Well I blogged last night about my first thoughts and ideas regarding the text of John 2:1-11, so today is to look a little deeper.
I thank JDB for his comment on the abundance of wine to my earlier entry, I will be looking at the importance of wine, or the lack thereof, a little bit I think, thanks for some insight.
I also have looked at some internet sites of related commentary. One that caught my attention was Sermons from Seattle:
http://www.sermonsfromseattle.com/series_c_the_marriage_at_cana_GA.htm
On this site there was two interesting paragraphs regarding miracles being called signs:
In the gospel of John, the miracles are always called “signs.” The miracles are never called miracles but signs. For example, if you drive out of the parking lot of our church, you will see all kinds of signs at the nearest intersection. You will see one particular sign painted red, with white paint. The sign simply says, “Stop.” It is a stop sign. You never think that this is a piece of metal with red and white paint on it. You don’t examine the ingredients of the metal or the paint. You simply read the message. “Stop.” You ask the question, “What is the message of this sign?” So it is with the signs in the Gospel of John. You ask, “What is the message in this sign?” The signs in John’s Gospel have messages and you focus on the message more than the sign itself.
What is the message of this sign of water into wine? The message of the sign is that Jesus took 180 gallons of Jewish laws, the rituals of purification, and transformed them into 180 gallons of grace. Jesus took 180 gallons of guilt, 180 gallons of laws, laws and more laws, 180 gallons of “don’t do this and don’t do that,” 180 gallons of laws that numbered more than 600 regulations. Jesus then transformed these religious regulations into a new religion, a new wine that would burst old wine skins. Jesus transformed the old religion into the new religion. The miracle was a sign. The miracle had a message and you have to get the message. You stop at the intersection outside of church and see red and white paint painted on metal. You better get the message. “Stop.” It is the message that is important.
I like the miracles being called signs angle a lot. I think for many people the meaning of miracle of Christ is lost when it is just looked at for what has happened, not for what it means. To look at these as signs, with a purpose to show us the power of Jesus and his ability to do things beyond comprehension is an interesting take.
I also like how it discusses the transformation, from water to wine is like the transformation of laws and regulations into grace. How this first miracle is the beginning of Jesus’ transformation of the old religion into a new religion.
-"Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now." In this particular gospel story, Jesus brings the good wine. The new wine of Jesus’ grace, truth and love replace the inferior wine of the Old Testament rules, regulations and rituals. The old wine is the Law; the new and good wine is the Gospel.
The good wine in this story is similar to the “living water” in the story about the woman at the well, which we will study shortly.
In the first three gospels (Mark 2:9 and parallels, page 43 in our textbook), we find Jesus using “the symbolism of new wine in old wineskins in order to compare his new teaching with the customs of the Pharisees. Note that this incident occurs at the beginning of the Synoptic account of the ministry just as Cana is at the beginning of the Johannine account.” (Brown, JOHN, V. 1, p. 105)
So I can see some further connection with the symbolism of wine is something to continue to look at as well.
I am also interested in looking at Mary’s insight and role in this story. First why she was so concerned about the running low of wine, there has to be a reason why this is of some concern to her. I am guessing this must be a family wedding, and she is concerned about her family’s reputation, because running out of wine would be a major problem. I also want to look at why she says something to Jesus, it is not like he is known to be a wine distributor or something, Jesus is a guest not a vineyard owner! So what did Mary expect from Jesus…. A miracle?!?!? Just something to still look at I think…
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Sermon Text John 2: 1-11
Just for easier reference, here is the text that I will be preaching on...
NIRV John 2:1 On the third day there was a wedding. It took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there. 2 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 bring me into this?" Jesus replied. "My time has not yet come." 5 His mother said to the servants, "Do what he tells you." 6 Six stone water jars stood nearby. The Jews used water from that kind of jar for special washings to make themselves pure. Each jar could hold 20 to 30 gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water." So they filled them to the top. 8 Then he told them, "Now dip some out. Take it to the person in charge of the dinner." They did what he said. 9 The person in charge tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He didn't realize where it had come from. But the servants who had brought the water knew. Then the person in charge called the groom to one side. 10 He said to him, "Everyone brings out the best wine first. They bring out the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink. But you have saved the best until now." 11 That was the first of Jesus' miraculous signs. He did it at Cana in Galilee. Jesus showed his glory by doing it. And his disciples put their faith in him. (John 2:1-11 NIRV)
NIRV John 2:1 On the third day there was a wedding. It took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there. 2 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 bring me into this?" Jesus replied. "My time has not yet come." 5 His mother said to the servants, "Do what he tells you." 6 Six stone water jars stood nearby. The Jews used water from that kind of jar for special washings to make themselves pure. Each jar could hold 20 to 30 gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water." So they filled them to the top. 8 Then he told them, "Now dip some out. Take it to the person in charge of the dinner." They did what he said. 9 The person in charge tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He didn't realize where it had come from. But the servants who had brought the water knew. Then the person in charge called the groom to one side. 10 He said to him, "Everyone brings out the best wine first. They bring out the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink. But you have saved the best until now." 11 That was the first of Jesus' miraculous signs. He did it at Cana in Galilee. Jesus showed his glory by doing it. And his disciples put their faith in him. (John 2:1-11 NIRV)
Thoughts in today's Reading
Flickering Pixels by Shane Hipps has been a very interesting read for this course I am taking. Hipps, before becoming a Pastor, had a career in advertising and his insight into the way people think and view religion is very eye opening.
In the second chapter Hipps discussed the impact of the print medium and how the power of print made the writings available to the masses as important to the Protestant Reformation. As a seminary student this was not a “new fact” to me, but his explanation of how print has continued to reshape the gospel into an efficiently compressed linear sequential formula: Apologize for your sins + Believe Jesus = Go to Heaven was interesting. Prior to the printed word people relied upon the oral teachings and stain-glass windows to tell the story of the gospels, the story was vast and at times vague and hard to get a grasp on, but with the use of the printed word and could become my compact.
The Printed word also allowed for more complex thoughts to be shared as well. The Apostle Paul’s letters were seldom taught because of their complex if-then reasoning which could not be captured in stained-glass or illustrated prayer books. The iconic stories of Jesus’ birth, life, death, and resurrection could be captured in pictures, but reasoning of our faith as presented in Paul’s letters required the printed word to explain and share.
Hipps goes on to write about how the printed word also has led to many relying too much on linear reasoning, and how that can affect our faith.
The Power of Pictures
In a later chapter Hipps displayed the power of pictures. He describes how words and images are fundamentally different modes of communication. He illustrates this by putting in bold type the following statement:
In the second chapter Hipps discussed the impact of the print medium and how the power of print made the writings available to the masses as important to the Protestant Reformation. As a seminary student this was not a “new fact” to me, but his explanation of how print has continued to reshape the gospel into an efficiently compressed linear sequential formula: Apologize for your sins + Believe Jesus = Go to Heaven was interesting. Prior to the printed word people relied upon the oral teachings and stain-glass windows to tell the story of the gospels, the story was vast and at times vague and hard to get a grasp on, but with the use of the printed word and could become my compact.
The Printed word also allowed for more complex thoughts to be shared as well. The Apostle Paul’s letters were seldom taught because of their complex if-then reasoning which could not be captured in stained-glass or illustrated prayer books. The iconic stories of Jesus’ birth, life, death, and resurrection could be captured in pictures, but reasoning of our faith as presented in Paul’s letters required the printed word to explain and share.
Hipps goes on to write about how the printed word also has led to many relying too much on linear reasoning, and how that can affect our faith.
The Power of Pictures
In a later chapter Hipps displayed the power of pictures. He describes how words and images are fundamentally different modes of communication. He illustrates this by putting in bold type the following statement:
THE BOY IS SAD.
Then asks what effect does the statement have on the reader? He states that for most people the statement conveys an idea of devoid of any real emotional significance. Then on the following page there is a photo similar to the one at the top of this post:
And asks does the image affect you differently?
The content of both the statement and the photo are the same, but the impact for most people is radically different.
Hipps claims that images initially make us feel rather than think. Which is very true, think about the stories you see on television, the most impactfully ones are those with video and pictures. Think of the video of the 9/11 attacks on the Twin Towers those feels are ingrained into our memory. Yet when there are stories without pictures they seem to affect us less on an emotional level.
Take for example the two space shuttle accidents. The Challenger exploding on liftoff and that video of it exploding and the two rocket boosters veering off in different directions is burned into my memory, yet when the Shuttle Columbia exploded during re-entry and there is no significant video of that loss it I do not think has the same emotional connection with people. Each are equally tragic, yet the lack of the visual makes the Columbia loss more abstract and does not heighten our emotion in the same way.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Looking at the Text... John 2:1-11
This blog is suppose to follow my preparation for an upcoming sermon, so now is the time that I will start looking over the text that I will be preaching on. I have looked over the text of the day and I think I will be going with the gospel lesson. I am going to be preaching at my “home church” and figure that sticking with the gospel lesson, especially since it is one that is well known it will be a good one to bring back to the home congregation.
- The text I will be preaching on is John 2:1-11, the wedding at Cana. It is the first recorded miracle that Jesus performed. I figure I will jot down some quick thoughts about the reading…
- This story is only told in the Gospel according to John.
- There is mention that the wedding is on the 3rd day, not sure if the day of the week is significant or not
- The wedding was in Cana, in Galilee, again there might be significant in the location, or this just might be information Mary, Jesus and his disciples are invited to the wedding, but we are not given any hint of who is getting married, and why Mary and Jesus (and all his disciples) have been invited. Are we to assume this is a family wedding? Or is this a friend’s wedding?
- There is no mention of Joseph, Jesus’ father either. We are not sure of Joseph’s role in the family at this time, or is he no longer in the picture? (Not too sure if it really has much to do with the story anyway)
- Mary seems concerned about the shortage of wine. Seems to be more than just a typical guests concern, leads me to wonder if it is Mary’s family involved in the wedding in some way.
- Mary tells Jesus about the running out of wine, and it implies she expects him to do something. But Jesus has yet to have performed any miracles, or so we are lead to believe…
- Why does Mary have such confidence that Jesus will be able to “Do something?”
- I think there is some deeper digging that can be done around this…
- Jesus says “My time has not come.” What is he referring to?
- The Jars are huge, 20 to 30 gallons, far larger than typical wine jugs?
- Jesus has the servant take the cup to the “Person in charge of the dinner” to taste.
- Significance of the best wine being held back. Typically the good stuff is served first, so the water that Jesus has turned to wine is suppose to be the best, better than what was served before.
- Who all is aware of what has happened? Mary, and the servants, and the disciples, but has anyone else been made aware of what had happened?
Well those are just a few things that jumped out at me as I did my initial reading. What did you think when you read this passage?
Is Technology value-neutral?
The article we read by J.M. van der Laan titled "How the Internet Shapes Religious Life, or the Medium Is Itself the Message" discussed how the use of the Internet, and the resources found on it has effected the way preachers are preparing what they preach from the pulpit. There was much written on what resources are currently available on the web, and some discussion on if what is available has much in the way of value.
I have found that like any form of resource there is value in what is made available to those looking to use it. I think calling technology as "value-neutral" is not the best term. There are many tools such as; bible software, websites with preaching commentaries, web based discussion groups, and just the basic word processor that add value to the preaching, and writing experience that we as 21st century preachers should become comfortable with.
That being said, technology alone cannot, and should not be the end all when it comes to preparing to preach. Relying only on what can be found on a computer is not a way to prepare for a sermon, just like relying on a computer is not the only way you should find a new car or a mortgage. It may seem easy to type in a google search on a Text and be given a multitude of search results, but volume does not ensure the relevant and theological basis to what God is expecting you to share in the proclamation of the Word.
Like all tools, the good work that the technology we are presented is reliant on the ability of those who operate the tools. You can give hammer and a chisel to a monkey, but that does not mean that a sculpture will be created, it takes a skilled scultpor to make something of value. Such is true with today's technology. It takes some skills of the sermon writer to be able to surf the web, and determine what is worthy and what is nonsense, what has meaning and purpose to the message being presented to an audience and what might not bring any value to a message that is being presented. Search engines can be powerful, it is up to the preachers to be able to share what is important to our congregations.
I have found that like any form of resource there is value in what is made available to those looking to use it. I think calling technology as "value-neutral" is not the best term. There are many tools such as; bible software, websites with preaching commentaries, web based discussion groups, and just the basic word processor that add value to the preaching, and writing experience that we as 21st century preachers should become comfortable with.
That being said, technology alone cannot, and should not be the end all when it comes to preparing to preach. Relying only on what can be found on a computer is not a way to prepare for a sermon, just like relying on a computer is not the only way you should find a new car or a mortgage. It may seem easy to type in a google search on a Text and be given a multitude of search results, but volume does not ensure the relevant and theological basis to what God is expecting you to share in the proclamation of the Word.
Like all tools, the good work that the technology we are presented is reliant on the ability of those who operate the tools. You can give hammer and a chisel to a monkey, but that does not mean that a sculpture will be created, it takes a skilled scultpor to make something of value. Such is true with today's technology. It takes some skills of the sermon writer to be able to surf the web, and determine what is worthy and what is nonsense, what has meaning and purpose to the message being presented to an audience and what might not bring any value to a message that is being presented. Search engines can be powerful, it is up to the preachers to be able to share what is important to our congregations.
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