Jesus is our AHA moment. He is… -
- The answer to our Broken relationships with God and others.
- The answer to our meaningless existence.
- The answer to the problems in our World.
Without Truly knowing who He is you won’t be able to receive what He does.
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
John 2:1-5
On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. 3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
His first miracle did 2 things.
Established His role as God and not merely man.
Demonstrating How He works in the World today.
John 2:6-9
6 Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons.[a] 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. 9 When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom.
The First Miracle He wants to do in you is convert you.
John 2:13-17 ESV
13 The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. 15 And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. 16 And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.” 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”
Jesus pattern in our lives is still the same today, He converts, then He cleanses.
Temple Cleansing shows us the heart of God to create a place for the outsiders to come and worship and not to allow our religious practices to get in the way of the work of God.
Isaiah 56:7 ESV
these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.”
House of Prayer vs Den of Thieves. What Gets in the way?
1- *Familiarity. *
2- *Our religious laws and knowledge that causes us to miss God’s Heart. *
John 3:2-5
This man came to Jesus[a] by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again[b] he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
John 4:28-29 ESV
28 So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” 30 They went out of the town and were coming to him.
Discussion Questions:
1- What does it mean for you to truly know Him? How does knowing Him allow us to receive His working in our hearts? Why is understanding Jesus’ identity so important for us?
2- Discuss the pattern of Jesus’ miracles today. Converting then Cleansing. How does this pattern play out in our lives today?
3- What does God want to convert in us today? Describe this conversion.
4- How does The Temple Cleansing demonstrate God’s heart for humanity today?
5- Read Isaiah 56:7. What does this reveal about God’s heart?
6- How does our familiarity cause us to rob others from what God wants to do?