The Marriage in Cana
READ John 2:1-11
Why
did Christ’s mother Mary ask Him to help the wedding party that had run out of
wine?
Mary must have had some kind of official
role at the wedding; so, it was likely a family member of some kind.
Although some
have speculated that this was Christ’s wedding, it was most likely not for
several reasons: Christ was 30 years old and most men in Israel at that time were
married between 18-20; Christ did not seem too bothered or embarrassed about
the situation; the bridegroom is mentioned as a separate person.
Although His public ministry had not yet
begun (this was the first official miracle), Mary had full confidence that
Jesus could perform some kind of miracle like this; first, she asks Him to
help, second, she tells the servants to do whatever (“…crazy thing…”) Jesus
tells them to do; clearly Christ had performed similar miracles of this
magnitude in the privacy of their home or in other private situations, as her
faith barely skipped a beat in asking Him for this favor. This might also speak to who Mary was and
what she knew from her own visions of heaven.
Why
does Christ answer Mary “what have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not yet come?”
The wine was not Jesus’ responsibility.
His public ministry had not yet begun
(although it was just about to).
The time for Him to provide “sacramental
wine” through the shedding of His own blood had not yet arrived.
And yet, He still had mercy on her and
the bridegroom, and performed the miracle.
Why
does Christ make use of the waterpots used for ceremonial purification in
religious observances?
The way He performed this miracle was a
demonstration of His authority over both the elements and ordinances of
salvation.
The waterpots are big – 20 to 30 gallons
each; so either it was a really, really big wedding and the family had
completely underestimated the required amount of wine or Christ’s miracle was
over the top – perhaps showing His sense of humor… “You want wine? I’ll give you enough to serve the whole
town!”
How
did Christ change water into wine; did it actually change its molecular nature
or was this a “Jedi mind trick” on Christ’s part?
Although He never spoke a word to “bless
the water,” His intent was enough to change the molecular structure of the
water into actual wine – He thought it and it was done.
To apply quantum physics to this
situation, the molecules which make up the water are themselves made up of
subatomic energy; this energy or “wavicle” only moves from “superposition”
(wave) into a solid object in time and space (particle) when an “observer” is
intent on watching it; Christ IS the “observer” for this cosmos – all of the
elements are His and He keeps them organized from moment to moment, otherwise
they would immediately devolve back into chaos (superposition); all He did was
change His intention with regards to these subatomic particles – from water to
very fine wine.
Nicodemus and Being Born Again
Christ travels from Galilee to Jerusalem
for the Passover and cleanses the temple.
While He is there He is visited by Nicodemus, a member of the Sanhedrin.
READ John 3:1-2
Who
was Nicodemus and what assumptions can we make that could give us insight into
why Christ answers him the way He does?
He was a ruler of the Jews – on the
Sanhedrin or governing council.
He was a Pharisee.
He came at night (secret) so he was
worried about losing his position on the council and its accompanying status.
Like many modern Gentile Saints, he was
an expert in checklist spirituality and external or outward compliance.
Having said all that, he knew he was in
darkness and came seeking wisdom from Jesus, and could sense that He had
authority from God because of the signs He was working.
How
did Nicodemus know Christ came from God?
The proof is in the miracles and “fruits”
– good fruit comes from a good tree.
However, he does not have a spiritual
conversion – he sees “exoteric” proof (outward signs or artifacts that align
with his knowledge of how things are or what an enlightened heavenly guide is
supposed to know and do) as opposed to having “esoteric” experiences like being
“born of the spirit” Himself.
READ John 3:3-7
In
light of Nicodemus’ acknowledgement that Jesus had descended from the High Council
of Heaven with authority, why did Christ tell him that he must be born again –
as he would already have been baptized, to be holding the position he was
holding in Israel?
He was in effect saying, “since you
believe that I come from heaven with authority, let me tell you why I have
come. A new dispensation has begun and
you must accept the ordinances of this new level of light or you cannot hope to
progress to know God.”
Can
one be born the second time from the mother’s womb? Why did Christ not answer
this question?
Jesus’ lack of a direct response to this
question is the sign of a spiritual master who knows that neither a “yes” or a
“no” answer to the question will be understood.
Instead, He just continues to teach.
But the answer
is “yes, a man can enter the second time into his mother’s womb” because the
“womb of creation” is the presence of Elohim (Father and Mother) and we are
born again by reentering this presence – it’s just not the “womb” or the
“mother” that Nicodemus is thinking about.
However,
Nicodemus won’t understand this, being such a concrete-thinking, behavioristic
Pharisee; and Christ can’t say “no”, so He ignores the question.
What
is the difference between being born again to “see” vs being born again to
“enter” the kingdom?
Before one can enter, one first has to
realize that “there” is the kingdom of God and “here” am I, outside of it.
Entering comes as a result of seeing.
Why
must we first be “born to see”?
It implies that unless we are “born to
see” we are either blind or asleep (which equates to the same thing) to our true
condition – we are “in the Matrix”.
The natural man either doesn’t realize
there is a kingdom of God or thinks they are already inside of it based on
outward performances.
We need a realization of our true standing
before God as natural or fallen men and women.
Between us and the kingdom is a chasm we
can’t cross – our plight is hopeless as we cannot save ourselves – Christ is
our only hope – we won’t sacrifice our whole souls unless we realize our true condition.
What
are we when we have been born again to see?
Panicked!
We finally see how grave our danger and how desperate our situation is.
Humbled - lower than the dust of the
earth (see Mosiah 4:1-2).
Willing to do whatever it takes to be
clean.
How
do we become “born again to see?”
It is a spiritual gift.
Our repentance doesn’t earn us this
vision of truth.
READ Ezra Taft Benson quote:
“As we seek to qualify to be members of
Christ's Church -- members in the sense in which He uses the term, members who
have repented and come unto Him -- let us remember these principles. The gospel
is the Lord's plan of happiness and repentance is designed to bring us joy.
True repentance is based on and flows from faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
There is no other way. True repentance involves a change of heart and not just
a change of behavior (see Alma 5:13). Part of this mighty change of heart is to
feel godly sorrow for our sins. This is what is meant by a broken heart and a
contrite spirit… It is not uncommon to find men and women in the world who feel
remorse for the things they do wrong. Sometimes this is because their actions
cause them or loved ones great sorrow and misery. Sometimes their sorrow is
caused because they are caught and punished for their actions. Such worldly
feelings do not constitute "godly sorrow" (2 Corinthians 7:10). Godly sorrow is a gift of the Spirit.
It is a deep realization that our actions have offended our Father and our God.
It is the sharp and keen awareness that our behavior caused the Savior, He who
knew no sin, even the greatest of all, to endure agony and suffering. Our sins
caused Him to bleed at every pore. This very real mental and spiritual anguish
is what the scriptures refer to as having "a broken heart and a contrite spirit"
(D&C 20:37). Such a spirit is the absolute prerequisite for true
repentance.” (E.T. Benson; Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p. 71-72)
What
does it mean to be “born of water and of the Spirit”?
Baptism of water (an outward ordinance).
Baptism of fire – which is not the same
as confirmation into the Church by the laying on of hands (baptism of fire is
the inward realization or actual occurrence of the promises given in the outward
ordinance).
What
is an ordinance?
It is how we “sign our name” to the terms
of a covenant made with God – it makes it official or “legally binding” (see
Elder Jorge Rojas, October 1991 General Conference).
Symbolic of an inward spiritual process –
not the “real thing” but a template to help us receive it.
An authorized invitation to receive a
spiritual blessing via covenant FROM GOD not man.
Is
it possible to perform the baptism of water and be confirmed without receiving
the baptism of fire or gift of the Holy Ghost?
Yes – unless it has been sealed by the
Holy Spirit of Promise, it is not “live” (see 2 Nephi 31:17, 3 Nephi 27:20,
Moroni 6:4, and 2 Nephi 31:13).
Even in the ordinance of the laying on of
hands given in the Church, we are invited to “receive” the Holy Ghost – the
Holy Ghost is not commanded by a man to enter us.
READ D&C 132:7 (minus the insertion)
“All covenants, contracts, bonds,
obligations, oaths, vows, performances, connections, associations, or
expectations, that are not made and entered into and sealed by the Holy Spirit
of Promise… are of no efficacy, virtue, or force in and after the resurrection
from the dead; for all contracts that are not made unto this end have an end
when men are dead.”
Is
ANYTHING binding unless it is sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise?
No.
Why
did Nicodemus “marvel” at Christ’s answers?
As a Pharisee (and like many of us), he
was caught up in the outward performances, behaviors, standards and activities.
The inward workings of the Spirit were
beyond him (at this point).
What
does it mean to be born of God?
Receive the mighty change of heart
(Mosiah 5:2).
Receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (2
Nephi 31:12).
Receive the baptism of fire (3 Nephi
9:20).
Receive a remission of sins (Mosiah
4:2-3).
Be redeemed of the Lord (Mosiah 27:24).
Be changed from carnal state to a state
of righteousness – a new creature (Mosiah 27:25-26).
Become a son or daughter of Christ
(Mosiah 27:25).
Filled with joy (Alma 36:21).
How
does one receive the baptism of the Spirit or Fire – to be born of God?
Live the terms of the covenant made at
baptism.
READ Omni 1:26, 3 Nephi 9:19-20, Alma
22:18, and Moroni 4:3
What
are the terms of the covenant that we must offer up?
Offer your WHOLE SOUL to Christ (Omni
1:26).
Offer a BROKEN HEART and contrite spirit
(3 Nephi 9:19-20).
Give away ALL your SINS. 100% of them – including any “pet” sins we
might be harboring. (Alma 22:18).
Be WILLING to: (Moroni 4:3) Take upon
ourselves the Name of Christ, always remember Him, keep His commandments.
Notice, this is not a checklist of
external practices, goals or performances.
We offer the required sacrifice with our whole soul and the Lord will
receive it when He will.
In a new
translation of the Testimony of St John (TSJ), the interchange is slightly
different.
READ: “Nicodemus
said to him, If I believe this, can I ascend in this life, or will it be
accomplished only in the afterlife? Jesus answered, In the name of Father Ahman
I say to you, except you receive the ordinance of baptism to join the new
dispensation, and thereby forsake your sins and receive forgiveness and an
outpouring of the Spirit, you will not ascend to God’s presence in this life or
the life to come. All who are devoted to the ambitions of the flesh remain
imprisoned by the flesh, and those who are born anew through the ordinances,
receive the Spirit of Truth, and are able to know the record of heaven by the
Spirit of Truth. Do not question if what I say is true because the Spirit of
Truth confers light, knowledge, and understanding of the mysteries of heaven
within every soul who receives it.”
What
insights can you gain from this translation?
A new dispensation is an offering of
knowledge or light which enables one to connect with heaven and experience
spiritual power.
Ordinances are still required to enable
us to connect with heaven in a permanent way; they are invitations to ascend to
heaven and be changed.
Baptism is to join a new dispensation of
knowledge, is a promise to forsake your sins, and enables you to receive
forgiveness and an outpouring of the Spirit – all of which will enable you to
ascend to God; in fact, they are prerequisites.
In this version, the “see” vs “enter”
questions are retranslated to be about ascending to heaven in this life vs
ascending to heaven in the next life; it is not just about an inward change but
is about an inward change that causes an external experience (ascending to
heaven in actual fact, as did Elijah, see 2 Kings 2:11).
If one refuses new light and knowledge,
particularly via ordinances which enable you to receive them (light and
knowledge), you will be prevented or will have lost the opportunity to ascend
to God’s presence both in this life and in the life to come; the question here
is: what is the life to come? Is this
referring to not being able to reenter God’s presence as a spirit or a
resurrected soul (as only those who inherit Celestial glory can be with the
Father) or is this referring to another mortal life to come, where the
decisions made in this life will affect the situation and disposition one has
in the next life (see D&C 130:18-21; Alma 13:3-9) or both.
What
does it mean to remain imprisoned by the flesh?
To remain devoted to the ambitions of the
flesh and the material world.
Imprisoned = to be kept in prison or
captive; a prison is a structure in which people are legally held as a
punishment for a crime they have committed or while awaiting trial.
So, to remain imprisoned by the flesh
means to be kept captive by the ambitions of the natural man and the material
world, as a punishment for not accepting the invitation to rise up and
transcend that world for a better one.
It is also a reference to the “broad
gate” that leads to the “deaths” (see D&C 132:25), in contrast to the
narrow way which leads to eternal lives (see D&C 132:20-24), but which
requires spiritual rebirths to ascend to.
What
is implied by Nicodemus’ questioning if what Christ says is true?
Nicodemus is not receiving the Spirit of
Truth which confers light, knowledge and understanding of the mysteries of
heaven; or at least he is struggling to receive that Spirit.
READ John 3:8-15
Why
does Christ say the person who has been born of the Spirit is like the wind?
They are led by the Spirit, not by men
(or an organization), not knowing beforehand the things that they should do (1
Nephi 4:6) because the Holy Spirit is not constrained by or encompassed within
a handbook of instructions.
As God’s ways are not man’s ways, it is
hard for men to predict what God will do, or inspire, next.
Wind = breath = spirit (same word in
Hebrew).
Why
did the masters of Israel not know that a new dispensation had begun?
They did not want to believe it because
they would lose their authority and wealth through the temple traffic – or they
perceived that they might lose it; they had a lot to lose if anything changed
(especially with their Roman overlords, with whom they had an understanding).
They did not listen to the Spirit of
Truth which is given to every soul who will receive it; they were looking for
outward proofs like where the Messiah would be born, etc. (Bethlehem not
Nazareth, for example); heavenly things require faith and sacrifice to believe.
God sends messengers from His heavenly
council to guide and teach us but we must be open to them and their message –
which can be “like the wind”, i.e. it can’t be controlled by men and may “blow
over” the ideas and institutions that mankind has become comfortable with,
because God’s ways are not our ways.
What
sign did Moses (who the Pharisees greatly revered) give to Israel regarding the
Messiah?
The brass serpent which was lifted up in
the wilderness (see Numbers 21:6).
It is a symbol of Christ’s crucifixion;
the true Messiah would also be nailed to a tree and lifted up, and all one must
do is look to Him and believe on Him to be saved (see 1 Nephi 17:41; 2 Nephi
25:20).
It is also a symbol of the Kundalini
energy within every soul which must be awakened and will rise up through the
body and enable true spiritual awakening – it’s symbol is a serpent coiled and
rising through the body.
READ John 3:16-21 and John 3:32-36 (JST)
Why
did the Father send the Son?
Because He loves us; His “work and His
glory” is motivated completely by love, not by self-aggrandizement.
To save as many as will believe in and
follow Christ.
Because the
Father was not able to atone for the sins of the world and attain to the
resurrection; He had already accomplished this work during a prior eternity
(see TPJS 390-393) and is no longer able to lay aside His glory to be
tabernacled in a tabernacle of clay or mortal body – His body and spirit are
inseparably connected.
Jehovah, on
the other hand, had not yet attained to the resurrection Himself and so was
able to come to earth and perform the atonement, as the Father had before Him
in a prior Eternity.
If
you were assured the eternal rewards of a god, and knowing what you know about
the hell that can be this life, is there anything that would cause you to risk
all of that by coming (back) down to an Earth?
Love for your brothers and sisters, who
are lost here.
Love for your Father and Mother – as it
is their work and glory to save as many of their children as possible.
Why
did God send prophets prior to Christ’s birth to testify of Him?
To help those seekers to find the true
Messiah.
As a test to those who prefer the dark;
especially those who are religious but not spiritually-minded; if you want
greater light, then obey the instructions given by the Lord and witnessed of by
the Spirit of truth – be baptized and repent so you can receive the birth of
the Spirit and begin the walk back to God’s presence.
Living Water to the Samaritan Woman at
Jacob’s Well
After this early Judean ministry is
completed, Christ leaves Judea for Galilee, by way of apostate Samaria.
READ John 4:5-14
What
happens when we run out of water on a hot day?
Dehydration.
Weak, dizzy, sick and finally death from
heat exhaustion.
What
can happen if you are out in the hot desert and you aggressively ration your
water?
You can die.
Water in the canteen won’t save you –
there are many stories of people who died of dehydration with water in their
canteens; the water must be INSIDE you.
How
would you compare the natural water and the “living water” that Christ is
talking about?
Both need to be within you to keep you
alive.
Both are needed to avoid “dehydration” of
one kind or another (see Alma 12:9-11).
One will save you physically while the
other will save you spiritually or eternally.
One will need to be constantly refilled
from an outside water source while the other is a well “within” the person.
What
similarities and differences exist between drawing the water from Jacob’s Well
and obtaining the living water?
In both instances, the water is “deep”
(wells in Israel are 70 feet deep at least).
They require effort to draw the water out
and a tool with which to draw it; the “bucket” can be prayer and meditation,
scripture study, sacrifice, etc.
Water from the well had to be drawn
daily; living water must also be “drawn daily” – light or knowledge is static,
it is always growing or receding in magnitude.
Well water was to be obtained from an
external well, outside of the city limits; living water is within you.
With well water, you will thirst again in
time and if you don’t get more you will die; living water will enable the
person to live from eternity to eternity – it gives them the power, through
Christ, to rise upward forever, worlds without end.
READ D&C 63:23
Christ
tells the woman that the living water is His to give; how does He give us that
water?
He gives us the mysteries of His kingdom.
He gives us a new heart – a mighty change
– so that we might desire and understand those mysteries.
READ D&C 84:19-23
What
are the mysteries of His kingdom that yield this living water?
The mystery of the knowledge of God.
What you must be and believe to stand in
His presence and behold His face.
That He might minister unto you and
present you to the Father, testifying to Him that you are clean, that the
Father may seal you up to eternal life (see D&C 88:75 and Mosiah 5:15).
READ John 4:15-19
What
can we learn from this exchange between Christ and the woman?
Christ has a sense of humor (“in that saidst
thou truly”).
Christ is clever (the Samaritan woman’s
five husbands can be likened to the Samaritan people, who intermarried with
five non-Israelite nations).
Although the woman is living with a man
(adultery), He does not judge her but continues to offer her the living water.
He is so willing to forgive – He wants us
all to believe and come unto Him, regardless of our sins or present
circumstances.
READ John 4:20-26
What
is Christ teaching her about how, where and what to worship?
Where you worship is not important –
whether it be on a mountain top altar or at a wilderness tabernacle or in a
Temple in a holy city.
How you worship is what is important –
and the way to worship the Father is through the Son.
The Father wants all mankind to know Him
– the Son knows Him, so follow the teachings of the Son.
The Father will share His Spirit with
those who seek to know Him; His Spirit is truth and light and they who worship
Him must do so in spirit and truth – they must have His Spirit within them,
animating them.
The Son will restore all that was lost
since the time of Adam.
READ John 4:27-38
Christ
had not eaten; what was the “meat to eat” that the disciples didn’t know about?
Christ’s strength came from obeying the
will of God.
Doing that sustained His physical body by
the Holy Spirit.
It is the way He survived in the Judean
desert during His 40-day fast.
Light is
element; for Christ, it seems that He was able to nourish or energize His body
with the light He gained through obedience to God’s commandments or eternal
law; perhaps this is why the analogy of a tree of life whose fruit is delicious
is used or that Joseph Smith meant when he said that good doctrine tastes good
(see 1 Nephi 8:10-12; Alma 32:40-42; TPJS 398:2).
