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December 20, 2009
 

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January 17, 2010—Second Sunday After Epiphany

Lectionary Texts: Isaiah 62:1-5; Psalm 36:5-10; 1 Corinthians 12:1-11; John 2:1-11

Sermon Text: John 2:1-11

Jesus: God's Glory Revealed

Do you remember the very first wedding you ever went to? I do. I was sixteen and it was my aunt and uncle’s wedding. It was scheduled to coincide with my grandparents’ 50th wedding anniversary. I have just a few memories of this occasion. One was that it was a very hot and humid day in Atlanta. Another is that I was terribly thirsty and couldn’t for the life of me find anything to drink that wasn’t alcoholic. There seemed to be vast amounts of champagne circulating, but I quickly discovered that champagne does not quench thirst. I suppose my experience at this wedding was in many ways the opposite of our passage this morning. They didn’t run out of wine, but they may have run out of soda or lemonade. But this wedding was a festive and happy occasion, one where family and friends gathered and rejoiced at the union of two people.

Jewish weddings in Bible times were not the one day events we experience today. These weddings lasted a full week; a week of feasting and celebration. The wedding was going splendidly. The groom and bride were a vision of happiness. The many guests were having a marvelous time. Everything was going wonderfully, that is until the wine ran out. For the wine to run out in the midst of a week-long party was the height of embarrassment for the groom and his family.

So it is not surprising that Mary, Jesus’ mother is concerned. These are people she knows and cares about, and would not want them to experience embarrassment. We really can’t be surprised by Mary’s request of Jesus. Although she doesn’t tell Jesus, “Make more wine for these folks.” She does seem to be assuming He can fix the problem easily. We can also easily understand Jesus’ seeming reluctance to take this moment to show people who he is. I mean it is not exactly the most exciting place to start showing the world you are the Son of God. Nor is helping some folks who planned poorly for an important celebration. I mean if we take into account all the stories of Jesus is miracles this seems to be the least life changing. I mean he raises the dead, heals sick and maimed people who are ostracized from society. So I am personally not surprised that he is reluctant to make his first display of his glory to be this particular moment.

But surprisingly to all of us teetotaling Nazarenes Jesus gives in to his mothers desire to help, (or maybe he intended to help all along) and makes begins to solve the problem of no more wine.

The most surprising part of this story is not that Jesus helped them though it is to what degree he helped. I remember a sermon given by Toni Porter, the wife of GS Jerry Porter, while I was at seminary where she talked about God’s grace being sufficient when they were dealing with the loss of their daughter Amy. She talked about how God just brought them through the difficulty, that his Grace was just enough- it was sufficient. While I agree wholeheartedly with this and can think of many times where God’s grace has been just enough to get me through difficulties it is interesting to note that Grace is way more than sufficient in our passage this morning. As a matter of fact one might say that Jesus’ grace in these circumstances is a bit over the top. I mean six twenty to thirty gallon water jugs full to the brim of wine!! Oh and it’s not just run of the mill wine, but the best wine.

And then what is the reaction we get from this incredible display of Jesus’ power and glory. Well upon tasting this exceptional wine the man in charge of the feast goes straight to the groom to declare his surprise at saving the best wine for the end of the party. Aside from that we aren’t told of anyone his reaction or the reaction of the groom and his family or the bride. It would seem that the party went on much as it had before.

Except for Jesus new disciples. For these men had just started following Jesus a few days before this wedding. Some of them were followers of John the Baptist who heard from John that Jesus was “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” These new disciples already were interested in who Jesus was, but we are told that from witnessing this miracle of Jesus they begin to believe in him.