First of all, I recommend everyone read this proposal concerning the Guide and Standard. Come back to this post after you’ve read it.
Jesus’ First Public Miracle
The Testimony of St. John, chapter 1, says,
On the third day of the week, there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his followers were invited guests at the marriage. And when the wedding party wanted more wine, his mother said to him, They have run out of wine. Jesus replied, Mother, why are you talking to me about it? The time for me to provide sacramental wine has not yet arrived. But his mother instructed the servants, Whatever he tells you to do, follow through with it.
There were six waterpots made of stone that were used for ceremonial purification in religious observances, each containing twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus instructed the servants, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he said, Now remove some and take it to the host. And they took it to him. When the host of the wedding tasted the ceremonial water, it had been converted to wine. But he did not know the source that converted the water, unlike the servants who recognized the Source. The host of the feast called for the bridegroom, and praised him using a proverb, saying, Careful men introduce their plans using the best wine, and later, when their followers are drunk, then their worst — but you have brought us better wine than at the start.
This was a sign confirming his role as the Messiah that was performed
by Jesus in Cana of Galilee. It was a demonstration of authority over both the
elements and ordinances of salvation. Those who recognized this as a sign of
his authority were awed as they considered it was him present among them.
After this he went down to Capernaum, he, his mother, his brothers, and
his disciples, and they were there a few days...
...
Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover many believed on his name
when they saw the healing miracles he did...
This miraculous event might have something to do with what’s going on right now. Let’s take a look and you can decide for yourself.
The Before-Party
The tenth talk given in Phoenix says,
Every time you partake of the Sacrament it is a reminder of the promise there will at last be some great wedding feast. It is not just in remembrance of the blood and of the body, but it is also a preliminary to the final feast the Lord intends to offer in which His blood and His body achieve success in redeeming some few! His atonement was to redeem. The wedding feast is a celebration of the Lord’s triumph. But His triumph produces saved souls. The redeemed are His great trophy!
Keeping this idea in mind, we can see that Jesus’ statement from the Testimony of St. John is true, when applied to today. “The time for me to provide sacramental wine has not yet arrived.” It is not time for the great wedding feast yet. That feast comes later, at the very end. At the wedding in Cana, Jesus’ Mother told the servants to follow the Lord because She knew He would provide wine preliminary to what it’s supposed to point to. So what can the Lord provide to us today, before the time of the great wedding feast?
Six Waterpots
According to my understanding, the number six is the number of men and weakness. It falls short of perfection. It’s imperfect and flawed. I am one of those “six waterpots”. I have been thirsty and I have partaken of the waters freely, as I have been asked to do. I would like even more nourishment, but I cannot turn water into wine. That requires a higher Power and it requires me to “follow through with” “whatever he tells [me] to do.” And so I will try to fill my waterpot “up to the brim” no matter how weak I am.
It’s noteworthy that the waterpots contained “twenty to thirty gallons”. Why are we told this? Remember that these waterpots might represent our imperfection. Perhaps the fact that they hold different amounts tells us that we need not have uniform views on everything before the Lord can work with us. I think it’s okay to disagree on at least some things, as long as we are each following the Lord as best as we know how. Perhaps the different volumes in the waterpots indicate that we can each add the guide and standard of our choosing to our own scriptures.
Three more questions related to the waterpots: Does the fact that there were six of them relate to the six men who were in the Lots group? And is it significant that the one woman in the Lots group received the words of the Lord? And is it relevant that the Lord told her, “You have filled the measure in which I have called you.”?
A Sign
The host of the feast at the wedding in Cana did not know how the wine was produced or who produced it. But he did recognize its fine quality and he realized how remarkable such a thing was that late into the feast. If the Lord provides the best wine at the end, shouldn't we expect the most powerful miracles in these end times?
Those at the feast who knew what to look for were able to perceive the Lord’s authority and were appropriately awed. Those at Jerusalem who witnessed His miracles believed on His name. We know that miracles alone cannot produce faith. But miracles were a necessary part of the Lord’s ministry. Should we expect anything less in these last days? Maybe such things can all begin when we, as an imperfect and weak group, follow through with whatever the Lord tells us and recognize the freedom everyone has to disagree with others, thereby eliminating contention.
Comfort
I try not to take anything in the scriptures for granted. John tells us that Jesus, his Mother, his brethren, and his disciples all went to Capernaum right after the wedding in Cana. Nothing else is said about it. What could it mean? I looked up what Capernaum means and apparently it translates into “Nahum’s Village”. I looked up what the name Nahum means and it translates into “Comfort”.
How marvelous that the Lord brought his family and followers to a village of “comfort” directly after involving “servants” in His first public miracle! Can that happen in our day? If so, how?
Mother Knows Best
The entire event at Cana began with the Lord’s Mother asking Her Son to provide wine that was necessary for the feast. She told the servants to listen to Him. When they did, the Lord’s ministry could begin. How will the Lord’s ministry begin through us? How will we take the gospel to the remnant and other gentiles in a convincing manner?
Were we not just taught about the Mother? Were we not recently informed of how She instructs Her children to follow Her Son, the Lord? The talk, “Our Divine Parents”, contains a lot of information that can’t be repeated here. But the things that were taught may be important for how the work of the guide and standard gets completed. This blog post may also be of value.
The Freedom to Disagree
I invite everyone to seriously consider the proposal I linked to at the top of this post. I see wisdom in it. I see a potential way to fulfill all the Lord’s commandments regarding the statement of principles we are to adopt by mutual agreement. Personally, I am drawn towards the Lots document, but I won’t begrudge anyone who prefers another document. And perhaps we can each add an appropriate guide and standard to our own scriptures. That way, everyone’s freedom to choose is respected, nobody has to feel like they’re being forced into something, and we can continue to be one with each other. I’ll be praying and fasting on April 14th to be able to understand what the Lord would have me do regarding all of this.
