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Learning To Serve: Sword Sharpening For Men!

Learning To Serve: Sword Sharpening For Men!. Hilltop Free Will Baptist Church Men’s Bible Study November 12, 2007. Review!!. Last week we covered John 1 In (the) beginning was The Word What was the purpose of The Gospel of John?

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Learning To Serve: Sword Sharpening For Men!

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  1. Learning To Serve: Sword Sharpening For Men! Hilltop Free Will Baptist Church Men’s Bible Study November 12, 2007

  2. Review!! Last week we covered John 1 • In (the) beginning was The Word • What was the purpose of The Gospel of John? • But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. John 20:31 • John the Baptist – The Voice of One Crying in the Wilderness, make Straight the Way of the Lord…. • Jesus’ First Six Disciples • Verse 50: Jesus answered unto him (Nathaniel), Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? Thou shalt see greater things than these. • On to John Chapter 2!

  3. Warning!! Don’t Believe Anything That You Hear Tonight!!!!! Be Like the Bereans!!! These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Acts 17:11

  4. John 2 • In John 2 we will primarily deal with two familiar events: • The Wedding in Cana of Galilee • The Cleansing of the Temple at Passover • Someone said: You could study the book of John your entire life and not learn everything there is to know • I now believe that to be true!! • In John’s book of “The Revelation”: • There are 404 Total Verses • John makes 800 references to the Old Testament • John’s Gospel is the same way….it’s just not as noticeable • Let’s Jump In!! • John 2:1-11, Let’s Read It!!

  5. John 2:1: And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: • What is meant by: And the third day…? • One Possibility: It was a Jewish Custom to marry on “The Third Day”…….. Tuesday • Genesis 1:1-13 • First Day: Let there be light: God said that it was good • Second Day: Waters Separated • Third Day: Dry Land, Vegetation, • DOUBLE BLESSING! • .....And the mother of Jesus was there: • Notice that Mary is never referred to by name in the Gospel of John • John 19:26-27

  6. John 2:2-3: And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.  And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. • `Jesus’ mother comes to Him when she learns that they have a problem • Why was running out of wine such a big deal? • What did she expect Jesus to do? • Had she seen Jesus perform miracles before? • John 2:11: This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee….. • What reason would she have had to have confidence that he could help with the situation? • By the way…..where was Joseph? • Most commentators believe that he was already dead at this point • Jesus’ Response

  7. John 2:4-5:Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.  His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. • Notice Jesus chose the word “Woman” rather than “Mother” • Was His response one of rebuke? • It was actually a response of respect and affection! • Choosing “Woman” over “mother” let her know (and us!) that she had no maternal authority over HIS Messianic work • Why would that be important for us to know today? • Mine hour has not yet come. • The phrase is used numerous other times in John’s gospel • 7:30, 8:20, 12:23, 12:27, 16:32, 17:1 • Everything Jesus did was according to schedule • Galatians 4:4 – His Birth • Romans 5:6 – His Death • James 5:8 – His Return: Be ye also patient, establish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

  8. John 2:6-8: And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.  Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.  And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. • Notice the 6 Waterpots (We’ll come back to them later) • Made of stone • Used for ritual purification • 2 or 3 Firkins Capacity each • A firkin is a goatskin measurement of 6-8 gallons • They were empty • Jesus commanded that they be filled • The servants filled them to the brim • This could have yielded almost 150 gallons of wine • Imagine the servants response!

  9. John 2:9-10: When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,  And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now. • The Governor of the Feast’s Response • He had no clue where the wine came from • He knew that this was superior wine than what was previously being served! • That went against the custom of such events • The good wine was served first • The lesser quality wine was reserved for later

  10. A Closer Look! • Last week we talked about the Old Testament period ending with John the Baptist (Luke 16:16) • John’s gospel writes about the state of Judaism, it’s failure, the lack of knowledge of the Sanhedrin (John 1:26:…. There standeth one among you whom ye know not.) • The picture of the wedding is symbolic in many ways to the sad state of Jewish affairs: • The wine had run out – (wine = joy, Psalm 104:15) • Their religion was empty (purifying water) Six Waterpots: Six is the number of man or incompletion They were of stone, not gold or silver They were empty (Their religion was empty Like we were before Christ filled us! At the command of Christ they were filled! Good Wine!! New beginning of Miracles! The Glory of God was manifested! Many believed on Him

  11. Water Purification How many of you have ever heard of the Ashes of the Red Heifer? Numbers 19:1-10 Notice that this was commanded by God! Ashes of the 1st Red Heifer would be mingled with the ashes of the next, and the next …and so on! From Moses until the destruction of the temple, there were apparently 9 Red Heifers offered in this manner The Jews today are looking for a Levitically acceptable Red Heifer for the time when the temple is rebuilt. Aren’t you glad that God has provided the final, perfect, spotless Lamb for Our Purification?!?!?!

  12. Marriage….. • God uses the marriage to communicate his most intimate truths • In this case, He (through John) gives us a picture of redemption • We’ve probably studied marriage from a “human perspective”: • Biological Basis: Procreation Role • Psychological Basis: Sharing Life’s Journey • Sociological Basis: The Root of Society • Most of us may have never studied marriage from a “Spiritual Basis” • Ephesians 5:25 • With regard to marriage; God gave us two basic rules • Wives: Submit yourselves to your own husband. • Husbands: Love your wife supremely! • Example: As Christ loved the church and gave himself for it! • Example of Adam • We’ve heard Jesus being referred to as the “Second Adam” (1 Cor. 15:45) • We know who the “Second Adam” gave Himself for • Who did the “first” Adam give himself for?

  13. Marriage (cont’d) • I Timothy 2:14 • Wait a minute…….Adam was NOT deceived? • What does that mean? • Is it a possibility that Adam chose to join Eve in the sin so that she might be redeemed? • How might Adam choosing to join Eve in her lost estate ultimately result in her salvation? • Through the Seed of the Woman!! Jesus Christ Himself! • Do we Love our Wives THAT MUCH?

  14. Verses 11-12: This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him. After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days. • Verse 11 seems to dispel any thought that Jesus might have performed miracles as a child • Imagine what Nathaniel is thinking now!!!! • Notice the result of the miracle……His disciples believed! • Verse 12 is what I would call a “connector” • Capernaum was fenced city on the shore of the Sea of Galilee • Matthew 9:1 seems to indicate that Jesus may have considered Capernaum as “his own city” • It was about a days journey from Cana of Galilee • Capernaum was probably the Jewish “capital of Galilee” • One commentator refers to Capernaum as the place Jesus went for rest

  15. Verse 13:And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. • Notice the term “the Jew’s passover”. Why was it not referred to as “The Lord’s Passover? • This was the first of four Passovers that Jesus would attend as the Messiah • Luke 6:1 • John 6:4 • John 11:55 • All Jewish Males were required to attend these feasts • Matthew 23:27 – Whited Sepulchers • Did Jesus have the Scribes and Pharisee’s figured out or what?

  16. Verses 14-16: And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:  And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;  And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise. • The Hebrew word for temple here is the word “hieron” and refers to the temple court • What was the problem with what was going on? • The selling of oxen and sheep and doves would have been a needed service • The money changers would have been required to accommodate transactions. • So what was the problem? • There were probably some deceitfulness involved • There was certainly some profiteering at several levels

  17. The Real Problem was not so much WHAT they were doing, as WHERE they were doing it!!

  18. Verse 17: And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up. • Imagine what the disciples are thinking right about now? • Why didn’t someone try to stop him? • Psalm 69:9 • The Disciples remembered the scripture • What does the verse mean when it says: “The zeal of thine house has eaten me up”? • The word for zeal here is the Greek word zēlos • It would be not be too far fetched to translate this word as “jealousy” • The Greek word for “eaten up” is katesthiō • The meaning here is “to devour” • The “zeal of thine house” means extraordinary concern for the temple of God; intense desire that the worship there should be pure, and such as God would approve. (Barnes notes)

  19. Verse 18: Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? • Why would the Jews ask for a sign? What were they looking for? • The Greek word for sign is “sēmeion” • It literally mean something supernatural, they were looking for a miracle to support His authority for what he had just done in the temple Verse 19: Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. • Jesus gave them the “Ultimate” sign!! • They had no ability to comprehend what he was saying to them!

  20. Verse 20: Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? • The Jews, of course, scoffed at Jesus’ sign, because they thought he spoke of rebuilding Herod’s Temple. • Their response does give us a little more insight as to the timing of the event. • The restoration of Zerubbabel’s Temple had begun in 18 or 19 BC (Zerubabbel’s Temple was first built in Nehemiah’s day • If the restoration had been ongoing for 46 years as they said, and Jesus was born in 2 BC as is speculated, Jesus would have been “About” 30 years old, or of Priesthood Age at the time of this event!

  21. Verses 21 and 22: But he spake of the temple of his body. 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. • Not only did the Jews not understand my Jesus meant when he said “Destroy this temple in three days I will raise it up, His own disciples did not understand it either. • It was only after His Resurrection that they were able to understand what He had meant. • They believed the scripture: • Psalm 16:10 Compared to: Acts 2:27-32, Acts 13:35-37 • They believed the word which Jesus said: • Matthew 20:19 • Luke 18:32-33 • How long will it take to rebuild the temple this time? Preparations are underway!!

  22. Verses 24-25: But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because He knew all men. And needed not that any should testify of man: for He knew what was in man. • What does it mean when it says: Jesus did not commit Himself to them? • pisteuō is the Greek word here translated “commit” • The word means literally to have faith in, to trust • He did not trust them because he knew what was in them! • It was a testimony to His Omniscience! • 1 Samuel 16:7 • Mark 2:8 • Acts 1:24

  23. Conclusion • So what have we learned? • What are your questions?

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