Water Into Wine Epiphany III

 Water into Wine  Epiphany III John 2

Scripture Readings.

The Collect

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, mercifully look upon our infirmities, and in all our dangers and necessities stretch forth thy right hand to help and defend us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

The Epistle

Romans xii. 16.

BE not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

 

The Gospel

St. John ii. 1.

AND the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: and both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. And there were set there six water-pots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. Jesus saith unto them, Fill the water-pots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, and saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now. This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.

The Sermon.

Jesus takes the ordinary and turns it into something marvelous. He took the water turned into wine , showed His glory, and His disciples believed in Him. John 2:11 I note that Jesus & His disciples were invited to the wedding by I assume His mother. " And ..there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: and Jesus was also bidden." We do not know for sure , but He came to a marriage.

I see something here about Jesus being present at this wedding , " He showed His approval of joy and gladness, He sanctified marriage and all our social relationships, and above all He indicated how human lives would be glorified by Him.." Erdman

Ordinary life is to be glorified by God's presence & enjoyed by us His disciples when we see life as a gift and a joy. Life for sure is full of joys as well as sorrows, but God is present in all of it. Unfortunately Christians are not always known for joy. We should not be a dour group, but a joyful one, and that we are.

I see something wonderful in that the ordinary life is to be enjoyed in God's presence. We often forget that the little things are important. Jesus said something later about a cup of cold water given in His name, Matthew 10:42, has a reward.

“I always arrive late at the office, but I make up for it by leaving early.”

― Charles Lamb

We can devalue the little things that we do for others and that others for us, and we can take joy in them , as too part of God's appointment for our life here.

2. Secondly, I note the ordinary is turned into something extraordinary. God does that, and Jesus took the water and turned it into wine. The leadership of the event said, " thou hast kept the good wine until now.." 2: 10 Ordinarily they would start with that, and later serve the older stuff. Our Lord Jesus did a miracle, or sign as John calls it , which was His first, and showed His glory. No one else could have done that, but God alone. Jesus showed that in His humanity He was also Divine . Two natures in one person.

Today we call this answers to prayer that exhibits God's action through our human prayers. Someone is healed, someone comes to see Jesus for the first time in who He really is. In other words life is hallowed by God's lovely presence.

We could say it happens every year at Christmas and Easter, but every Sunday is a taste of the Lord's beauty as we see Him glorified in worship, love and action. The Sacraments of the Gospel, Baptism and Holy Communion take ordinary things, water, and wine and when mixed with faith are given to us by God's loving grace. Each Sunday are signs of God's presence.

I wonder if we have experienced the ordinary turning something extraordinary. I remember when my mother died and I was living in Florala, and walking by the ordinary Hardees. I was full of a lot of grief, but God opened the heavens on a shady day, and it seemed I saw her playing the piano as she so loved to do, in heaven I prayed. All of us have had some kind of experience here that foreshadows heaven's glory and we know it to be true. It may only be a word that someone to us while we are struggling, and that is a gracious moment in our lives.

Lastly, thirdly, I noted the word in here in the text. " This beginning of His signs did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed on Him." Here it is on Him. I looked it up. What does that little preposition mean?

Strong's Concordance

eis: to or into (indicating the point reached or entered, of place, time, fig. purpose, result)

Original Word: εἰς

Part of Speech: Preposition

Transliteration: eis

Phonetic Spelling: (ice)

Definition: to or into (indicating the point reached or entered, of place, time, purpose, result)

Usage: into, in, unto, to, upon, towards, for, among.

Jesus is " into (indicating the point reached or entered, of place, time, purpose, result)" Knowing Him is life. In Him we have life for He is the light and life. How wonderful that Jesus is God and in Him we have life. We celebrate His birth, His epiphany ( appearing and manifestation which we are in now) & soon we will celebrate with our community, His Resurrection over death.

No, this is not just a symbol. It is real. It is true. It is to have Him that we enter now into everlasting life. We have passed over from death unto life.