Faith Celebrates What The Sign Points To

Text: John 2:1-11

Theme: Faith Celebrates What the Sign Points To

A. Jesus cares about all my concerns

B. Jesus blesses my earthly lot

C. Jesus reveals his divine glory

Season: Epiphany 2c

Date: January 17, 2010

Web page: http://hancocklutheran.org/sermons/Faith-Celebrates-What-the-Sign-Points-To-John2_1-11.html

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. The Holy Spirit testifies about Jesus in John 2

"On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee. Jesus' mother was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding along with his disciples.

"When the wine started running out, Jesus' mother says to him, "They have no wine."

"Jesus says to her, "What's between me and you, dear lady? My hour has not yet come."

"His mother says to the servants, "Whatever he tells you, do it."

"Six stone water jars were there, having been placed according to the Jewish cleansing rites, holding two or three measures [about 18 to 27 gallons] a piece. Jesus says to them, "Fill the water jars with water." And they filled them to the brim. He says to them, "Now draw a drink and take it to the master of the feast." And they took it.

"Because the master of the feast tasted the water that had become wine and did not know where it had come from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast calls the groom. He says to him, "Everyone first sets out the good wine and when they've had their fill, the inferior wine. You, though, have kept the good wine until now."

"Jesus did this first one of his signs in Cana of Galilee and revealed his glory. His disciples believed in him." (John 2:1-11)

Dear friends in Christ, fellow saints washed clean in the blood of our risen Savior:

What do these signs mean? This red octagon means stop. This black X on a yellow circle means railroad crossing. This skull and crossbones means poison. This red cross on white inside a blue square means first aid. Each of these signs point us to something important. They cause a reaction in us as well. If I'm in a hurry, a stop sign or railroad crossing can cause frustration. We stay a way from a skull and crossbones. And what relief a first aid kit can bring when we're injured!

We could use this fifth picture as a sign. These six stone water jars could be a sign reminding us of Jesus' miracle of turning water into wine. But, dear friends, that miracle itself was meant as a sign. John points that out in verse 11. "This, the first of his miraculous signs . . ." (John 2:11 NIV). In fact, the Greek John wrote simply calls it the first of his signs, since that's the emphasize. This turning water into wine was a sign. A sign of what? That's what we want to ponder today. For you see, when we know what this sign points to, it causes a reaction in us just as these other signs cause a reaction. But unlike what these other signs point to,this sign of changing water into wine affects our faith, just as we're told that due to this sign "his disciples put their faith in him" (John 2:11 NIV). Through his word may the Holy Spirit stir our faith to celebrate this sign as we cherish what it points to.

A. Jesus cares about all my concerns

1. How does this account assure us that we can take even small matters to Jesus in prayer?

As the text begins, Jesus is at the start of his public ministry. He's been baptized by John. He's defeated Satan's temptations during forty days in the wilderness. He's begun calling his disciples. About three very busy years of preaching and teaching and healing throughout the land lay before him, but he takes the time to attend this wedding, in the small Galilean town of Cana. That by itself indicates this was not the wedding of the rich and famous. Since Mary was there as well, the couple probably were friends of the family, from the same social status as a tradesman or carpenter -- your average Joe or Joseph.

And the problem that came up, really wasn't all that important, was it? The were going to run out of wine. That would be embarrassing, but in the big scheme of eternal salvation, would it really matter? It would be like running out of food at a potluck. Life goes on. Even on the human side it doesn't compare to healing the sick or driving out demons. But Mary goes to Jesus with it. It concerns her, so she takes it to Jesus, and he takes care of it.