John 2
2
The Wedding at Cana
1Two days later there was a wedding in the town of Cana in Galilee, and Jesus’ mother was there. 2Jesus and his followers were also invited. 3At the wedding there was not enough wine, so Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”
4Jesus answered, “Dear woman, why are you telling me this? It is not yet time for me to begin my work.”
5His mother said to the servants, “Do what he tells you.”
6There were six large stone waterpots there that were used by the Jews in their washing ceremonies.#2:6 washing ceremonies The Jews had religious rules about washing in special ways before eating, before worshiping in the Temple, and at other special times. Each one held about 20 or 30 gallons.#2:6 20 or 30 gallons Literally, “2 or 3 metretas,” about 80 to 120 liters.
7Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the waterpots with water.” So they filled them to the top.
8Then he said to them, “Now dip out some water and take it to the man in charge of the feast.”
So they did what he said. 9Then the man in charge tasted it, but the water had become wine. He did not know where the wine had come from, but the servants who brought the water knew. He called the bridegroom 10and said to him, “People always serve the best wine first. Later, when the guests are drunk, they serve the cheaper wine. But you have saved the best wine until now.”
11This was the first of all the miraculous signs Jesus did. He did it in the town of Cana in Galilee. By this he showed his divine greatness, and his followers believed in him.
12Then Jesus went to the town of Capernaum. His mother and brothers and his followers went with him. They all stayed there a few days.
Jesus at the Temple
(Mt. 21:12–13; Mk. 11:15–17; Lk. 19:45–46)
13It was almost time for the Jewish Passover, so Jesus went to Jerusalem. 14There in the Temple area he saw men selling cattle, sheep, and doves. He saw others sitting at tables, exchanging and trading people’s money. 15Jesus made a whip with some pieces of rope. Then he forced all these men and the sheep and cattle to leave the Temple area. He turned over the tables of the money traders and scattered their money. 16Then he said to those who were selling pigeons, “Take these things out of here! Don’t make my Father’s house a place for buying and selling!”
17When this happened, his followers remembered what was written in the Scriptures:
“My strong devotion to your Temple will destroy me.” Psalm 69:9
18Some Jews said to Jesus, “Show us a miracle as a sign from God. Prove that you have the right to do these things.”
19Jesus answered, “Destroy this temple and I will build it again in three days.”
20They answered, “People worked 46 years to build this Temple! Do you really believe you can build it again in three days?”
21But the temple Jesus meant was his own body. 22After he was raised from death, his followers remembered that he had said this. So they believed the Scriptures, and they believed the words Jesus said.
23Jesus was in Jerusalem for the Passover festival. Many people believed in him because they saw the miraculous signs he did. 24But Jesus did not trust them, because he knew how all people think. 25He did not need anyone to tell him what a person was like. He already knew.
© 1987, 2004 Bible League International