Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ and may our Lord and Savior sanctify you in the truth, for His word is truth. Amen

Second Sunday after the Epiphany (2010)

The First Revelation of our Lord Rev. Toby O. Byrd

John 2:1-11 (ESV)

On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. [2] Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. [3] When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." [4] And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come." [5] His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."

[6] Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. [7] Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim. [8] And he said to them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast." So they took it. [9] When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom [10] and said to him, "Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now." [11] This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

The text of today’s reading from the Gospel of John is the first of the signs which identify Jesus as the Messiah (v. 11). In his recording of the account, St. John shows us that our Lord’s glory is revealed to the servants who were attending the wedding. Moreover, His glory is also revealed to the master of the wedding feast, the bridegroom, and to all the guests when our Lord’s extraordinary accomplishment of turning water into the choicest of wine becomes known. Therefore, let us pray that the Holy Spirit will also reveal our Lord’s glory to us as we review this Gospel text which unveils the First Revelation of our Lord.

The wedding feast to which Jesus and his disciples have been invited is in the home of an unknown person in the small village of Cana. Whether our Lord knew the bridegroom and bride we’re not certain, but we do know that His mother was involved in the wedding in some capacity. Typically, Jewish wedding feasts lasted for seven days and a good time was had by all. St. John tells us that during the feast, the wine ran out. Now this was a very embarrassing situation for the bridegroom because it was his responsibility to ensure there was enough wine for all the attendees for all seven days of the feast. When Mary becomes aware of the potentially embarrassing situation she brings it to the attention of her Son, Jesus. Even though Mary never specifically requests that Jesus do something to remedy the problem, she never-the-less by notifying Him of the problem, calls upon her Son to do something. However, the response she receives from Jesus probably takes her by surprise, for in our Lord’s response, Mary, the mother of Jesus, sees firsthand the revelation of our Lord’s divine nature.

It’s interesting that this event should occur on the third day of the feast, because obviously, for Christians, this third day scenario has import in reminding us of our Lord’s resurrection from the dead. This incident peaks our spiritual senses as the Holy Spirit tugs at our faith strings in the very beginning of this discourse; opening our hearts and minds to the significance of this reading. Thus, throughout this account of the miracle at the wedding in Cana, the Holy Spirit leads us to visualize with amazing clarity our lives in Christ as members of His Bride, the Church.

Nothing could be more embarrassing for the bridegroom than running short of wine. However, as happens so regularly in our lives, what we hope will not happen, because we don’t want to be embarrassed: happens. Whether it was due to too many guests, or a lack of proper planning on his part or some other reason, doesn’t really matter, the unthinkable happened, the bridegroom came up short in his calculations for adequate wine for the feast. In fact, when the unthinkable occurred the bridegroom wasn’t even aware of the problem. Yet, fortunately for him, there was one who was there who could help, who would come to his rescue; our Lord Jesus Christ.

Running short is a human trait from which we all suffer. St. Paul reminds us, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23 ESV). More often than we want to admit and certainly more often than we want it to happen, we fall short of living our lives as God would have us live. Far too often, we come up short in our attempt to live our lives free of sin. The unthinkable happens, we fall prey to sin and we are not only embarrassed but we are also ashamed. Sometimes we fall short of God’s glory and we’re not even aware of it. However, just as the bridegroom of the wedding, we, too, have One who comes to our rescue, who saves us from our shortcomings, none other than the very same Son of God, our Lord, Jesus Christ who saved the day at the wedding feast in Cana.

As soon as Mary becomes aware of the problem with the shortage of wine she goes to her Son and tells Him, “They have no wine” (v. 3). Responding to His mother’s statement our Lord replies, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come” (v. 4). At first glance some opine that our Lord is being rude to His mother considering the manner in which he replies to her disclosure. However, in calling Mary, “Woman”, our Lord indicates His transformation is complete. He is no longer Mary’s Son, but rather He is the Incarnate, Son of God. Thus, He addresses her as her Lord. Moreover, our Lord, Jesus is intimately familiar with the Fourth Commandment and He would never disrespect His mother. Rather, He had always and would always fulfill the requirements of that Commandment to “Honor your father and your Mother.” (Ex. 20:12). In fact, we see our Lord use this same word, “Woman” when he affectionately addresses His mother from the cross. On this occasion He says, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home” (John 19:26-27 (ESV). He loved and respected His mother so much that even in His final hour of death He saw to her continued welfare.

After hearing her Son’s answer, Mary tells the servants to, “Do whatever he tells you” (v. 5). What a simple but profound statement! Do what the Lord commands. If only more of us would obey Mary’s words and do what our Lord commands us to do. What a different world we would live in. Harmony and unity would reign supreme. In fact, this very instruction is the commandment of our Lord in the Church’s Great Commission, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20 ESV). That second part of the Great Commission, to teach all that He has commanded is overlooked by many. Instead, far too many teach what they want to command; setting up man made laws and regulations for salvation; diminishing God’s Word in order to justify sin while burdening the peoples consciences with false doctrine, leading them to rejoice in their self-righteousness rather than the righteousness of Christ.

Without delay, our Lord sets about the task of remedying the situation. Turning to the servants He notices six, large, empty jars used for holding water for purification and He tells the servants to fill them with water. Obeying our Lord as Mary has asked, the servants do not hesitate to fill each jar with water; in fact, filling each one all the way to the brim. St. John tells us that each jar contained anywhere from twenty to thirty gallons. Thus, the servants drew somewhere between 120 and 180 gallons of water. After the jars are filled our Lord then tells the servants to draw some and take it to the master of the feast. What he receives from the servants is unlike anything he has received before. The servants, who had filled the jars with water, are no longer carrying water but a wonderful wine. When the master of the feast receives this new wine he is amazed by its quality. Possibly he thinks that someone has made a grand mistake. Immediately, he compliments the bridegroom on his choice of such a wonderful wine and he says, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now” (v. 10). Our Lord’s power over creation is on full display as He changes plain, ordinary water into choice wine. Moreover, He not only made a great quantity of wine, but He made a class of wine that was superior to all others. Who else could have accomplished such a feat? No one but the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!

We should not be surprised that our Lord has the power to change the very elements of nature. Were you not changed through the waters of Baptism from sinner to saint? Were not your sins cleansed, washed away by the application of water and the Word of God? In fact, prior to being given the gift of faith to believe, you were much like those empty jars, void of life. However, when the time was right, our Lord came to you and poured the Holy Spirit into your heart; filling it to the very brim with His Spirit. This action by our Lord changed you, turning you from a lost, condemned sinner into a converted, sanctified child of God; set aside to do good works (Eph. 2:10 ESV). You who were once ordinary are now extraordinary, for you were called to be saints and to belong to Jesus Christ (Rom. 1:6-7).

St. John tells us, “This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him” (v. 11). Yes, this was the first of our Lord’s sign signifying His identity as the Son of God, but it was not the last. Throughout His ministry our Lord performed many works of miracles: casting out demons, giving sight to the blind, leading the lame and paralyzed to stand and walk, and raising the dead to life. Each of these miracles manifested His glory. However, these miracles were only foretastes of the miracle of the Resurrection where, as St. Paul says, He was, “declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, (Romans 1:4 ESV).

Our Lord was thought by many to be of little more value than an empty vessel. Yes, some were concerned by His sway over the people and feared for their power, but they never considered Him to be the Messiah. To them He was nothing more than some vagabond preacher who stirred the passions of the people. However, what they didn’t know was that this man whom they considered to be no better than an empty vessel was the only begotten Son of God who had come to fulfill His heavenly Father’s promise of salvation for all mankind. And fulfill it He did! As He turned water into wine at the wedding in Cana He turned eternal death into eternal life by pouring our His life blood on the Cross. So profound was His death that even a Roman Centurion said, “Truly this was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:54 ESV) Moreover, we who have been called, who have been given the gift of faith to believe, who have been cleansed through God’s holy waters of Baptism give thanks for we are blessed because like the guest at the wedding in Cana, we have been invited to the heavenly marriage supper of the Lamb (Rev. 19:9 ESV) where the wine of God’s love and mercy never runs out. Amen.

May the Peace of God which passeth all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.