Sermon as of 11:30 pm

Not sure who is going to take a gander at this before I get to share it with the class, but here is how my sermon is looking as the clock is getting closer to midnight...

As 20(twenty) 10(ten) has begun, and we as a country continue to deal with “economic difficulties”, there have been many news reports and stories about how to save money and be frugal in the New Year. One of the recommendations was for couples looking to get married to consider a January wedding, versus the traditional Spring Weddings. The cost of reception halls are suppose to be considerably cheaper in Mid January then say June at the height of the wedding season. So I found it interesting, a sign maybe, that the Revised Common Lectionary Gospel text for today is story of the wedding in Cana. Who would have known that nearly two thousand years later that the lectionary lesson would be modern, and appropriate, in its setting of one of the most famous wedding stories to be told in the middle of January?
In today’s lesson the writer of John lets us be a witness to a wedding where Jesus performs the first of his miracles. We are brought to the wedding on its third day and we know that Mary, Jesus and his disciples had been invited to share in this celebration. In biblical time life was simple, but weddings were not. Weddings at this time tended to be a week-long event and were a community celebration. So, this being the third day, we have a reference that we are only reaching the half-way point. I guess in a modern wedding we are looking at the about the end of cocktail hour and the meal is about to be served, when the unthinkable happens; “Dude, we are running out of wine.”
Now it does not take a theologian to realize that this could be an issue. Today’s weddings typically involve wine and spirits and the free flowing of them tend to be a sign of good time and a successful celebration for the happy couple. In biblical time water often was not safe to drink, so wine was the drink of choice. The wine in question would typically be diluted and would be the only drink being served. So running out of it early in the event would be a major fau pax. If the wine did run out, THIS would definitely be the way THIS wedding would be remembered by the entire community. The couple’s 50th wedding anniversary would carry the shame of “Remember when they ran out of Wine at their wedding!”
To go even further in ancient Near Eastern law there was a strong element of reciprocity about providing an appropriate wedding gift to a couple when attending these extravagant affairs, so in theory the bridegroom and family might even be financially liable for not providing adequately for their guests during this week-long celebration. This had the making of a major issue for our couple.
So when Mary finds out about this situation she looks for a solution. We are never told who was getting married, but we can gather from the fact that Mary and Jesus had been invited to a wedding not in their native Nazareth, but ten miles or so away in Cana, that it was probably a relative or close friend of Mary and Jesus. We do not know if Mary was actually in involved in the organizing of the wedding, but we do get the feeling that she wants to make sure things are done right. So when she learns of the situation of limited vino, she looks for a solution. Turning to Jesus she tells him; “They have no more wine.”
Now I know if my mom told me at my cousins wedding in Wyoming twelve years ago that there was no more liquor my first reaction would have been; “What do you expect me to do about it?” It is not like Jesus owned the local vineyard and could have jugs or wine delivered. Or was it?
How often have we wished that we could order God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, to do what we want God to do? Mary, being the mother of Jesus, knew something. I guess those conversations with the arc angels and believing that God had great plans for her son did give her some insight into what Jesus was capable of doing. Yet Jesus seemed reluctant, and states that his time has not yet come.
But Mary, his mother, like all mothers, knew that Jesus would be able to address the situation and she instructs the servants to; “Do what he tells you.”
Mary shows us, as believers in Christ that we need to have faith and confidence that Jesus has the power to act, and also to give Jesus the freedom to act however Jesus deems best.
Now my wife Nicole could attest that if our sons Camden or Casey are told that the playroom is a mess their typical response would be; “But Mom…” Likewise, if they would begin cleaning the room without being told specifically what they were to do… we would consider this a miracle. While they are children of God, they are still my sons, and like their dad, they do require directions. Fortunately for Mary, the Son of God knew what needed to be done, and we witness how his ministry has begun.
The narrator of this Gospel tells us Jesus instructs the servants to fill these 6 large jars with water. Now each of these jugs could hold about 25 gallons, so we are talking about 150 gallons of water that Jesus would turn into the equivalent of 170 bottles of the finest wines. Jesus then instructs one of the servants to fill a cup from the one of the jars and bring it to the person in charge to taste. Now wouldn’t you be worried being the waiter bringing a cup of water to the person in charge to taste?!? The man in charge, who most likely was a prominate member of the community, had no clue what was happening. No clue that there was no more wine, No clue about the water in jugs, and after tasting the cup brought to him, he now thinks that the Groom, who was responsible for supplying the wine, has no clue! He questions our nameless groom why the best wine was being served after everyone has already had the lesser wine. It was customary for the best to be served first while the taste buds were freshest. What is not custom is to have Jesus Christ being an impromptu wine steward at your wedding. What is not custom is be a witnesses to the first sign of Jesus giving all who gather the new wine of grace, truth, and love that can come only from the Glory of God. This was a sign from Jesus showing those who knew the full situation that he would shared the Glory. This first time only a select few were full witnesses of the Power of his Glory.
This story is often referred to as a miracle; the turning of water into wine, but the original Greek text uses the word shmeiovn (sem-eion) which means sign. Signs direct us, and point us to things. Signs in and of themselves are not what are important. The wine was not what was important it is what Jesus had done that was important. It is what the signs show us, tell us, and direct us to that matter. There are signs in our lives all the time. We follow them and recognize them many times without being conscious of what the signs are telling us. But what if you miss a sign? What if you miss the sign reminding you to exit here? The sign telling you the speed limit is now 25 miles per hour? Or the sign telling you it is slippery when wet? Or that sign that said next rest area 56 miles? It doesn’t have to be when we travel.
There are signs telling us of some great deal in stores or those subtle sign like a runny nose or a slight fever when we start to get sick. Or the signs that our friends and family give off when they need a hug or a kiss, or just need us to be with them. When we miss a sign, we miss opportunities. Those at the wedding were not aware of the sign that had just appeared, yet they were able to share in the Glory that was the wine that Jesus had provided.
Chapters 2 thru 12 in the Gospel of John are often called the Books of Signs, because in them Jesus performs signs that reveal his glory. Jesus would go on to heal the son of a Canaan city official, heal a sick man, feed five thousand people, walk on water, heal a blind man and raise Lazarus from the dead. All were signs pointing to the fact that he is the Son of God. All these signs were witnessed by many and pointed to the Glory of God that in him, through him and with him all the Glory of God is revealed to all that believe.
Yet this first sign, the turning of water into wine, was witnessed by a just a select few; his mother, the servants, his disciples, and us as witnesses of the Message. This first sign was to preserve the honor of those who we never learn the identity of and there was no need to know whom was this fortunate couple. We as believers in Christ get to witness through the scriptures all the signs of his Glory, from his birth, his baptism, now his ministry, as we move forward his suffering, his dying, his death, his resurrection, and all the signs of his everlasting life. As Christians we continue to look for the signs that remind us of the Glory of Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. Amen