Day 205: John 2:12

After this, He went down to Capernaum, together with His mother, His brothers, and His disciples, and they stayed there only a few days (v. 12).

I love the fact that Jesus talks in words and images His listeners can understand. When He said, “I will make you fishers of men” (Matt. 4:19), He obviously used terminology Andrew, Peter, James, and John could understand. He didn’t use the same terminology with Philip, Nathanael, or Matthew, but I am convinced one part of the sentence applies to every single person Jesus Christ calls. “Come, follow me and I will make you . . .” Decades later when God had used these men to change the face of “religion” forever, they still could not boast in themselves. Christ made them the men and the influences they were.

I can’t express what these thoughts mean to me. I was such a broken and scattered mess. So emotionally unhealthy. So insecure and full of fear. I am not being falsely modest when I tell you that when Christ called me, He had pitifully little to work with. I was a wreck . . . and stayed that way for longer than I’d like to admit. I have such a long way to go, but this I can say: I followed Christ, and anything that I am or have of value is completely from Him.

So how does Christ “make” a man or a woman? We will explore many ways, but the most immediate way He began building His new followers into the people He wanted them to be was by spending intense time with them and showing them how He worked.

Piecing the Gospels together in a precise chronological order is a task far too challenging for me. I’m relieved to know that it is also a little too challenging for other Bible commentators. What we do know is that Christ and His small and yet incomplete band of followers attended a wedding in Cana together very soon after their union. In fact, John 2:1 says on the third day a wedding took place in Cana in Galilee, but we can’t be entirely sure what he meant. It sounds like the third day after John began to follow Jesus.

We already explored the wedding more fully when we studied the uniqueness of John’s Gospel, so now I’d like you to view the verse immediately following the celebration. John 2:12 says, “After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.”

Christ’s family and His disciples obviously enjoyed at least a brief season of peace and harmony. I didn’t give that idea any thought until researching for this study. The schism in Christ’s family didn’t develop until a little while later (John 7:3–5). Eventually we will behold the reconciliation brought by the power of the resurrection. For now, however, picture Christ surrounded by both His family and His new disciples.

I am fairly convinced that we don’t really know people until we stay with them for a few days. Can I hear an amen? Although I’m grinning, I have almost always been more blessed than less. Not long ago, Amanda and I got stranded in Tennessee after a conference due to a serious flood in Houston. When I learned the airport was closed, I frantically called Travis, my dear friend and worship leader, and asked if he had room for two more in his van back to Nashville. Without making a single preparation for us, his young family of four graciously received us into their home for two nights. Although we were already very close friends, we bonded for life. The treasure of having part of my ministry family and part of my natural family in fellowship together was priceless.

The disciples were new on the scene. They probably didn’t have quite the comfort level interacting with Christ’s family for those several days that I enjoyed with my worship leader’s family. Still, they got to see Christ interact with His own family—an opportunity that I think was critical. Soon they would see Him perform all manner of miracles. They already had witnessed the changing of water to wine, but the sights they would soon see would nearly take their breath away. You see, people are much harder to change than water.

As they watched this man named Jesus—this carpenter’s son—as they fellowshipped with Him then witnessed His work, what do you think they saw? Consistency? Versatility? Unwavering passion? Or a lamb as often as a lion? The center of all attention? Or a teacher that became a student of all those around Him? We know they saw absolute authenticity, but how do you imagine they saw it portrayed?

Don’t think for a minute that thinking about such matters is a waste of time. The more we grasp the flesh-and-blood reality of these encounters and try to imagine the intimate details the disciples witnessed in Christ the better! What we’re studying isn’t religious fiction or simple Christian tradition. Christ walked into people’s lives and transformed them. You and I want nothing less.