Victory Fellowship Bible Study
273 23rd St. S.W., Barberton, OH 44203
Wednesdays at 7pm
Rev. Roderick D. Grabski (330) 858-0223
WEBPAGE: victoryfellowshipministries.com
arod4God@neo.rr.com FACEBOOK: Roderick Grabski
CLASS THREE: The 1st Sign: Water into Wine
I. ANNOUNCEMENTS and PRAYER CONCERNS
II. Read / Listen to John 2:1-25
a. What are your initial impressions or questions?
Notable translation differences?
III. The First Sign (vv. 1-12)
a. John never uses Mary’s name but refers to her as “Jesus’ mother.”
b. Why do you think Mary is at this wedding? Why are Jesus and His disciples there?
c. What is significant about the wine running out? What is the symbolism of the wine running out?
d. (vs. 4) Jesus’ reply seems harsh to us but it was a polite, but impersonal way to address her.
i. See John 4:21; 19:26; 20:13, 15; Matthew 15:28; Luke 13:12
e. What does Jesus mean by “My hour has not yet come?”
i. 7:6,8,30; 8:20; 12:23,27; 13:1; 16:32; 17:1; Matt. 26:18,45; Mark 14:35,41
f. (vs. 5) What does Mary’s response reveal?
g. (vv. 6-10) John explains to the unfamiliar reader what the pots were used for. (Mark 7:3-4).
h. What is the significance that they filled the pots to the brim?
i. How did the chief servant’s response help the groom?
j. (vs. 11) Who all knew about this “first sign?” By identifying this as a first sign, two things are evident: 1) Any stories about Jesus performing miracles as an infant or child are fables, and 2) There is an expectation of more signs to come.
k. What two things resulted in this sign?
l. (vs. 12) Capernaum served as Jesus’ headquarters after John the Baptist was imprisoned. (Matthew 4:12-16)
IV. The First Temple Cleansing (vv. 13-22)
a. This is the first reference to a Jewish festival in John’s Gospel, and the first Passover. (See also 5:1; 6:4; 7:2; 10:22; 11:55; and 12:1)
b. This is not the same event recorded in the Synoptic Gospels.
i. See Matthew 21:12-16; Mark 11:15-18; and Luke 19:45-46
ii. See also Isaiah 56:7; Jeremiah 7:11
c. What is different about John’s account?
d. (vs. 17) The disciples were reminded of Psalm 69:9. Psalm 69 is a Messianic psalm and is quoted often in the New Testament.
i. 69:4 (John 15:25), 69:8 (John 7:3-5), 69:9 (John 2:17; Romans 15:3), 69:21 (Matthew 27:34, 48) 69:22 (Romans 11:9-10)
e. (vv. 18-21) What sign does Jesus give to the Jews? What is the result of this prophesy after it occurs?
V. True Belief (vv. 23-25)
a. (vv. 23-24) These verses are a wordplay in the original Greek. The word for believed or commit or trust = pisteuw pisteuo is used in both verses to opposite effects.
b. (vs. 25) John’s Gospel makes us aware of the fact that Jesus knows the heart of humanity. In John 1:42 He knew Simon’s character. In 1:46 He knew what Nathanael was like. In 4:29 He knew all the Samaritan woman had done. In 5:42 He knew the Jewish leaders did not know God’s love. In 6:64 He knew one of His disciples would betray Him. In 8:10-11 He saw repentance in the heart of the adulteress. In 8:40 He saw murder in the hearts of His enemies.
VI. Application
a. The miracles (signs) of Jesus are intended to give glory to God and produce belief in Jesus as the Messiah. (John 20:30-31)
b. There is an anger that is righteous when expressed without sinning. (Ephesians 4:26)
c. God knows the heart of true believers and rejects insincere lip service. (Matthew 15:8)
Final Comments, Questions. Close in Prayer
Next Week: Jesus & Nicodemus: The New Birth
- Read John 3:1-36 to prepare.
