John 2:22 - Printer Friendly

ESV: When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

NIV: After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.

NASB: So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken.

CSB: So when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the statement Jesus had made.

NLT: After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered he had said this, and they believed both the Scriptures and what Jesus had said.

KJV: When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.

NKJV: Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said.

After Jesus is resurrected (Matthew 28:9–10), His disciples realize His earlier statement (John 2:19) was a prophecy about His own body. This is especially important; there would have been no way for Jesus to simulate such a thing or pretend it to be true. It's also important because His reference to the temple and His own resurrection was used both in His trials (Matthew 26:61) and as an insult while He was dying on the cross (Matthew 27:40). This means Jesus' claim could not have been invented after His death. Later, Jesus will refer to death as the means to "plant a seed" which produces new life (John 12:20–25).

In the gospel of John, we often see people respond to miracles based on their preferences. What a person wants to believe often has a more powerful influence on them than what they should believe (John 7:17) or what they have reason to believe (Romans 1:18–20). Some, like the Pharisees (John 5:39–40), refuse to see God's work and instead invent ways to explain away the miracle—or cover it up (Matthew 28:11–15). Others, like the disciples, see them as proof that what they've read in the Scriptures is true.

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.