SERMON FOR THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY - Series C

Text: John 2:1-11

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine."

"Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied. "My time has not yet come."

His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."

Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.

Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim.

Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet."

They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realise where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew.

Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now."

This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.

I wonder whether Jesus was having a bad day? "They have no more wine." That's what we're told Mary said, "They have no more wine." She didn't say, "They have no more wine and you'd better do something about it." She didn't say, "They have no more wine and it's your fault." She didn't even say, "They have no more wine and I expect you to perform a miracle."

But she may as well have.

"Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replies. "My time has not yet come." I mean why didn't he simply say. "Well, thanks for that bit of gossip, mum. Isn't it a shame?" or, "You're kidding, it's all gone? What sort of a wedding is this?" or even "Awww."

But instead, when he's told of this simple problem, this minute inconvenience, Jesus feels involved, responsible, as if he has to do something about the situation. "Dear woman, why do you involve me? My time has not yet come." This talk of "his time" or "his hour" is Jesus' way of saying that he didn't come simply to help people out when their wedding plans collapse. He came for one reason, and one reason only, to give his life in service and love for the world. Way off in Chapter 17, just before he goes off to the garden of Gethsemane and the cross, he would announces the arrival of the right hour for him to act. "Father, the time (HOUR) has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you."

What did you pray about last? "God please do something about my annoying cough!" "Dear Lord, help me get through the tough week ahead?" "Dear Jesus, I've eaten too much again this Christmas, help me now as I try to cut down in the weeks ahead." Or even, "Dear God, look that family is going through such tough times, they need real help and care."

Would you be surprised if God were to answer your prayers with, "Awww" or "That's interesting" or even "Well, why are you trying to involve me in such trifling things? Don't you think there are more important problems that need to be dealt with?" I'm sure we would! But perhaps this surprise, betrays our arrogance. The reality is that this is the sort of response we deserve to hear and anything different, any active involvement in our insignificant lives by God should be the only cause of surprise - wonderful, thankful, joyous surprise.

Mary however, doesn't seem surprised that her Son has more important things to do with his life and power. She seems to understand that his purpose must have something to do with showing care and love for people in need. Mary responds simply by commanding the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."

And now comes the biggest surprise of all. What would you do if you found yourself in a similar situation? Correct me if I'm thinking on the wrong track, but a sensible caring person would have rounded up the other 12 people he'd brought (I wonder whether they had invitations), gone to the host and apologised for having to leave immediately. "Yeah, it is a bit of a shame we have to go, but duty calls - my time has not yet come you know." At least this way the food wouldn't run out as well!

Or, if the person were rich they might go to the stewards hand over a $100 note and with a wink say, "Look, just run off to the pub and get another carton. Things are winding down, they can't drink much more. Tell you what, get a carton and a couple of litres of wine, that'll be enough. By the way, don't forget, the cheap brand'll be good enough."

But what does Jesus do? Would you believe he makes between 500 and 800 litres of wine. I've worked it out, that's the equivalent of 700 to 1000 bottles of wine. His response absolutely swamps the little problem his mum presented. When Jesus acts, they go from an embarrassing shortage to an embarrassing deluge. I wouldn't be surprised if they ended up with more than they'd started with. Even the quality is embarrassing.

Remember that wine is a symbol for joy in the O.T.. The Gospel writer wouldn't have bothered to record this miracle if it were just a matter of showing how Jesus can turn water into wine. John wants us to see that his Lord, doesn't just get a little involved with people in need, he doesn't just make up for people's deficiencies; when Jesus acts people are swamped, swamped with grace and joy. John shows that his statement in chapter one is already coming true, "From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another." (John 1:16) And don't forget it's the solemn and serious Jewish ceremonial jars that are forced to bear such abundant rich joy.

But isn't this the problem we have with all God's involvement in our lives. If only he'd simply listen to our prayers and give us what we want. All we ask is that when we have a problem, God comes and fixes things up. But instead he swamps us with grace and joy. Luther once said that God only says NO to our prayer requests because he plans to give us something even better.

We ask for healing from our sickness and God says, "No I have something better, the healing I want you to have will mean you never need experience sickness again. You can't beat death for healing all earthly ills." We ask for just enough money so that we can feel safe and secure, but God says, "No, no, money won't bring the quality security I want you to have. Look, I'll take a little more cash away so that you understand. Real security comes with faith in me." We confess our frailty and weakness and ask for strength so that we can serve more effectively, and God says, "Fantastic, it sounds like you're ready to learn about just how great our partnership is. Ummm did I tell you that the weaker you are the stronger I can and will be."

This morning again come to your God confessing your inadequacies so that you again might experience being swamped by the love of our wonderful God, our frustratingly wonderful God. Bring your need, your deficiencies, your weakness. Come as you are to his altar and watch as he again lovingly swamps you with another joyful miracle of wine. Delight in the grace he brings you there, taste the joy of his forgiveness, marvel at both the quality and quantity of his love given and shed for you. Watch as he gets involved and swamps your deficiencies with his loving, generous answer and go joyfully assured you belong to him. Forget what you may have thought is a much better solution and simply live as his loved forgiven child. As he reveals his glory in your life, let's pray that others will see and also learn to put their faith in him.