Structural Outlines of the Fourth Gospel
by Rev. Felix Just, S.J., Ph.D.
The Wedding at Cana (2:1-12)
[full NAB text] [see related art] [see Johannine Signs]
  • A) 1-2:  Temporal & Geographical Setting: "on the third day" - "a wedding in Cana in Galilee"
  • Characters Introduced: 1) "the mother of Jesus was there"; 2) "Jesus and his disciples were also invited."
     
  • B) 3-4:  Mother asks Jesus about lack of more wine; Jesus responds: "...My hour has not yet come."
     
  • C) 5:  Mother tells servants to do what Jesus says.
     
  • D) 6:  Details about Props: 6 stone water jars, holding 2 or 3 "measures" (20-30 gallons) each, for Jewish purity rituals.
     
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  • C') 7-8:  Jesus tells servants what to do, and they do it.
     
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  • B') 9-10:  Chief Steward tells Bridegroom about quality of new wine; he says: "...you have kept the good wine until now."
     
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  • A') 11-12: Theological Summary: "the beginning of his SIGNS in Cana in Galilee"; "he revealed his glory; his disciples believed in him"
  • Characters Reviewed: 11) Jesus and his disciples; 12) "he and his mother and his brothers and his disciples"
  • Geographical & Temporal Transition: "...went down to Capernaum and stayed there only a few days"
    •

    Jesus Cleanses the Temple (2:13-22)
    [full NAB text] [see related art]

  • A) 13: Temporal and Geographical Introduction: "Passover was near; Jesus went up to Jerusalem"

  • B) 14-17: Prophetic/Symbolic Action: Jesus in the Jerusalem Temple

  • 14) He finds animal sellers and moneychangers in the Temple.

  •    15) He drives the animals (but not the merchants?) out of the Temple.

  • 16) He alludes to scripture: don't make my Father's house a marketplace (cf. Zech 14:21).
       17) His     disciples remember another scripture: "zeal for your house will consume me" (Ps 69:10).
     

  • C) 18: "The Jews" (temple authorities?) challenge Jesus: "What SIGN will you show us?"
     

  • B') 19-22: Prophetic/Symbolic Discussion: Raising the Temple of Jesus' Body

  • 19) Jesus asserts: "Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up."

  •    20) Jews respond: "This temple is being built for 46 years; you will raise it up in three days?"

  • 21) Narrator clarifies: he was speaking about "the temple of his body."

  •    22) The disciples remember Jesus' words, and believe the scriptures (cf. Mal 3:1).
     

  • A') 23-25: Temporal and Geographical Transition: "While he was in Jerusalem, for the feast of Passover"

    Note: John 2:23-25 really function as the introduction to the first episode in John 3.

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