John 2
This was the first miraculous sign that Jesus did in Cana of Galilee. He revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him..While Jesus was in Jerusalem for the Passover Festival, many believed in his name because they saw the miraculous signs that he did. - John 2:11, 23 CEB
The Gospel of John stands apart from the other three Gospels in significant ways. Rather than being "synoptic" or meant to be read linearly, John reads more like a textbook for discipleship. The stories are carefully arranged to teach us what we need to know about Jesus and what it means to follow Him.
As we journey through chapter 2, an important question emerges: "Who is this Gospel written for?"
Church tradition tells us that John wrote this Gospel in Ephesus, likely for a new generation of Jesus-followers. This context matters for our reading. While the other three Gospels are written to convince readers of who Jesus is, John seems to be written for individuals who already believe that Jesus is the Son of God.
If this is true, then we're given very specific stories—some found nowhere else in the Gospels—so that our belief can be supplemented by understanding and our faith nourished by deeper perspective.
Consider these examples of John's deeper theological layers:
"On the third day" - These opening words of chapter 2 might seem like simple chronology. But biblical scholars from N.T. Wright to Miguel G. Echevarría note something deeper. As Echevarría writes, quoting a fourth-century bishop: "the reference to the 'third day' also alludes to Jesus' coming resurrection on the 'third day,' when he would reveal himself as the first of many to rise from the grave, initiating a new creation."
John's readers would have known the significance of this phrase. It already held meaning for them.
The Wedding at Cana - Yes, turning water into wine is an extraordinary miracle. But scholar Adele Reinhartz points to something more: "the wedding alludes to the messianic banquet." The first hearers of this Gospel would have understood this Jewish theological concept. As N.T. Wright states, "All this points to Jesus' renewal and transformation of the Jewish World, revealing Jesus' glory and evoking the disciples' faith."
This is clearly a story for people living in a post-resurrection era.
The Temple Scene - In the second scene, we find Jesus cleansing the temple with zeal. Notably, this story appears much later in the other Gospels. When religious leaders challenge Jesus' authority in verse 18, John cuts straight to his main point:
Jesus answered, "Destroy this temple and in three days I'll raise it up." But the temple Jesus was talking about was his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered what he had said, and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken. - John 2:19, 21-22 CEB
As the New Interpreter's Bible Commentary explains: "Jesus is the true sanctuary, and the resurrection denotes the rebuilding of this incarnate 'temple' destroyed by the authorities."
Again, this story is explicitly framed for those who already understand that Jesus's death was more than a state execution. The connection between the Temple and Jesus' physical body wouldn't be a stretch for them.
These details matter for our reading today. How much we draw from this chapter relates to how much we already believe in the resurrection of Jesus. The inspiration and instruction John provides assumes some level of belief in "the Word made flesh" and "the light that shines and is not overcome by the darkness."
Yet many of us are reading precisely so we might believe what is written.
If that's you, it's okay to figuratively raise your hand and say: "I don't know if I believe all of this yet!" or "I don't know if I'm seeing what others see in these words and images."
Here's what honest readers will discover: John is clearly aware that even among those who say they believe, there's still room for questions, doubts, and wonderings. In fact, our very next chapter will give visibility to exactly those individuals.
This Gospel is written for both those who believe and those who aren't quite there yet.