19 Jan Sermon – Sunday, January 19, 2025
The scene leading up to the first of many signs that Jesus would perform is a slice of real life. There’s a wedding going on and the guest list includes Jesus, his mother, and Jesus’ disciples. Like many weddings you and I have attended, there are tables full of friends of the bride and friends of the groom. Then there are more tables filled with others younger and older, children and parents of other guests, aunts, uncles, and cousins seated about. None of the guests mentioned probably rode together or arrived at the same time before the ceremony or reception, but they’re all there nonetheless, and each is significant, though not always for obvious reasons.
But if they were typical folk, most of them knew who to expect to see there and could probably guess with certainty who would and would not have been invited. Another thing you could count on: If something needed doing to improve the experience for the bride and groom or their guests, one of the guests, family or friend, would take responsibility and intervene. These are the type of people who wouldn’t just watch things play out and potentially go awry which might spoil the day and high hopes for living the dream.
At least one of them would ask someone else to do what they couldn’t handle themselves. Down-to-earth folk are often assertive and proactive. If knowing how to do a thing isn’t their thing, they know who to ask and don’t hesitate to do so.
Mary observes that the wine has given out. There is none left. She doesn’t bother Jesus with something that hasn’t happened yet. She waits until she’s sure there’s a problem, then speaks directly to it. She says, “They have no wine.” Interestingly Jesus replies, “Woman, what concern is that to you and to me?”
You see, the statement could have been spoken anywhere in the world during any time in history. “They have no ______” might refer to anyone anywhere who lacks an essential such as food, drink, shelter, healthcare, or safety. Clearly the word “they” identifies a group of people who are not us. Jesus drives the point home by saying, “What concern is that,” is where Jesus might have named the problem. That they have no wine is not our concern.
But he also might have said, “What concern are they to you and to me?” Their concerns are not our concerns. Why should their lack concern you or me? This is a picture of Jesus’ humanity, where he does not want to concern himself with the needs of others yet. “My hour has not yet come.” As if to say, “I’m not on the clock just yet. I haven’t punched in. I’m still on my own time. Don’t ask me to start working before my three year shift of ministry begins, Mother.”
And yet, his mother Mary knew him well. She knew that if she pointed out a problem that could be fixed, she need not come up with the solution. She didn’t ask Jesus to make more wine or suggest how he might fix the problem, she needed only to express her observations to him. This is a good formula for prayer.
It is enough to just tell God what the problem is. Describe what you see that you find troublesome. You don’t need to offer God solutions to the problem or pray that God will implement your plan. Just speak to what you’re observing or what you are sensing and trust that God will respond in a way you could never anticipate.
Like Mary, don’t hesitate to state what you have learned is true even though that truth may not yet be known to others. Mary demonstrates a form of prayer that amounts to a private 1:1 conversation with Jesus. She does nothing more than deliver one simple sentence. She doesn’t include feelings or worries, her fears of what may happen once the wine is gone or go into detail about a possible worse case scenario. That’s more my style of prayer, lol.
Knowing her son, Mary says to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Don’t you love Mary’s confidence? She knows that her role is to act as a facilitator. It’s why God chose her to bear God’s only begotten Son. God knows that Mary is capable of handling stress and won’t hesitate to direct other parties or help to prepare them for further instruction.
This conversation is similar to the one she had to have with Joseph before marriage and the one she’s had since with her in-laws. Mary knows in her heart of hearts that God is in charge always and that soon, in fact today, Jesus will take charge of making things happen. Mary knows that a ball has already been set in motion, so she will continue to do her part and clear the path for that ball to roll.
Six stone water jars stood empty there for the purpose of performing Jewish rites of purification. It just so happened that each held twenty or thirty gallons and that water was available to fill them. Rather than instantly fill the six jars with wine, Jesus demonstrates the fact that God isn’t into magic as much as showing us how God makes use of the ordinary to do extraordinary miracles. Jesus uses what’s on hand, the things and the persons who already are there, that which surrounds us so that everyday people and everyday goods become consecrated for divine use.
Jesus’ first miracle performed at a wedding in Cana was not Hocus-Pocus, an illusion, meaningless distraction or party trick. It was a demonstration of numerous truths: That Jesus in human form could be typically human, that is, reticent to get involved in other people’s problems when it didn’t seem necessary or convenient. And yet when their problem was brought to his attention, he acted. He was allowed to complain a bit, as long as he followed through anyway.
It’s okay to point things out and not assume that Jesus is on top of everything going on or standing there full of anticipation, ready to fix whatever’s happening around him. Even today, Jesus may be present but still need prompting with a few words or passing observation.
I appreciate every detail of this gospel story, especially that the servants filled the six stone water jars up to the brim after being told to fill the jars with water. Once when my Dad asked if I’d pour him a cup of coffee, I left enough space for him to put what always seemed to me like a lot of milk. As I handed him the steamy mug, he said, “How come you only gave me half a cup of coffee? I asked for a full cup.” It was sometimes difficult to anticipate my father’s next move or plan, but in this case, the servants do exactly as instructed knowing Jesus’ plan already takes everything into consideration.
Finally, we see the amazingly high quality of the work Jesus does, the interventions he makes on behalf of others, even when he doesn’t feel like taking on someone else’s problem or wish to have be asked to perform on cue while he’s trying to enjoy some downtime at a wedding, the last social event he would attend as a regular guest before starting his a grueling three year intensive time of ministry.
Jesus offers the best solution to the assembled crowd, not merely a sufficient one. He could have made wine exactly like the kind the hosts ran out of, but he didn’t. Jesus made wine that was noticeably better than the previous brand and wine the hosts could be proud to serve, and wine the guests would enjoy. It was superior and a representation of his glory which encouraged his disciples to believe in him.
I wonder if Mary anticipated her son making a better wine or whether she only expected him to make enough wine to last. When have we expected less than Jesus was willing to give, forgetting that whatever he does reveals his glory and will cause others to believe in him. Let us pray.
Dear Lord, sometimes we hesitate involving you unless things become dire. Help us to trust, like Mary, that we may come to you and simply state our observations and be content to let you fix the problem your own way. Help us to facilitate your will. You are generous in both the quality and quantity of things you supply. We believe that you still perform signs and miracles indicating your presence in our midst and your desire to concern yourself with our dilemmas. Thank you for being a guest at our every gathering, Jesus. May we anticipate and facilitate being the servants who willingly, wholeheartedly and completely follow your instructions. In your holy name we pray, Amen.