John 2. Water to Wine and Cleansing the Temple

Today, this post is centered on the miracle of the water into wine, and on the actions of Jesus cleansing the temple.  One of the key questions in John 2:4 is how we can understand why God calls His mother woman. In researching this question in the institute manual it first reminded me of when a woman came to Jesus and he used the term dog in describing the woman's state. Not offended, she responded that a dog may yet lick up the crumbs that fall from the master's plate, and she was blessed for her fortitude and honesty. What strikes me is the strong usage of words: never were these words, speaking to earnest individuals, used to deride or make mock of them, but were simply descriptive phrases that by contrary, were meant to be easily understood. In the institute manual, it points to a supreme honor, not woman, but Woman, or the supreme woman who is the mother of that man. It is seen as the title of supreme value and importance.
       The miracle of the water into wine itself is the first of the miracles Jesus did, and what makes it special is something I had not understood for a long time. In the verse 4 of John 2 it reads: "Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come." I never properly understood this phrase before. Now I understand it better. It is a gentle acknowledgement of help, a simple statement that a son who is truly humble might make, saying, what can I do to help you? The mother then orders the servants to do as instructed, and Jesus gives a simple task: to fill water pots with water and take them to the guests. At what point it became wine, we never know. But its quality was exquisite. How might those servants felt, tasting wine from ordinary water, possibly changed before their eyes, tasting most exquisite and delectable? Its an amazing moment to those present, humbling for the servants, and impressive to the guests. Its simplicity is especially apparent here: no words of obvious great import were spoken, just the direct command and they became wine. Simple, drawing one's mind to awesome nature of the universe we must work so hard in to make sub-par food, when God makes it perfect, seemingly without effort. Another important point is that it was filled from waterpots used in ritual purification. The symbolism is the sacred nature of the vessels: no mere pot was used, but the tools of purifying through water were the medium, citing one's need to be pure and holy and clean.
    The last event that I wanted to discuss was the cleansing of the temple. Its fairly short, and so tends to be passed up. But look at what Jesus did! He created a scourge of cords. Now this part is confusing, because it says he used it to drive them out, followed by their animals. Most people from reading this online state its a mistranslation. Rather, he drove the sheep and cattle out and then overturned the money table, ordering them to leave His sacred house. Reading through this, I personally agree with the alternate interpretation, that he did not intentionally hurt anyone, he just needed a way to get the animals out and then the men were sufficiently cowed, knowing their culpability, to leave on their own afterwards. I think even here, Jesus was not trying to be cruel, but it was a sacred place that needed to be made clean. Note his tenderness towards the doves, asking the men to take them out rather than driving them out. I think this scene was very real.