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?
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2026
January
John 14:22-31 | What's the lesson for me today?John 14:22-31 | What am I going to do about it?John 14:22-31 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: John 15:1-11John 15:1-11 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 15:1-11 | What's the connection?John 15:1-11 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 15:1-11 | What's the lesson for me today?John 15:1-11 | What am I going to do about it?John 15:1-11 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: John 15:12-27John 15:12-27 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 15:12-27 | What's the connection?John 15:12-27 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 15:12-27 | What's the lesson for me today?John 15:12-27 | What am I going to do about it?John 15:12-27 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: John 16:1-15John 16:1-15 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 16:1-15 | What's the connection?John 16:1-15 | What’s a lesson for the original audience?John 16:1-15 | What's the lesson for me today?John 16:1-15 | What am I going to do about it?John 16:1-15 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: John 16:16-33John 16:16-33 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 16:16-33 | What's the connection?John 16:16-33 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 16:16-33 | What's the lesson for me today?John 16:16-33 | What am I going to do about it?John 16:16-33 | Prayer Prompts
February
Passage of the Week: John 17John 17 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 17 | What's the connection?John 17 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 17 | What's the lesson for me today?John 17 | What am I going to do about it?John 17 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: John 18:1-11John 18:1-11 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 18:1-11 | What's the connection?John 18:1-11 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 18:1-11 | What's the lesson for me today?John 18:1-11 | What am I going to do about it?John 18:1-11 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: John 18:12-40John 18:12-40 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 18:12-40 | What's the connection?John 18:12-40 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 18:12-40 | What's the lesson for me today?John 18:12-40 | What am I going to do about it?John 18:12-40 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: John 19
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Proverbs 27:5Proverbs 27:6Proverbs 27:7Proverbs 27:8Proverbs 27:9Proverbs 27:10Proverbs 27:11Proverbs 27:12Proverbs 27:13Proverbs 27:14Proverbs 27:15-16Proverbs 27:17Proverbs 27:18Proverbs 27:19Proverbs 27:20Proverbs 27:21Proverbs 27:22Proverbs 27:23Proverbs 27:24Proverbs 27:25-27Proverbs 28:1Proverbs 28:2Proverbs 28:3Proverbs 28:4Proverbs 28:5Proverbs 28:6Proverbs 28:7-8Proverbs 28:9Proverbs 28:10Proverbs 28:11Proverbs 28:12
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