In John chapter two Jesus does two things that seem out of character for the person that many people have made Him to be.
In these two actions. Jesus shows us His character, His power, His authority.
The first thing is Jesus’ first recorded miracle.
Jesus, His mother, and His disciples go to a wedding at Cana. In the process of the wedding the bridegroom runs out of wine. When Jesus’ mother tells Him about the situation Jesus creates wine from water.
John 2:6-10
Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. And He said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (through the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.”
This miracle seems so weird. It didn’t feed hungry people, didn’t heal sick people, didn’t rescue desperate people, or it didn’t rise dead people. It supplied some wine for a party.
It shows three things about Jesus’ character.
It shows great compassion.
It shows great kindness.
It shows great grace.
The bridegroom and his family would have been disgraced if they had run out of wine. No, it was not a matter of life and death. It was a matter of kindness, compassion, and grace.
Jesus saw a need and out of His kindness, He met the need.
Kindness is not the same as being nice. Nice is what we are taught to be so people will think good of us. Kindness is a character trait that is produced by God’s Spirit.
Kindness is something God produces in us to reach out to others and draw them to Himself.
Kindness is something God produces in us to glorify Himself.
Jesus didn’t do this miracle because He had to or even because His mother asked Him to. He did it to show that God is kind, compassionate, and gracious. It doesn’t have to be a life and death situation for Jesus to help us. Jesus’ grace is for the everyday situations we face.
In addition to the character traits of kindness, compassion, and grace, we also see the power of Jesus in this miracle.
Jesus took water, plain H20 and made it into wine.
He didn’t make a big production out of it; He simply did it.
And Jesus didn’t just make water into wine. He made water into great wine. The master of the feast gave testimony to the good quality of the wine.
Jesus’ power is absolute. He didn’t just make ok wine, He made awesome wine.
Jesus’ power does the impossible.
In Luke 1:34 when Mary asked the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
The angel’s answer is in Luke 1:37, “For nothing is impossible with God.”
In Matthew 19 when Jesus tells the disciples that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of needle than for a rich person to get to heaven, they ask who can be saved. Jesus answers in Matthew 19:26, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Jesus’ power has no limits. That means our hope has no limits.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is about experiencing Jesus’ kindness, compassion, and grace in the working of His mighty power in our lives in the everyday things.
The second action in John chapter two is when Jesus cleanses the temple.
John 2:14-16
In the temple He found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. 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. And He told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make My Fathers’ house a house of trade.”
The disciples, when they had observed this, said in John 2:17, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”
Jesus shows passion here.
Jesus is passionate to do the Father’s will.
Jesus is passionate for the Father to be honored.
We are passionate about what we really love. If we like something we will not be passionate about it, but if we truly love something we will be passionate about it.
Passion is not just shown by emotions.
What we see Jesus doing here is not driven by emotion; it is driven by what He knows the Father wants.
Passion is shown in how we use our time.
Passion is shown in how we use our money.
Passion is shown in how we use our gifts and talents.
Passion is shown in how we prioritize the activities of our daily lives.
So Jesus shows the character trait of passion.
Jesus also shows His authority in this action.
The temple belonged to His Father, not the merchants or the religious leaders or even the people.
Jesus doesn’t ask permission to order the merchants and money-chargers out, He just does it. He demonstrates His authority by removing ungodly activities from His Father’s house.
Jesus’ authority, like His power, is absolute.
Matthew 28:18
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.”
Jesus doesn’t have some authority.
Jesus doesn’t have most authority.
Jesus has ALL authority.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is about being passionate about what Jesus is passionate about and living based on His authority.
We as followers of Jesus are not to use Jesus’ authority to remove ungodly things from others lives. We are to allow Jesus in His authority to remove ungodly things from our lives.
In Matthew 7:5 Jesus says, “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”
The way I allow Jesus to demonstrate His authority is by living in obedience to His authority. Then I can be more effective in helping others remove ungodliness from their lives.
It is not about Jesus’ followers protesting.
It is not about Jesus’ followers judging and condemning.
It is not about Jesus’ followers whining and blaming.
It is about Jesus’ followers showing compassion, kindness, and grace.
It is about Jesus’ followers showing passion for Him.
It is about Jesus’ followers depending on His power.
It is about Jesus’ followers obeying His authority.
In the Power and Authority of Jesus Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls
Joe
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