Bible Commentary (1871–1879 Edition)
Hie Miracle of the Water made Wine. JOHN II, III. Tlie Interview of Nicodemtis with Jem*.
lion to the Temple—as the seat of His Father's most nngn worship, and so the symbol of all that is due to Him o earth—dictating both speeches. Only, when but a youth with no authority , He was simply "a Son in His own house now He was " a Son over His own house" (Hebrews 3. 6 the proper Representative, and in fiesh " the Heir," of h Father's rights, house of merchandise—There was uoth Ing wrong in the merchandise; but to bring it, for thel own and others' convenience, into that most sacretl placeg was a high-handed profanation which the eye of Jesu could not endure, eaten me up—a glorious feature in th predicted character of the suffering Messiah (Psalm 69. 9 and rising high even in some not worthy to loose th latchet of his shoes. (ExoduK 82. 19 Ac.) 18-33. Who sign, &c.—Though the act and the words of Christ, take together, were sign enough, tliey were unconvinced: y they were awed, and though at His very next appearance at Jerusalem they "sought to kill him " for speaking of "His Father" just as He did now (ch. 5. 18), they, at this early stage, only ask a sign. Destroy this tem« pie, Ac.—(See on Mark 14. 58, 59.) forty-six years—From the eighteenth year of Herod till then was just forty-six years. [Josephus, Antiquities, xv. 11. 1.] temple of his body—in which was enshrined the glory of the eternal Word. (See on ch. 1. 14.) By its resurrection tl>e true Temple of God upon earth was reared up, of which the stone one was but a shadow; so that the allusion is not quite exclusively to Himself, but takes in that Temple of which He is the foundation, and all believers are the "lively stones." (1 Peter 2. 4, 5.) believed the Scriptures —on this subject, i. e., what was meant, which was hid from them till then. Mark(l.) Hie aclby which Christ siffnalized His first public appearance in the Temple. Taking " His fan in His hand. He purges His floor," not thoroughly indeed, but enough to foreshadow His last act towards that faithless people — to sweep them out of God's house,
Nathanael and Thomas (see on ch. 20. 28), the outgoings of xvhose faith are hindered for a time, take the start of tlieir more easy-going bretliren when loosed and let go. 50, 51. Because I said, Sic.—q. d., 'So quickly convinced, and on this evidence only?'—an expression of admiration. Hereafter, &c.—The key to this great saying is Jacob's vision (Genesis 28. 12, Ac), to which the allusion plainly is. To show the patriarch that though alone and friendless on earth his interests were busying all heaven, he was made to see "heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon a" mystic " ladder reaching from heaven to earth." ' By and by,' says Jesus here, 'ye shall see this communication between heaven and earth thrown wide open, and the Son of man the real Ladder 0/ this intercourse.'
CHAPTER II.
Ver. 1-12. First Miracle, Water Made Wine—Brief Visit to Capernaum. 1. third day—He would take two days to reach Galilee, and this was the third, mother there— it being probably some relative's marriage. JoJm never names her. [Bengel.] 3. no wine—evidently expecting some display of His glory, and hinting that now was His time. 4, 5. Woman—no term of disrespect in the language of that day (ch. 19. 28). what ... to do with thee—7. d., ' In my Father's business I have to do with Him only.' 'Twas a gentle rebuke lor offleioiis interference, entering a region from which all creatures were excluded
(cf. Acts -1. 19, 20). mine hour, (fcc—hinting that He wouhl do something, but at His own time; and so she understood it iv. 5). G. firkius—about seven and a half gallons in Jewish, or nine in x\ttic measure; eacli of lliese huge water jars, therefore, holding .some twenty or more gallons, for washings at such feasts. (Mark 7. 4.) 7, 8. Fill ...draw . . . bear, &c.—directing all, but Himself touching nothing, to prevent all appearance of collusion. 9, 10. well dmnk—'drunk abundantly' (as Song of Solomon 5. 1), speaking of the general practice, the gooti tin now—thus testifying, while ignorant of the source of supply, not only that it was real wine, but better than any at the feast. 11. manifest«l forth his glorj-—Nothing in the least like this is said of the miracles of prophet or apostle, nor could without manifest blasphemy be said of anj' mere creature. Observe, (1.) At a marriage Christ made His first public appearance in any company, and at a marriage He wrought His first miracle—the noblest sanction thatcould begiven to thai God-given institution.
(2.) The sign of His authority to do this is the announcement, at this first outset of His ministry, of that comlnf? death by their hands, and resurrection by His own, which were to pave the way for their judicial ejection. 23-33. tu the feast-day — the foregoing things occurring probably before the feast began, many believed—superficially, struck merely by "the miracles He did." . Of these we have no record, did not commit—'entrust,' or let himself down familiarly to them, as to His genuine disciples, linew what was In man—It is impossible for language more clearly to assert of Christ what in Jeremiah
17. 9, 10, and elsewhere, is denied of all mere creatures,
(2.) As the miracle did not make bud good, but good better, so Cliristianity only redeems, sanctifies, and ennobles the beneficent but abused institution of marriage; and Christ's whole work only turns the water of earth into the wine of heaven. Thus "this beginning of miracles" exhibited the character and " manifested forth the glory" of His entire Mission. (3.) As Christ countenanced our seasons of festivity, so also that greater /u/nera which befits such; so far was He from encouraging that asceticisin which has since been so often put for all religion. (4.) The character and authority ascribed by Romanists to the Virgin is directly in the teeth of this and other scriptures.
CHAPTER III.
Ver. 1-21. Night-Interview of NicoDEsnrs with Jesus. 1, 3. NIcodemus—In this member of the Sanhedrim sincerity and timidity are seen struggling together. One of those superficial " believers " mentioned in ch. 2. Xi, 24, yet inwardly craving further satisfaction, he comes to Jesus in quest of it, but comes " by night" (seo ch. 19. 38, 39; 12. 42); he avows his conviction that He was "conie from God " an expression never ajyjilicd to a mere!v human messenger, and probably meaning more hero—but on I}' as ".1 teacher," in His miracles he sees a proof merely that "God is with him." Thus, while unable to repress his convictions, he is afraid of committing himself too far. 3. Except, Ac.—This blunt and curt reply was plainly meant to shako the whole edifice of the man's religion. In order to lay a deeper and more ertduring foundation. Nicoiieinus ifrc>l>ably thought he had gone a long way, and expected, perhaps, to be complimented on his candour. Instead of this, he is virtually told that he has raised a question which he is not in a capacity to solve, and that before approaching it, his spiritual iHsion required
1!4. Capernaiun—on the Sea of Galilee. (See on Matthew
9. 1.) his mother and brethren—See on Luke 2. 51, and Matthew 13. •Sl-'Vi.
13-25. Christ's First Passover—First Cleansing of the Temple. 14-17. In the temple—not the temple itself, as 1'. lit-21, but the temple-court, sold oxen, Ac.—for the convenience of those who had to offer tliem in sacrifice, changers of money—of Uonian into Jewish money, in which (lie lcnipl<!-dnes (see on Matthew 17. 21) had to bo paid, small cowls—likely some of the rushes spread for bedding, and wlien twisted used to tie up the cattle there t,ol Iected. 'Not by this slender whip but by Divine majesty was the ejection accomplished, the whip being btUa sign of the .scourge of Divine anger.' [Gkotius.] ponrcd out . . . overthrew, &c.—thus expressing the mingled Indignation and authority of the Impulse, my Father's lioiiKe—How close the resemblance of these remarkable iRorda If li Uke 'i, 49; the same consciousness of intvinsie rela130 to be rectified by an entire rex'oluiion on his inner man. Had the man been less sincere, this would certainly have repelle<l him; but with persons In his mixed state of mind —to whicli Jesus was no stranger (ch. 2. 25)—such methods speed better than more honeyed words and gradual approaches, a man—not a Jeiv merely; the necessity Is a universal one. born again-or, afe It were, begin lije anew