted the water which had turned into wine, and didn’t know where it came from (only the servants who had drawn the water knew), the head waiter called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when the guests have had a skinful, they serve the not-so-good wine. But you have kept the good wine until now!”

What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee, was the first of his signs revealing his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

After this, Jesus went down to Capernaum with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples; and they stayed there a few days.

The Jewish Passover was getting near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple, he found the people who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, and the money changers sitting at their tables. He made a whip of cords and drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep and the oxen; and he scattered the money changers’ coins and overturned their tables. To those who sold the doves, he said, “Take these things out of here! Don’t make my Father’s house a marketplace!” His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

So the Jews responded, “What sign can you show us? What’s your authority to do these things?”

Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

The Jews said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple! You are going to raise it up in three days?” But Jesus spoke about the temple of his body. So when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he said this, and they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had said.

Now when Jesus was in Jerusalem at the Passover feast, many believed in his name after seeing his signs. But Jesus didn’t entrust himself to them because he knew what people are like, and because he didn’t need anyone to testify about human nature; Jesus already knew what is in each human heart.

For reflection

What would it be like to see Jesus perform a miracle in person?