Sermon for 1/14/24: Second Sunday After the Epiphany

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Wine for You

John 2:1-12

 

Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen. 

 

 

The clock was ticking. His short ministry had begun, the battle with the devil had been joined, and Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem. He had not yet gathered all of His disciples. He still had much to do. He was not in Cana for pleasure. He was never really anywhere for pleasure. He was there to serve, to fulfill the Law, to endure temptation, to suffer. His hour had not yet come, but the countdown had begun. For Jesus, being baptized by John was not at all unlike being diagnosed with a terminal disease. He had been given a death sentence in Jordan’s waters and had only three years to live. So His time was short, and yet here His mother comes to Him with trivialities. What concern was it of His if some wedding party was not quite as spectacular as the planners had hoped?

His answer to Mary was direct—some might even say He was rude. “What does this have to do with Me?” In other words, “I have more important things I need to be doing.” And did they need more wine? Rare indeed is the man who actually needs more wine, nor by that time were they likely to appreciate it. So whatever it was Mary was hoping for, it seemed that she was denied. Jesus simply told her that her concern was not His at that moment, her request unimportant in the face of His looming betrayal, suffering, and death.

But her response to His rebuke could not have been better. She believed that, despite His seeming rejection of her concern, He would help; He would rescue her and the wedding couple in some way, because that is who Jesus is. That is what He does. He is always rescuing people.

Despite the rejection, she believes that nothing of her concern is really outside her Son’s concern; she believes that no request she makes is trivial; she believes that He hears and answers every prayer. So in faith, she gave the servants the best piece of advice the world has ever heard: “Do whatever He tells you.” And what a surprise He had in store for them! He gave them wine like the world has never known—and more than they could ask or imagine.

God gives His gifts for us to enjoy them. He never gives them with the idea that we will send Him a thank you note or build a statue, nor does He do these things for His pleasure, or because it makes Him feel good to help us. He does them for us, because we have need of them, and because He would see us enjoy the life He has given us. He was not in Cana to enjoy Himself. He was there to give of Himself, to give His blessing, and even to provide wine.

And to this day we rightly pray to Him, just as Mary did. We may not ask for wine as she did, but our prayers echo hers. “Lord, this life is hard. I am tired. I am weak and frustrated. Sometimes I am sad and at other times just plain mad. Lord, I wish that I was happier than I am, and more content, that my spouse was more understanding and would pay more attention to me, that my job was easier, that I wasn’t hassled by people who don’t think I am doing it very well. O God, I wish there was more wine.”

While God may not always answer the prayers the way we want Him to, He never ignores those whom He loves, those for whom He laid down His life. He will do what is good and right. He may well surprise you. So pray away in boldness and confidence. Nothing is insignificant to Him if it is important to you. And if He holds out for now, don’t despair. He provides what He knows you need now, and He knows what you need for eternity. He withholds no necessary gift from you. He provides “all [you] need to support this body and life,” and He provides all you need for eternal life with Him.

God is good. He knows what you want. He knows what you need. He is good and He knows what is good. He will not fail. You will have pleasures amidst your temptations and frustrations and heartache. You will have your wine, and your heart will be glad. In the meantime, while you wait for His goodness, remember Mary’s charge: “Do whatever He tells you.” And what He tells you is this: “Take and eat. Drink of it, all of you. Do this in remembrance of Me.” Eat the body of Jesus and drink His precious blood. Return to your Baptism as you feel sorrow over your sins. Hear the Word of Absolution and have the balm of His resurrection applied generously to your heart. Your Father loves you. He has made you His own child in Holy Baptism. He sent His Son to be the sacrifice that makes you His.

The servants knew who it was who turned the water to wine. The disciples saw it and believed. They knew who was and is responsible for joy and gladness, and indeed for all the gifts enjoyed by men. It is Mary’s unassuming Son, Jesus, lover of our souls, the One who is truly good, the One who fulfilled the Scripture in their hearing. The servants knew. The disciples believed. God grant that we would be numbered among them. In the name of the Father and of the Son (+) and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

 

The peace of God which passes all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus always.  Amen.