John 2:5 - Printer Friendly

ESV: His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."

NIV: His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."

NASB: His mother *said to the servants, 'Whatever He tells you, do it.'

CSB: "Do whatever he tells you," his mother told the servants.

NLT: But his mother told the servants, 'Do whatever he tells you.'

KJV: His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.

NKJV: His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”

Mary brings Jesus a problem, rather than her own pre-packaged solution. She does not ask Him to make, buy, or create more wine. She simply tells Him what her concern is, then instructs others to follow His lead.

When we pray, it's easy to forget that it's not our place to tell God what to do. We can ask (Matthew 7:7–8), but mostly we need to listen (James 4:2–3). Jesus' response (John 2:4) is the equivalent of saying, "What does that have to do with me, ma'am?" Yet, Mary doesn't ask for any specific thing. She merely tells the servants to listen to His instructions. Since Jesus had never performed a miracle before (John 2:11), we can't be sure what she expected. Even without miracles, Mary has come to trust that Jesus can resolve her problems. Just as when Jesus was conceived, Mary seems content to trust in God's plans, even when she doesn't know all the details (Luke 1:34, 38).

John 2:1–12 describes Jesus' first miracle, which is turning water into wine at a wedding. This miracle was discreet and known only to a few people. Changing water meant for purification into wine, symbolic of blood, is a reference to Jesus' role as Messiah. Instead of rituals, we are purified by the miraculous blood of Christ. John specifically uses the Greek word sēmeion, or "sign," for these miracles, since they are meant to prove that Jesus is God. This is the first of seven such signs in the gospel of John.

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.

Accessed 11/23/2024 4:52:12 AM