Signs and Weddings
This is the sermon I preached on Sunday, January 19 at St. Timothy Lutheran Church. The text was John 2:1-11.
A wedding is a wonderful celebration in the Middle East, as it is here. Even in small villages, everyone rejoices, sings, and dances. I remember being in a village for just such an event. It was truly exhilarating—the sounds, the aromas, the music, the rhythm as the men danced the debka, a traditional folk dance of the region.
But this was a Muslim couple, family, village, and there would not be any alcohol. It would be considered sinful, a huge problem if it was served.
Jesus faced another kind of issue at this wedding in today’s gospel reading. This was a Jewish wedding gathering, likely relatives of Jesus and his family. A terrible thing happened. They ran out of wine to serve the guests. It’s not like someone could just run to the liquor store to buy some more. But was that really the problem?
“To run out of wine and to fail to provide adequately for guests would involve social disgrace. Such an error would never be forgotten and would haunt the newlyweds all their lives” (Merrill C. Tenney, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary). It was unthinkable. That is the real problem. No wonder Mary was so antsy for Jesus to do something about the humiliating situation.
What do you think about the conversation between Jesus and his mother? He doesn’t seem very respectful, does he? However, calling her “woman” was Jesus’ normal, polite way of addressing women. But his mother? It is unusual for a man to address his mother in this way. It may indicate that there is a shift in their relationship. Once Jesus had begun his public ministry, there was a different kind of relationship between them.
“What concern is that to you and to me?” This seems downright rude to us. However, it just indicates mere disengagement, like he is asking, “How am I involved?” I find it interesting that Mary does not answer or debate Jesus’ question. Instead, she tells the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” She understands that the way forward is to put the problem into Jesus’ hands.
How does Jesus address the issue? He miraculously turns water into wine. Mary’s trust was completely in Jesus. She knew he was the one to talk to.
I love the way Bible commentator Gerard Sloyan describes what’s happening in these verses. “Nothing is changed but everything is changed. What had been water is wine. Word has become flesh. An hour that has not yet come is here. This is existence at the edge of the ages, a point at which the old eon and the new dance a figured minuet. What will be is. What seems to be is no more. In this Word and Light of God who is man, all is new. How else can the transformation be conveyed except in quiet parables of cosmic change?” (Gerard Sloyan, Interpretation: John)
How does this apply to us? Here we have the abundance of God in which we have more and better than we ever could have imagined meeting our culture of scarcity in which we can never have enough. Have you ever noticed how people, including ourselves, especially if we have an Amazon account, see something, want it, and buy it without batting an eyelash? The feeling of need is created within us by advertisers on TV, in magazines, and on websites. How do we balance out the miraculous abundance of God with the great and unaddressed needs of the world? (Eric Fistler and Robb McCoy, Pulpitfiction.com). It just doesn’t seem to add up. In this case, the problem is self-centeredness, individually and corporately. The fault is that of you and me, all of us. How much of our income goes to the needs of others?
There is plenty of need out there—need we can barely fathom. We have wildfires in the west, fighting overseas in the Middle East, in Ukraine, Africa, and elsewhere. Other areas suffer from flooding and other disasters.
More questions: Where do we as hearers of this story feel dry or empty? What is it that fills our cup? Maybe it’s company with friends, music, or a good movie. Real satisfaction will not be found solely in such things, as good as they may be. We need to follow Mary’s example and put the ball in Jesus’ hands. She knows what he can do and believes in him before he has done anything publicly.
Why do you think this is? Do you remember what was written about her after she heard the message of the shepherds when Jesus was little? “Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart” (Luke 2:19). She thought about them and meditated on them.
The disciples were a different matter altogether. They needed “signs” in order to believe. Perhaps we do too. We don’t always “feel” God is with us. What did Mary do? She pondered God’s word to her. However, there’s a place for signs. “Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him” (John 2:11).
How does God fill us up so that we might be poured out for the sake of the world? God wants to do this; how can we prepare ourselves to be filled? (Bp. Lee Miller II, Midweek Musings). We may have needs that must be met before we can help others. Go to Jesus. We are overwhelmed by what we see and hear. Go to Jesus. Do what Mary did.
Almighty and most merciful God, we call to mind before you all whom it is easy to forget: those who are homeless, destitute, sick, isolated, and all who have no one to care for them. May we bring help and healing to those who are broken in body or spirit, that they may have comfort in sorrow, company in loneliness, and a place of safety and warmth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen (Evangelical Lutheran Worship).
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