Text: John 2:1-11 Second Sunday after Epiphany January 17, 2010
Years ago Johnny Carson interviewed an 8 year old boy who was a hero for rescuing two friends in a coalmine. It was apparent the boy was a Christian so he asked if he went to Sunday School. “Well, what are you learning?” “Last week our lesson was about Jesus going to a wedding and turning water into wine.” You can imagine Carson’s face as the audience roared. “What did you learn from that story?” The boy hesitated, “If you’re going to have a wedding, make sure you invite Jesus.” What do you learn from this story?
The first thing we learn is that God shows up. This gospel of John has Jesus springing into action at, of all places, a wedding.
You can imagine the attention he got, a 30 year old bachelor. “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.” And we could add, “Something to go wrong.” I tell every couple that, just expect it. Who knows what else went wrong, beside the fact that they ran out of wine three days into this seven day celebration. It’s a good thing Jesus showed up, at least that’s what Mary thinks; she goes to him and expects him to fix this problem. His reaction is interesting in a couple of respects. I never called my mother, “Woman” and “so, it’s not my time.” “Oh whatever Jesus, you could make your mother very happy” and she tells the servants to do whatever he tells them. Somehow she knew he would do something. And he does. All because he showed up.
This God seems to have a desire to be with us where we are. This love of God is an active, seeking, searching sort of love. You could say that God has a thing for you. It’s almost Valentine’s Day so we can talk about these things. I had this thing for a young attractive teacher, and I pursued her and she eventually wore down. God has this passionate love for sinners and his pursuit for you is incredible. In some respects he wears you down, desires a union with you, wanting not only to be God for you, but also God with you.
It’s the third day; God has this habit of showing up on the third day. God shows up, but we also learn that God changes things. It was that third day when Jesus was changed from a dead man into a living savior. In this case somehow his mother knew he was going to do something. Mary has been changed, changed into the bride, Mary was the first believer. Water changes to wine; the servants do what Jesus tells them to do. These jars that are used for purification of the feet and hands, kind of the hand sanitizer of today, are filled with water. Now that in itself would have taken awhile. And God changes things, and to do that God uses what is there. He doesn’t ask for new jars, he doesn’t carry the water; the servants do. Have you ever thought that just being available to God as a “water bearer” you might be called upon to carry wine? As the water is transformed, so are we, carrying the wine, carrying the presence of Christ to others, assisting in their transformation process.
Weddings change people. They look completely different from the rehearsal to the wedding; sometimes I simply do not recognize them. A plain girl is changed into a stunning bride. An awkward boy is changed into a dashing groom. Individuals become a couple, water is changed to wine, on the third day Jesus changed defeat into victory, despair into hope, death is changed into resurrection. When you were baptized, ordinary water became holy, and you were changed into a child of God. In Holy Communion ordinary bread and wine is changed into the body and blood of Christ. You are changed from a sinner to a saint; this sin filled world is changed into the kingdom of God.
When Jesus gets involved it’s changed into the very best, the very best wine. Only the very best was given and shed for you. You learn that God changes, transforms not only water but also you. You also learn that God overdoes, goes to extremes, fills to the brim. Abundant is the biblical word.
When you go to a wedding reception, usually if you go away hungry it is your own fault. You will never walk away from the Lord’s Table hungry. This is the feast of victory for our God; you will not starve. One hundred twenty gallons of wine – more than they could possibly need. A feast is by nature extravagant, they went from empty to abundance. God does not simply provide the bare essentials, there are more blessings than you can imagine. Jesus did not make enough wine, but a surplus.
Wine is a symbol of celebration, life and love. This story represents the extravagant amount of joy that God brings. Most of the people in this story have no idea what is going on, in fact the bridegroom gets the credit for saving the good wine until last. Isn’t that common? We miss what is going on around us, the abundance, the extravagance of God in your life. Jesus is still the life of the party; God is forever changing the ordinary into the extraordinary.
What you learn today is that the nature of God is pure grace -generous, abundant, excessive, surprising - grace overflowing to the brim, in times and places when we least expect it. You will not walk away hungry from this feast.
Related posts:
0 Responses
Stay in touch with the conversation, subscribe to the RSS feed for comments on this post.