John 2:1-12 | What's the connection?
The context surrounding this passage is very interesting, especially given what Jesus has made the wine from. If we look back at chapter 1 in Jesus' baptism, we see a distinction is made.
‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’
-John 1:33b
The comparison that is made in this passage is that John is baptizing with water, but the One on whom the Spirit descends will baptize with the Spirit. The baptism of the Spirit is one that is greater than the baptism with water. While the physical water baptism symbolizes cleansing from sin, the baptism of the Spirit actually does cleanse the spirit. The conclusion offered is that Jesus' baptism is greater than John's. What it accomplishes is more than what John's baptism does.
As we move toward the feast and them running out of wine, Jesus uses the waterpots for Jewish purification. They fill the waterpots with water to the brim and they took it to the master of the feast. The water then had become wine. Now these waterpots were important for ritual cleansing. They were not there for just any purpose. The purpose was purification. Using the water for purification, He turns it to wine and brings it to the master of the feast who rejoices over this. The shame that would have been upon the hosts was cleansed by the working of Jesus. And it was not just cleansed, it was cleansed with what is typically used in Scripture to typify joy and celebration. The miracle that kicks off Jesus' ministry carries nearly all elements of what His ministry would behold. He brings fullness of joy, cleansing shame, and sends out the servants to carry this ministry. If we read the passage carefully, we will see that Jesus Himself did not interact with the waterpots Himself. He instructed the servants to do it. He brought this miracle about through them.
As we continue to zoom out and look at the surrounding context, we see another interesting passage. The passage that follows directly after this is where Jesus' cleanses the temple. So what is the connection that we see here? Jesus cleanses better.
His baptism is greater. His cleansing of shame is better. His cleansing of the temple is sufficient. Jesus is better.
What connections are you seeing?
‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’
-John 1:33b
The comparison that is made in this passage is that John is baptizing with water, but the One on whom the Spirit descends will baptize with the Spirit. The baptism of the Spirit is one that is greater than the baptism with water. While the physical water baptism symbolizes cleansing from sin, the baptism of the Spirit actually does cleanse the spirit. The conclusion offered is that Jesus' baptism is greater than John's. What it accomplishes is more than what John's baptism does.
As we move toward the feast and them running out of wine, Jesus uses the waterpots for Jewish purification. They fill the waterpots with water to the brim and they took it to the master of the feast. The water then had become wine. Now these waterpots were important for ritual cleansing. They were not there for just any purpose. The purpose was purification. Using the water for purification, He turns it to wine and brings it to the master of the feast who rejoices over this. The shame that would have been upon the hosts was cleansed by the working of Jesus. And it was not just cleansed, it was cleansed with what is typically used in Scripture to typify joy and celebration. The miracle that kicks off Jesus' ministry carries nearly all elements of what His ministry would behold. He brings fullness of joy, cleansing shame, and sends out the servants to carry this ministry. If we read the passage carefully, we will see that Jesus Himself did not interact with the waterpots Himself. He instructed the servants to do it. He brought this miracle about through them.
As we continue to zoom out and look at the surrounding context, we see another interesting passage. The passage that follows directly after this is where Jesus' cleanses the temple. So what is the connection that we see here? Jesus cleanses better.
His baptism is greater. His cleansing of shame is better. His cleansing of the temple is sufficient. Jesus is better.
What connections are you seeing?
Posted in John
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