First Preached 14/1/2001 Epihany 2 C
John 2.1-11
Of all the miracles of Jesus this is I think the oddest. It was also the despair of the Band of Hope and other temperance movements.
Yet to John it is obviously important. It is he said the first of the signs by which Jesus reveals his glory. That Glory which he claims to have seen.
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1.14
Now his disciples see this sign and believe in him. It is only they and Mary of whom this is true. It remains hidden to the main beneficiaries, the Bridal Couple and the ‘Toastmaster’. The events are known to the servants. But they do not know what the disciples already know.
“We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth” John 1.45
To those on the outside it is hidden. To those who already have some inkling it is a confirmation. They can see the glory of God, and they are moved to faith. Those who are outside are left baffled and bemused.
That is how the signs work in John. The crowds believe in him because of the signs that he does. (6.2 & 12 .8) Nicodemus says, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.” (3.2)
That is what signs are there for: “ Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name”. (20.30f)
But they are signs. They are not proofs. To the ruling council, they are a source of annoyance rather than a call for faith.
“What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many miraculous signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” (11.47f)
On the other hand there is a demand for more signs “In order that we may believe” (6.30) A request which might seem a little unreasonable since it follows the feeding of the five thousand. There is no pleasing some people!
They are signs, not proofs. Yet they reveal that there is something extraordinary here. They are part of the reason that Jesus was remembered by his disciples as more than a mere mortal. He revealed himself to be something more. But what?
A sign is supposed to tell you something. There is reputed to be a notice in the Yorkshire Dales which only says, “It is an offence to throw stones at this notice” But usually signs are a little more forth coming. Signs point to something or tell you something useful.
What does this sign tell us about Jesus.
Firstly he is “the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote”
Here he fulfills the words of Isaiah. “
“Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost (Isa 55.1)
The works of Jesus are the works of His Father. Looking at Jesus will show you what God is like.
Secondly he is the new wine of the Kingdom. In place of the ritual purification of the Law, comes life and celebration.
Common Worship gives a number of ways of introducing Holy Communion, but, “Hey let’s party”, does not seem to be one of them. Which is a pity. We do refer to it as a celebration of Holy Communion. But we do not take the word seriously enough (If that is not a contradiction)
Jesus is here and that is a cause for real joy.
Finally, this is the new wine of the Kingdom which is to come. It is a foretaste, of the life eternal.
John saw Jesus transformed an ordinary wedding. Another John would write, “‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’” Rev 19.7
In Jesus the powers of the Kingdom are already breaking into the present world. He calls his Church to drink deeply. To be transformed from water into wine.
Filed under:Tags: Cana, Epiphany 2 C, Glory, Joh 2:1, Signs