John 2:13 - Printer Friendly

ESV: The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

NIV: When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

NASB: The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

CSB: The Jewish Passover was near, and so Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

NLT: It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration, so Jesus went to Jerusalem.

KJV: And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,

NKJV: Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

Jewish men living in the regions around Jerusalem were expected to attend three yearly festivals in the city (Deuteronomy 16:16). These were Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles; also called the Feasts of Unleavened Bread, of Weeks, and of Booths, respectively. The gospel of John also mentions the Feast of Dedication, today called Hanukkah (John 10:22). Some of Jesus' most interesting conversations occurred during these festival times in Jerusalem.

The city was the center of Jewish worship. It was the seat of David's power (2 Samuel 5:6–10) and the location of the temple (1 Kings 6—7). People traveled great distances to offer sacrifices there, and to participate in religious ceremonies. Many of these people owned no livestock. Instead, they had to purchase a suitable sacrifice after they arrived. This led merchants, money-traders, and lenders to set up shop just inside the temple grounds. That could have been a good thing, to help people honor their obligation to God.

Unfortunately, the men there were not focused on telling people about the Lord. Nor were they motivated to help pilgrims. These men were abusing the situation: gouging vulnerable people for the sake of profit.

John 2:13–23 describes Jesus driving corrupt businessmen from the temple. His wrath is not because of selling sacrifices, itself, but rather the greedy focus on money with no regard to serving God. Jesus is never depicted as out of control, but His anger is clear. It's likely that this is an early temple cleansing, and the other gospels record a second, separate incident. Jesus' right to act this way is challenged by the authorities. In typical Hebrew style, they demand a miraculous sign. Jesus instead predicts His own death and resurrection. This passage contrasts with the quiet, joyous miracle at the wedding.

Jesus attends a wedding where He performs His first miracle: turning water into wine. This symbolizes a transformation of human rituals into divine sacrifice. Few people are even aware that a miracle has occurred. Jesus then drives crooked businessmen out of the temple, scolding them for turning a sacred area into a crass marketplace.

Chapter 2 begins to show Jesus' "signs," or miracles, which will prove that He is the Savior. The miracles will become more spectacular over time, but they start quietly. Contrast is an important part of the gospel of John. The quiet, joyful miracle at the wedding is starkly different from the loud public spectacle of clearing the temple. Jesus' first miracle symbolizes His mission. During the temple clearing, He also predicts His death and resurrection. This sets the stage for Jesus' private discussion with Nicodemus, a respected and influential man.

The disciple John wrote the gospel of John decades after the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke were written. The author assumes that a reader is already familiar with the content of these other works. So, John presents a different perspective, with a greater emphasis on meaning. John uses seven miracles—which he calls "signs"— to prove that Jesus is, in fact, God incarnate. Some of the most well-known verses in the Bible are found here. None is more famous than the one-sentence summary of the gospel found in John 3:16.