The Second Sunday after Epiphany - 1-17-10

The Church Season of Epiphany,
Second Sunday after Epiphany,
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Midland, MI (January 17, 2010)
One Year Series

“Miraculous Signs”

Readings:

Psalm 67
Exodus 33:12-23
Ephesians 5:22-33
John 2:1-11

Sermon Form: Deductive

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Grace, mercy and peace be to you from the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen

The text for today is as recorded in the Gospel Lesson from the 2nd chapter of St. John, especially the following verses.

John 2:1-11 (NIV)

1 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” 4 “Dear woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. 8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that (Jesus) had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” 11 This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

It’s interesting that our Gospel lesson should talk about signs. Because in the past few days we’ve seen huge signs like the island of Haiti shaking from an earthquake. In our Gospel lesson there was a miraculous sign and a few of Jesus’ disciples witnessed the sign of our Lord’s first miracle at a wedding in Cana. And at that wedding those guests were blessed to have Jesus in their midst.

Life is full of signs and promises, we see them every day. Some of the signs are good, like the ones which tell us which way to go for help or which way to turn safely. Some things we perceive as bad signs like red sky in the morning we know to as a warning. But the difference with the man-made signs that we see in our daily lives is that the promise made by the sign is not always kept. Sometimes the sign directs us to a street that is blocked, or to a door which is locked. And we ask why there are not enough signs to warn us of all the unexpected twists and turns ahead. But you know if we did have some sort of advanced warning lives we probably couldn’t or wouldn’t want to hear about it. People have been trying to help the island nation of Haiti for some time, but it was and still is the poorest country in the western hemisphere.

There were plenty of advanced warnings of what was to happen at that wedding in Cana But, it would seem that no one knew that this wedding would be the place of the first of Jesus’ miraculous signs. However, we do know for certain that there was one person who knew what was to happen that day. For it was not by coincidence that Jesus, His disciples and His mother were invited to and attended a wedding and banquet. Jesus was there for a reason, though He said His time had not yet come, this was indeed the hour prescribed for the first miraculous signs. For there He revealed His glory, or maybe better said manifested His destiny. God was incarnate, Jesus came to the wedding feast as both God and man, He came in flesh to help His people.

And at that wedding banquet, as often still happens, something doesn’t quite go according to plans, something goes awry. For when there is no more wine, and the celebration was not yet over it was the time for the embarrassment and remorse to begin. And about that time, Jesus’ mother points out to her Son that there was no more wine. The unexpected had indeed occurred and Jesus certainly responded with an unexpected wedding gift. Jesus gives royally, both quantity and quality. This first of Jesus’ miraculous signs shows that there is no limit to His power to give, for even the slightest need is enough to evoke His compassionate aid. But, this first of His miraculous miracles was not just a physical blessing, it was also proof that this man Jesus was both human and divine. The man Jesus attended the wedding and banquet, the divine nature of Jesus gave an undeserved blessing.

Our lives may seem like a long winding journey, one in which we have seen and experienced either unwanted or unexpected twists. Sometimes those unexpected occurrences happen when we least expect them spoiling our plans and expectations. Signs which seemed like they pointed us to a never ending successful and unchallenged life are torn apart by the unexpected, and we are faced with all the hardships life can deal us. Unexpected sicknesses, unexpected family turmoil, unexpected pain and suffering inflicts itself into the otherwise beautifully planned banquet feast of our lives. The island of Haiti two weeks ago was challenged with turmoil. But one week ago turmoil turned to tragedy beyond belief. All the pain and suffering in that small corner of the world was compounded beyond our imaginations, the inconveniences of the past pale in comparison to the realities of today. And if we were only left with our imaginations and thoughts of what we could do we would soon wave the white flag, the party is over, the wine has run out. For it would seem that there is no miraculous sign which could undue this tragedy. I pray that you would look to that which you have, and try to help the people of Haiti. And when I say look to what you have, I mean first look to the miracle of grace which God has freely given you. It is time to step up and help. God gave to you freely, do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Give with thoughts words, and deeds, and prayers. Help others for you have been given much and much is expected of you.

For into our world a divine guest has come, who was sent to save us from our sin, and from death, and from the devil. And that guest is Jesus Christ who performed His first miraculous sign at the wedding of Cana, but it was not His last sign. At Cana He changed water into wine, at Galilee He walked on the water, He rebuked the wind, He cured the sick, He raised the dead, He comforts you when you mourn the loss of a loved one and so much more than just those signs. For His last miraculous sign on this earth Jesus Christ went to the cross and He died there, for you and for me. And in His death and resurrection Christ continues to do even more miraculous things for us.

For in your baptism you were given the sign of the cross, and God’s Word was combined with water, and that is miraculous sign which proclaims shows that you have been made a child of God. In Holy Communion plain bread and plain wine are combined with God’s word and they are Christ’s true body and blood. In Holy Communion you receive the miraculous sign that your sins are forgiven. So, no matter what you now face, whether it be pain sorrow, or suffering, rejoice, the party is not yet over. Help the people around you, give them a hand up, give to the people who are trouble. For God sent His Son to perform a miracle for you, to give you an unending abundance of bread and wine, His Body and Blood. Drink deeply of this new wine it is a gift. Share that which you have been given with those who have nothing. For Christ brings Himself to the cross as a miraculous gift for you. He give Himself freely to you so that you may join Him in the heavenly wedding banquet feast. In Psalm 4 God speaks of Christ and what He does for His people, “You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound.”(Ps. 4) And truthfully, there will be no greater joy that you will ever be given than when you join Jesus Christ in the miracle of his heavenly banquet feast. Amen.

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