John 20:30-31  30 Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

John 1:17  17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. Jesus obliterated the old system of relating to God & replaced it with THE NEW COVENANT…

Formalism = “the practice or the doctrine of strict adherence to, or dependence on, external forms rather than truthful content & personal transformation in matters of religious faith.” Why is formalistic religion attractive? ▪ Relatively easy ▪ Predictable ▪ Impersonal

John 2:1-4  1 On the third day a wedding took place in Cana of Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, and 2 Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding as well. 3 When the wine ran out, Jesus' mother told Him, "They don't have any wine." 4 "What has this concern of yours to do with Me, woman?" Jesus asked. "My hour has not yet come.“ The old system domesticates God by turning Him into a being we seek to tame…

John 2:1-4  1 On the third day a wedding took place in Cana of Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, and 2 Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding as well. 3 When the wine ran out, Jesus' mother told Him, "They don't have any wine." 4 "What has this concern of yours to do with Me, woman?" Jesus asked. "My hour has not yet come.“ The old system domesticates God by turning Him into a being we seek to tame… The new covenant is a response to God and His actions on our behalf!!!

John 2:1-4  1 On the third day a wedding took place in Cana of Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, and 2 Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding as well. 3 When the wine ran out, Jesus' mother told Him, "They don't have any wine." 4 "What has this concern of yours to do with Me, woman?" Jesus asked. "My hour has not yet come.“ John 2:5  "Do whatever He tells you," His mother told the servants.

John 2:6-11  6 Now six stone water jars had been set there for Jewish purification. Each contained 20 or 30 gallons. 7 "Fill the jars with water," Jesus told them. So they filled them to the brim. 8 Then He said to them, "Now draw some out and take it to the chief servant." And they did. 9 When the chief servant tasted the water (after it had become wine), he did not know where it came from-though the servants who had drawn the water knew. He called the groom 10 and told him, "Everybody sets out the fine wine first, then, after people have drunk freely, the inferior. But you have kept the fine wine until now." 11 Jesus performed this first sign in Cana of Galilee. He displayed His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.

1 The Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Him. 2 They observed that some of His disciples were eating their bread with unclean-that is, unwashed-hands. 3 (For the Pharisees, in fact all the Jews, will not eat unless they wash their hands ritually, keeping the tradition of the elders. 4 When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they have washed. And there are many other customs they have received and keep, like the washing of cups, jugs, copper utensils, and dining couches.) 5 Then the Pharisees and the scribes asked Him, "Why don't Your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders, instead of eating bread with ritually unclean hands?“ …

6 He answered them, "Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites, as it is written: These people honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. 7 They worship Me in vain, teaching as doctrines the commands of men. 8 Disregarding the command of God, you keep the tradition of men." 9 He also said to them, "You completely invalidate God's command in order to maintain your tradition! Summoning the crowd again, He told them, "Listen to Me, all of you, and understand: 15 Nothing that goes into a person from outside can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him. 16 If anyone has ears to hear, he should listen!“ 17 When He went into the house away from the crowd, the disciples asked Him about the parable. …

18 And He said to them, "Are you also as lacking in understanding? Don't you realize that nothing going into a man from the outside can defile him? 19 For it doesn't go into his heart but into the stomach and is eliminated." (As a result, He made all foods clean.) 20 Then He said, "What comes out of a person-that defiles him. 21 For from within, out of people's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immoralities, thefts, murders, 22 adulteries, greed, evil actions, deceit, lewdness, stinginess, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within and defile a person.“ The point is that the problem is INTERNAL!

John 2:6-11  6 Now six stone water jars had been set there for Jewish purification. Each contained 20 or 30 gallons. 7 "Fill the jars with water," Jesus told them. So they filled them to the brim. 8 Then He said to them, "Now draw some out and take it to the chief servant." And they did. 9 When the chief servant tasted the water (after it had become wine), he did not know where it came from-though the servants who had drawn the water knew. He called the groom 10 and told him, "Everybody sets out the fine wine first, then, after people have drunk freely, the inferior. But you have kept the fine wine until now." 11 Jesus performed this first sign in Cana of Galilee. He displayed His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.

Jesus prioritized relationship over ritual-keeping 3 Key Points about New Covenant: 1.It transforms from inside out 2.It is super-abundant for the need 3.It leads to a life of joy

John 2:13-17  13 The Jewish Passover was near, so Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple complex He found people selling oxen, sheep, and doves, and [He also found] the money changers sitting there. 15 After making a whip out of cords, He drove everyone out of the temple complex with their sheep and oxen. He also poured out the money changers' coins and overturned the tables. 16 He told those who were selling doves, "Get these things out of here! Stop turning My Father's house into a marketplace!" 17 And His disciples remembered that it is written: Zeal for Your house will consume Me.

Deuteronomy 16:6  You must only sacrifice the Passover animal at the place where the Lord your God chooses to have His name dwell. (eventually became the temple)

John 2:18-22  18 So the Jews replied to Him, "What sign [of authority] will You show us for doing these things?" 19 Jesus answered, "Destroy this sanctuary/temple, and I will raise it up in three days." 20 Therefore the Jews said, "This sanctuary took 46 years to build, and will You raise it up in three days?" 21 But He was speaking about the sanctuary/temple of His body. 22 So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this. And they believed the Scripture and the statement Jesus had made.

The Old System venerated the temple building. The Old System created defensive, resistant people.

 Jesus is the full incarnation of God’s presence ▪ John 1:14  The Word became flesh and made his dwelling (tabernacled) among us.  The people of God (believers) are the temple of God ▪ 1 Corinthians 6:19-20  19 Do you not know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body. ▪ The “you’s” are PLURAL!!!

OLD SYSTEMNEW COVENANT Domesticates GodResponds to God’s agenda Outside InInside Out RitualisticRelational EmptyAbundant Isolates GodGod dwells in us Creates defensive, resistant people Creates humble, gracious people