Hello folks! It's been a while since I have written on my blog, but I signed up for another class on the New Testament so here I am! I guess I am doing this backwards because the last class was about Christ's apostles and their teachings after He is crucified. This class focuses on Christ's teachings and ministry while he was here on the Earth.
So, this is the first week and I studied John 2:1-22. In this chapter, Christ performs his first miracle. I find it interesting that it was at the request of his mother. Also, what I found intriguing is that of all the things or times to choose to perform a miracle, it is to turn water into wine at a wedding. I figured there had to be a message there to teach us of the significance in that.  In reading the student manual through my church, I realized that He must have regarded marriage an important occasion. What impressed me most about what He did though, was that He literally changed one substance into something totally different. That to me, speaks volumes of who He is, and what He is capable of. He has power to change and transform the elements. He truly is the Creator of the world! Knowing and understanding what He just did leads us to realize why He has the power to take us and transform our carnal nature to a righteous state of being. I think there is significance in the fact that he did this with stone vessels which, through Jewish tradition, they retain their purity. Could there be significance in this too as we realize His power to change and purify us?
In John 2:4, Christ addresses His mother as "woman". In our day and age it would have come across as an insult, but back then, according to the study guide, it was a term of endearment from a son with great meaning of honor, love, and respect. I have to say, I had learned this quite a while ago. Somehow, my Husband at the time came across something explaining this. It was significant to us because in the beginning of our marriage, he started calling me woman. My mom hated it -which made him call me that more when he was around her. Then, it just evolved into a term of endearment like any other word- like the overused "babe" which he also called me. When he explained the way Christ used it, the way we perceived its meaning changed for us and it became something special to us that only we understood and enjoyed.
The Savior's actions as He cleanses the Temple are symbolic of what He wants for us. We must keep ourselves holy and cleanse our inner vessels as well. If we are to enter the "House of the Lord" we should shed ourselves of irreverence and worldliness. we need to keep ourselves clean so we can feel the peace He wants to give us instead of the chaos in the world. I have really learned a lot just in this chapter. I plan to work on being more reverent in my home, at church, and teach my children to be more reverent and respectful too.