Foreword
The Gospel of John is a very spiritual book, written many years after the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. In addition, John wrote the Gospel of John, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, and Revelation. When we read Revelation, we find that John was a very spiritual person. He frequently saw visions and had an understanding of the spiritual realm that almost surpassed Paul in the Bible.
Questions for Reflection
Do you know the key to receiving blessings?
What do you make of Jesus turning water into wine at the wedding feast?
What is the most important treasure in a person's life? How can one seize such a treasure?
What kinds of problems in our daily lives can be solved by the infinite possibilities that come from God?
The theme of the Gospel of John is spiritual matters. Chapter 1 speaks of heaven being opened, which comes from the description of Jacob in Genesis. Jacob dreamed of a ladder with angels ascending and descending. Jacob awoke and said, How dreadful is this place! (See Genesis 28:17). Only a spiritual person would say such a thing! A worldly person would only complain about having an insignificant dream. You will find that spiritual people and worldly people see things very differently. Spiritual people will solve many problems in a spiritual way, while worldly people live their small lives every day, concerned with mundane matters.
Chapter 2 of the Gospel of John recounts three things: the miracle performed by Jesus; Jesus driving the merchants out of the temple; and Jesus knowing the hearts of people.
Jesus Turns Six Jars of Water into Wine at a Wedding Feast
This chapter records Jesus attending a wedding feast. In such a joyous occasion, the wine ran out before the meal was finished, which was quite a letdown. Jesus and His disciples were also drinking there, and just as everyone was enjoying themselves, the wine ran out. Mary knew that there were infinite possibilities in Jesus, because Matthew, Mark, and Luke had already spoken of the Holy Spirit conceiving, and Mary gave birth to Jesus, who was connected to heaven. I also hope that brothers and sisters can become people who have the heavens opened above their heads.
I have infinite possibilities because the heavens above my head are open. We must all be spiritual people; spiritual people are incomparable to worldly people. Mary said to Jesus, They have no wine. Jesus said, Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come. His mother said to the servants, Whatever he tells you, do it. (See John 2:3-5). This was Jesus testing his mother's faith. His mother also had persistent faith. Today, brothers and sisters must also have persistent faith to open the heavens above our heads and create infinite possibilities. When your prayers are not answered, you should know that the Lord's time has not yet come; just obey in faith, and you will eventually see miracles.
Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, Fill the jars with water. And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast. So they took it. (John 2:6-8)
Jesus turned the six large jars of water into fine wine, which was what people needed at that time. If it were the Pharisees or religious scholars, they might say that Jesus was a drunkard, so he turned out six jars of wine. Jesus provides for people when they are happy and need wine. Jesus is the way to the throne of God, and He carries infinite possibilities. If you are in great need of gold, then Jesus is your first pot of gold. Jesus can instantly turn six jars of water into fine wine; He can instantly turn stones into gold; He can instantly do many wonderful things! So what else do we have to worry about?
If you go to the gate leading to the kingdom of heaven, and the heavens above you are open, you will surely become a miracle worker. Working miracles reveals God's glory; not seeking miracles is disliking God's glory. From the past to the present, and even in the future, brothers and sisters will be set free, their finances will be turned around, and their work will be blessed—all of which are manifestations of God's glory. These are all provisions from God for us! If God can turn six jars of water into six jars of wine, then can't the needs in our lives be solved! God has given such a small promise as six jars of wine, so God will give us everything in our lives.
Jesus Drove the Merchants Out of the Temple
The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 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 money of the money-changers and overturned their tables. And he told those who sold the pigeons, Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade. (John 2:13-16)
Jesus drove the merchants out of the temple during the Passover. The whole event seems rough on the surface, but it is because Jesus was very surprised by what was in people's hearts. If this temple is pleasing to God, then this land will be blessed by God. In this way, many problems will be solved. On the contrary, the people here regard the temple as a place for business and trade.
The people here do not know that if this is a house of prayer, the heavens above this place are open, and God's blessings will surely pour down from heaven. What a reversal! This land will not lack. Many times, we do not know that Jesus is the treasure of our lives. If a person has Jesus, then he will not lack in his life. Perhaps you are now encountering problems in your work or career, but these are minor problems. The biggest problem is whether the heavens above our heads are open, and whether the heavenly treasures will be poured out for us.
The blessing that Jacob stole from his father was, “May God give you of the dew of heaven and of the fatness of the earth.” Esau received, “Behold, away from the fatness of the earth shall your dwelling be, and away from the dew of heaven on high.” Both of them worked very hard, but Jacob was blessed, and the land where he stood immediately became fertile, and dew would fall from heaven. (See Genesis 27). A person with open heavens receives very high returns for what he does. If we do not know this, we will walk the path of Esau and Cain, which are not blessed paths. These people do not know that the temple is a place of prayer, a place to pour out God's blessings, but they are doing business here to make money. Many of our brothers and sisters, although they see the miracles performed by God in the church, are still concerned with eating, drinking, working, marrying, etc., and do not know that Jesus Christ is the treasure. In Jesus Christ, we cannot imagine the possibility of everything.
I heard a testimony that a brother's depression flared up, and he felt particularly tired and had no strength at all. At this time, he reluctantly opened our QQ group, and his body suddenly recovered. I was very shocked when I heard this, because this QQ group where we pray is a place where the heavens are open. In a place where the heavens are open, miracles and wonders will happen, and the glory of God will be revealed. This is the infinite possibility. There is also the testimony of Sister YN, trusting in the Lord, learning will be turned around, and there is infinite possibility in Jesus Christ. When we face challenges in our lives, we can completely let go of our worries, trust in Jesus, and we will never lack in our lives. This is God's promise.
Jews Challenge Jesus
His disciples remembered that it was written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.” Then the Jews demanded of him, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” The Jews replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” (John 2:17-20)
After Jesus drove these people out of the temple, they began to challenge Him. Jesus said that the temple could be completed in three days; He is God, and nothing is impossible with Him. You must know that when God created the heavens and the earth, He said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. (See Genesis 1) In Jesus Christ, there is infinite possibility. If you are sick and have seen many doctors without being healed, then come to the church, because God is here, and healing is God's promise.
Our church does what Jesus did, promoting the ministry of healing and deliverance. If a person has the ability to heal the sick and cast out demons, that is a priceless treasure. It can not only help you avoid the pain of being in a hospital bed, but also save you medical expenses. I often challenge people, telling them that relying on God can save them time spent in bed. Prayer opens the heavens above, and the infinite possibilities of the Kingdom of Heaven will happen to you.
A few days ago, I met a brother who, in just ten months, had spent almost all of his provident fund in the hospital bed, leaving him with only two thousand dollars. I felt very sad after seeing this. The gospel is what people need most; it can directly solve people's problems with sickness. You must know that in Jesus Christ there is infinite possibility; He can build the temple in three days; He can heal cancer and heal lepers.
However, many people do not know this; they think that living requires money. Today I tell you, living requires God! If I do not have God, if the heavens above me are not open, I cannot imagine how I would live. We must know that what people need most to live is God! Not money! Not work! Today we have experienced God's abundant grace in the church, including healing. I believe that through gospel outreach, many people can be healed. Jesus Christ will reign and rule in our midst, and the glory of Jesus Christ will be manifested through us.
Jesus Knows the Hearts of Men
Jesus Christ knows what is in people’s hearts, and we must examine our own hearts carefully. I know that my heart is filled with God; my heart is filled with building a house of prayer; my heart is filled with the Kingdom of God. When God also knows that our hearts are filled with a house of prayer and the Kingdom of God, God will be with us, and all the benefits of His kingdom will come upon us. Like Joseph, God was with him, and he became the Prime Minister of Egypt, ruling over the people of that land (See Genesis 41). We will serve the people of this generation through the benefits of the Kingdom of Heaven that God has given us, and the people of this generation will be blessed and graced because of us.
Once, a person who had a numb hand, a headache, and had eye surgery but was still uncomfortable came to seek our help. I prayed for him, and a miraculous thing happened; this person was healed in two minutes! His body felt light and relaxed! So everyone must know that in Jesus Christ there is infinite possibility, because He is God who came from heaven!