Daily Lectionary | Genesis 3 & John 2:1-25
Genesis 3
Summary
The serpent causes the woman to doubt God's word and goodness regarding his prohibition on not eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. The serpent assures her, "You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat it you will be like God, knowing good and evil" (Gen. 3:5). Adam, who is standing right there beside her (Gen. 3:6), goes along with all of this and takes the food from his wife. Immediately, their eyes are open to their nakedness and shame, the first result of their rebellion. They cover themselves and try to hide from God. The Lord confronts Adam, who blames God for giving him the woman. The Lord speaks to the woman who blames the serpent. The consequences of sin estrange Adam and Eve from God. They're exiled from the Garden, estranged from one another and from the land they're supposed to work. Amidst the curses God announces on the man, woman, creation, and the serpent, however, is a word of promise: the seed of the woman will one day deliver a head wound to the serpent (Gen. 3:15).
Reflection Questions
- Adam was the one tasked with priestly responsibility in the Garden (Gen. 2:15-17). What should he have done?
- How does Jesus undo the curses of sin that first enter the world in Genesis 3?
John 2:1-25
Summary
Depending on how we count the days in John 1-2, the wedding at Cana happens on the 7th or 8th day, both theologically significant in Scripture as either a sabbath day or day of new creation. That Jesus is at wedding for his first miracle and on this particular day tells us something about his mission. The problem, however, is that the wine has run out. Jesus' mother tells him to do something about it, but Jesus responds his "hour" has not come. The "hour" in John refers to the hour of his death (Jn. 12:23), so Jesus is associating this miracle he's about to do with the hour of his death. The 6 vats of Jewish purification represent the incompleteness of the Old Covenant, but Jesus produces new wine and fills the vats to the brim. All of the ritual washings of the Old Covenant will be superseded by the new wine Jesus will bring in his ministry, which will come in the form of his blood.
While the other Gospels place the temple cleansing a right before Jesus' passion, John tell us of another temple cleansing that kicks off his ministry. Jesus connects his mission and work with the temple. He makes a bold prediction: "Destroy this temple, and in three days, I will raise it again" (Jn. 2:19). What will happen to Jesus' body when he's crucified previews what will happen to the temple--it too will be destroyed. But unlike the temple made with hands, Jesus body will be raised up again as the new temple.
Reflection Questions
- Why is it significant that Jesus' first miracle is (1) at a wedding and (2) involves producing lots of wine?
- How does Jesus disrupt the temple in John 13-25? What does the temple symbolize for Jesus?