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 (Unleavened Bread), Pentecost (Weeks), and Tabernacles (Booths). The gospel of John also mentions the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah) in John 10:22. Some of Jesus' most interesting conversations occurred during these festival times in Jerusalem.

The city was the center of Jewish worship, since it was the location of the temple. People travelled from great distances to offer sacrifices there, and to participate in religious ceremonies. Many of these people owned no livestock, so they had to purchase a suitable sacrifice after they arrived. This led to merchants, money-traders, and lenders setting up shop just inside the temple grounds. Unfortunately, the men there were not focused on telling people about God, or helping 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. Selling sacrifices to travelers was not a problem. The sin was in gouging the people, focusing on money, rather than 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 cleansing. Jesus’ authority is challenged by the authorities. In typical Hebrew style, they demand a miraculous sign. Jesus instead predicts His own death and resurrection. This passage is in contrast to the quiet, joyous miracle at the wedding.

Jesus attends a wedding where He performs His first miracle: turning water into wine. This is symbolic of His 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 place into a market place.

Chapter 2 begins to show Jesus’ “signs,” or miracles, which will prove that He is the Savior. The miracles will grow more and more spectacular, but they start quietly. Contrast is an important part of the gospel of John. The quiet, joyful miracle at the wedding is very 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.

The gospel of John was written by the disciple John, decades later than the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. 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”—in order to prove that Jesus is, in fact, God incarnate. Some of the most well-known verses in all of the Bible are found here. None is more famous than the one-sentence summary of the gospel found in John 3:16.

Accessed 5/7/2024 2:07:48 AM