In John 2, Jesus began his public ministry with two incidents that started the countdown toward what he called “my hour.” Turning water into wine and driving out the marketers from the Temple courts seemed like two unrelated incidents. However, they both indicated that Jesus came to replace religious activities that could never take away sins. Also, these signs pointed forward to the way that he would take away sins: his death and resurrection. (Here are Larry’s complete sermon notes.)
John’s birth and Zechariah’s prophecy pointed to the greatest manifestation of God’s mercy ever.
In his second volume, Luke revealed that the promise of the Father would be the baptism in the Holy Spirit to empower Jesus’ followers...
Because humans were dead in our sins, the only possible solution was for God to make us alive because of his grace.
