2 Epiphany. The Glory of Jesus in the Water and the Wine.

 2nd Sunday after Epiphany.  Lessons: Isa 62:1-5 Ps 96; 1 Cor 12:1-11 ;John 2:1-11; Message- " Jesus Manifested His Glory"

"The Jews attached great importance to the high moments of life. Thus a wedding was not just a brief ceremony, but an experience shared by the entire community. The typical wedding feast could last up to seven days. That sounds strange to our modern way of thinking, but this offered a bright interlude in an otherwise dreary existence. The ceremony would begin on Tuesday at midnight. After the wedding the father of the bride would take his daughter to every house so that everyone might congratulate her. It was a community experience. Weddings were a time of joy.

Years ago, when Johnny Carson was the host of The Tonight Show, he interviewed an eight year old boy. The young man was asked to appear because he had rescued two friends in a coalmine outside his hometown in West Virginia. As Johnny questioned the boy, it became apparent to him and the audience that the young man was a Christian. So Johnny asked him if he attended Sunday school. When the boy said he did Johnny inquired, "What are you learning in Sunday school?" "Last week," came his reply, "our lesson was about when Jesus went to a wedding and turned water into wine." The audience roared, but Johnny tried to keep a straight face. Then he said, "And what did you learn from that story?" The boy squirmed in his chair. It was apparent he hadn't thought about this. But then he lifted up his face and said, "If you're going to have a wedding, make sure you invite Jesus!" The little boy was on to something. Weddings are time of Joy." sermons@sermons.com

Jesus turned between 100-150 gallons (500-750 liters) of water into wine (oinos the greek word for wine used in Ephesians to not be drunk with wine)at a wedding in Cana, according to the Bible12. This was an extraordinary amount for an average wedding party in the first century. 

Why did he do this?

John 2:11 " This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him."

--Let's break it down.  The ordinary turns into something extraordinary.  Isn't that our prayer for our lives and for others who we love?  This life is so short.  It has meaning in the next.

Notice first that our Lord Jesus did attend the wedding along with His disciples. There is a place for joy in the ordinary events of life, not that a wedding is ordinary.  But Jesus did not ignore the festal events that occured in His life .

There is a tendency to ignore the common things and sometimes even celebrations in our lives as well.  We should do ordinary things in a God-centered way , knowing that in all things we can glorify God. There is a saying, " Before the enlightenment: cut wood and draw water; after the enlightenment : cut wood and draw water." " This is about doing the same thing differently , not to ascend to totally new and different insights or mystical experiences." Spirituality for Daily Life Will Derkse

Secondly, note how His mother Mary interacted with Him.  He politely told her that " his hour had not yet come." But He did not ignore her either.  He turned the water into wine, in so much, as it was better than the original wine at the wedding. 2:10 " And He said unto them, ' 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' ".

It was a sign literally.  2:11 " This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory"  The word miracles in the original language  Greek is signs , "  In the New Testament, "sémeion" is used to denote a sign or miracle that serves as a divine indication or attestation. It often refers to miraculous events that signify God's intervention or authenticate His messengers. These signs are not merely wonders but carry a deeper spiritual significance, pointing to the truth of God's message and the authority of Jesus Christ." biblehub.com

This was the glory of God.  God alone can do such wonders, miracles and signs, and Jesus showed ( manifested) His glory" The word manifested is an Epiphany word. God's glory, in this case, God the Son's glory is revealed and shown forth. It is visible, just as the Star led the Wise Men to the House where the baby lay on Epiphany ◄ Matthew 2:11 ►

"And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh."

Lastly, after seeing Jesus' glory John says in 2:11b, His disciples believed in Him.  The word is " The Greek verb "pisteuó" primarily means to believe or to have faith. It conveys a sense of trust and reliance upon someone or something. In the New Testament, it is often used to describe the act of believing in Jesus Christ for salvation, trusting in God's promises, and having faith in the truth of the Gospel. This belief is not merely intellectual assent but involves a deep, personal trust and commitment." biblehub.com

Seeing this I never saw before that it says His disciples believed in Him.  Not all believe.  But if we are to follow Him, we have to start there. I am encouraged by this.  Belief if it is real follows the action of God in one's life.  It does not happen without Him.  We all can attest to this in our own lives, and what we wish for our loved ones as well.  They have to see it themselves.  We cannot force or argue people into belief.  

Amen.