2:1-2 The beginning of this chapter is deeply metaphorical. The wedding is symbolic of the "wedding," the unification of Jesus and God's children after the age of earth as it is. Jesus and God's children are a family and separately, there is a family of adversaries. While this wedding is only symbolic of this time, we can draw meaning out of it.
2:3-4 This is a rough translation. Jesus speaks of His own unification with the children of God, and that it is yet to come. Jesus' primary concern is God's children and ensuring that they have "wine," the symbol for His blood, which is a symbol for Life. Jesus ensures that God's children have their compassionate God's DNA (love and character) coursing through them.
That another family, representative of those who go against God, is out of "wine," isn't really His concern because those people have chosen their own way of life, rejecting God. Yet, we will see that Jesus opens His love and guidance to all people.
Yet Mary notices that this family needs Him, needs His love and guidance and with compassion, Jesus fills their need.
2:5-6 Mary instructs the disciples to aid Jesus in solving the "wine" problem, she knows that she can trust Jesus to lead them to spread His love and guidance throughout the group. Another symbol: the disciples of Jesus were indeed trusted to spread His love and guidance throughout the world.
2:7-8 Jesus orchestrates a plan and purpose and the disciples work with Him in carrying it out. One of the most amazing things about God is that He works with His children to accomplish wonderful things. Rather than, justifiably, taking all the credit, God enables us to do beautiful work with Him.
2:9 When the water is tasted, the master of the wedding determines for himself that the water is wine, of a high quality. This symbolizes the word of God: when a new student discovers the word of God, they find that it is rich with wisdom and compassion. There are many brands of "wine" in the world, that is to say: there are many ways of life being taught... but most of them are "weak" like water in comparison to the aged, deep message of God's way of life.
2:10 The bridegroom and the master of the wedding engage in a conversation about it: The master is amazed because He's never been so sufficiently filled (again, keep with the metaphor). God's word isn't cheap. God's word, although infinity abundant, is not poor in quality because of its surplus (like the cheap wine reserved for the drunk guests). God uses His BEST stuff, teaches His deepest lessons and gives His most patient love even to those who are pretty far gone (as far as morality is concerned). There are no halfhearted attempts made by God. Even those who appear to be "lost" to greed or corruption are worthy of receiving His best instruction and attention if they wish to receive it.
Even those who accept His way of life late in the game are enlightened and guided by it if they so wish to be.
2:11-12 The disciples begin to understand the spiritual journey they would be taking with Jesus -- that it would be wise, compassionate and also that they would traverse many cities in order to spread it to as many people as they could reach during Jesus time on earth.
2:13-16 There are so many corrupt religious institutions today -- and they are skilled at putting up a deceptive front. It's important for all of us, as students of God, to be observant and perceptive. There are religious institutions which pretend to be "holy" and compassionate but instead hoard money raised by charity for themselves. Jesus taught without a building, without a podium, without a fancy gown... Jesus taught with His compassionate wisdom and actions. Yet today, and throughout history, so many people (across the globe and religion) have built extravagant places of worship, created systems of fanciful ceremony and outfit that are simply contradictory to God's word. And few realize this overt tragedy.
Jesus enters this temple and He's furious because He finds that the leaders of the church are greedy and are collecting money (even from the poor) only to use it for themselves. Jesus taught out in nature, out in the open and He didn't use or need anything fancy to do it (His life is as much a lesson as His words). Ensure that you are not contributing to an institution which is secretly corrupt. You can do so much good in the world, do not allow anyone to take advantage of that. Recognize when an institution is not allocating its funds compassionately and selflessly.
12:17 The disciples' thoughts refer us to Psalms 69:9 in the Old Testament. Like Jesus, John and the disciples were confronted by many adversaries. Their passion in spreading God's word inspired adversaries to stunt them and because of that they faced many challenges. Jesus' zeal for God's word draws many adversaries against Him but children of God, even us, have the wisdom and guidance to work through it. Eventually and for eternity, our works here (our zeal for God's word) on Earth reach heaven where we rest protected, having completed a purpose.
We have the capability to do wonderful things with God... in order to accomplish compassion on the earth, our job becomes to go against that which is corrupt (to confront our adversaries head on). Naturally, our ideas face opposition because we go against people who oppose our compassionate purpose. Enemies will try to "eat you up" but as long as you're journeying with God, you do not have to fear them.
There is no greater strength than selfless compassion. When our purpose is to protect, heal, guide, love others, it's a purpose protected, healed, guided, loved by God.
12:18 After making such strong proclamations, people tested Jesus... required that He give proof of His authority to do so. These were uppity people, obviously corrupt as they tried to defend their selfish and deceptive temple.
12:19 Jesus begins to speak deeply metaphorically to them: although they did not yet realize or understand, Jesus foretold their eventual mission to kill Him. Jesus Himself is a manifestation of God's "temple." Within Jesus is everything God stands for and adversaries want to destroy that. Why? They want power and wealth and Jesus takes their's away by teaching compassion, selflessness and truth. Even today it's easy for us to understand that for many people, power and wealth are their gods and they do anything to keep them.
12:20-21 After Jesus' "death" (children of God never truly die, they just enter another place) the adversaries will think they destroyed Jesus (the symbol of God's temple). We know that Jesus rises after three days -- He transfigures back into His body and becomes a living example of God's spiritual, eternal life. Jesus will raise the temple of God because His return to earth after people believed Him dead, would spread throughout the world through generations... teaching people the beauty and unlimited capability of God.
12:20 Jesus raises the temple by coming to life and thereby restoring and stabilizing the faith of God's children. The first disciples needed to have strong, passionate faith otherwise the spark of passion for God's word would have died out -- Jesus' foretold return to earth after apparent death enabled that.
2:23-25 Jesus' life and work inspired many people. Yet, the time for Him to remain with Humanity had not yet come. Jesus knew that humanity had a long of growing to do before they were ready for Heaven. Our lives here are journeys filled with lessons, purposeful in teaching us how to be kinder and more truthful. Jesus knew that humanity needed more time to grow -- and it is a gift from God that we are given this time to improve in kindness and become wise. Our actions here become our path either to God or to nothing... and Jesus wanted everyone to have the opportunity to walk the path toward God.
If God had not sent humanity to earth, we would be an uninformed population: we would not understand the concepts of life (love, truth, kindness, greed, deception, corruption). God wants us to have all of the knowledge and wisdom we want and being on earth is our opportunity to achieve that. We get to decide who we are by creating who we are... and that is God's gift to us: freedom.
