Sermon Notes + 2.19.2023

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He Did Not Entrust Himself to Them
John 2
Dr. Tony Chute, Lead Pastor

Overview: The second chapter of John’s gospel places Jesus at two special events—a wedding in Cana and the Passover feast in Jerusalem—where His actions at each elicit various responses. Jesus is invited to the wedding but resides in the background until the wine runs out and His mother implies that He intervene. Though hesitant initially, Jesus performs His first miracle by turning water into wine, with the result that the celebration continues and the disciples believe in Him. The second event places Jesus front and center as He purges the temple courts from those who have misappropriated the purpose and design of worship. When confronted about His actions, Jesus identifies Himself as the true temple, a point which the religious leaders fail to grasp, but the disciples later recall and believe. This contrast between joy and judgment is both encouraging and unsettling, as it reveals how Jesus offered Himself for all while entrusting Himself to no one.

01. Since Jesus refused to entrust Himself to others knowing what was in man, let us entrust ourselves to Him, knowing that He is able to transform everyone who truly believes in His name.

02. Since Jesus has entrusted us with the gospel message, let us proclaim Him as the one who deserves our full worship and devotion, calls us to genuine repentance and faith, and provides us with an abundance of joy.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION & DISCOVERY

1. What does Jesus’ presence at the wedding suggest about the importance of making Christ the center of one’s marriage? Is it possible to redefine marriage other than what the Bible teaches and still have Christ as the center? In what ways has your marriage reflected the presence of Christ? (Think along the lines of serving one another, forgiving one another, and helping one another grow in the Lord).

2. Why does Jesus hesitate when Mary first requests Him to intervene (2:3-4)? How does her response to His reply (2:5) indicate that He would indeed ensure the wedding feast will continue? One writer has said, “In 2:3 Mary approaches Jesus as his mother, and is reproached; in 2:5 she responds as a believer, and her faith is honored.” How does this change of expectation warn us about our assumptions with God while encouraging us to pray according to His will?

3. What does the quality of the wine produced by a miracle suggest about the nature of Jesus’ ministry? How does this text challenge the notion that life with Jesus is boring or that Christianity takes the joy out of life? For further examples of weddings and comparison to Jesus’ ministry, see Matthew 22:1-14; Mark 2:18-22; and Revelation 19:6-9.

4. Why did Jesus drive out the money changers and animals from the temple? What is the significance of Jesus’ reference to the temple as “my Father’s house”? What warning does this passage provide about mixing worship with worldliness? In what ways can we prepare our hearts at Northpoint to worship the Lord in a way that is pleasing to Him?

5. What is the estimation of the human heart, apart from Christ, according to John 2:24-25? In what ways do people attempt to re-create God in their own image, according to their own designs? Pray that we will not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:1-2).

For Further Reading: J. B. Phillips, Your God is Too Small (Macmillan, 1961; Touchstone, 2004)