Education Week: Why Jesus turned water into wine

[Hemidakota]

Sherrie Mills Johnson, who teaches in the department of ancient

scripture at BYU, spoke on Aug. 16 at BYU's 88th annual Campus

Education Week. She spoke on miracles and the symbolism of

Jesus turning water into wine.

Photo by Michael De Groote

EXCERPT: "The people that were observing (Jesus') miracles … were trained in symbolism," Johnson said. "Symbolism has dropped out of American culture pretty much. There are still a lot of symbols that we use, but for the most part it isn't part of our daily life."

The word translated as "miracle" in John gives clues to the symbolic purpose of the story. Johnson said that the original Greek word used to describe Jesus' miracles is semeion. Semeion means "sign or indication." Johnson said this demonstrates that the important thing about miracles is their symbolic teachings. "There are messages in these miracles."

Some messages can also become obscured if we don't understand the culture. In John's story of this miracle, after Mary tells her son there is no wine, Jesus responds: "Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come" (John 2:4).

"I tell my students at the university not to speak to their mothers like this … it would be very rude," Johnson said. "But in the culture of the time, what Jesus is saying there is 'Woman' meaning 'Of all the women in the world, you are THE woman to me.' … In the culture Jesus is coming from, this is an incredible show of reverence."

LINK: Education Week: Why Jesus turned water into wine | Mormon Times

[Vanhin]

That sounds like me when I talk to my wife. "Woman, make me a sandwich!" In our culture at my house, it is an incredible sign of respect... for the woman to make me a sandwich. Which is exactly why she just rolls her eyes, shakes her head, and walks away.

Vanhin

[hordak]

Why would a college have an EDUCATION week?

What are they doing the the other 51 weeks of the year?

[Dravin]

Why would a college have an EDUCATION week?

What are they doing the the other 51 weeks of the year?

Campus Education Week

[Hemidakota]

That sounds like me when I talk to my wife. "Woman, make me a sandwich!" In our culture at my house, it is an incredible sign of respect... for the woman to make me a sandwich. Which is exactly why she just rolls her eyes, shakes her head, and walks away.

Vanhin

:lol:

I state the same when I home, "WOMAN???? WHERE'S DINNER?"

[Tarnished]

I state the same when I home, "WOMAN???? WHERE'S DINNER?"

And in my house that question is always answered with, "BOY, GET YOUR OWN!" Followed by laughing on both sides.

[Moksha]

We would refuse to drink his wine, so don't even try that here.

[Hemidakota]

oh man, this thread went south.

[Captain_Curmudgeon]

oh man, this thread went south.

Yeah. I've been waiting for "because it tastes good."

[JohnnyRudick]

Yeah. I've been waiting for "because it tastes good."

I think along these lines.

The "Water" is a symbol; of the Spirit.

The "Wine" is a symbol; of our Blood.

Through the fall our bodily systems became corrupted

and our circular system came to pumping blood.

Jesus I believe was showing at the beginning of His mission what

happened in the start of our history and at His Resurrection, -

He changed the wine into water.

Yeah, I know:mellow:

The reasoning needs some work but -

Just a thought along those lines:cool:

[Hemidakota]

One thing I did learn from this professor, the Savior had already been doing miracles long before this day recorded event.