How many of you today can honestly say you Ignore road signs? Yes this includes the speed limit. Have you ever came upon a sharp bend in the road that had no signs or warnings to alert you to slow down? Not too far from here, there is a bend in the road, where me and my wife came upon it unexpectedly and I came quite nearly to find out how well my truck climbed a tree. How about signs that we ignore deliberately? I think speed signs are in that category. How about a sign on your medicine bottle that tells you each with food, or take every few hours, etc. Signs are actually critical to our living life isnt' it? Being experienced in deafness, I tend to think about those who have to learn sign language. Everywhere they go, they have to pay attention to the other person's signs to communicate and comprehend effectively.
The Gospel of John records several significant signs from the life of Christ. In todays reading from the Gospel of John, Jesus chose a wedding for the first of these miraculous signs, which revealed his glory and brought forth faith from his disciples.
According to how the Gospel of John is laid out in Chapters 1 and 2, one of the first recorded miracles Jesus did was on the Third day after his Baptism and after the initial selection of the chosen disciples. This miracle, known to all as turning water into wine, has several significant aspects to its meaning and purpose, which obviously we cannot go into all of them today. Let us start by reading the miracle.
"On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; and both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding."
So up to this point, we are laying the foundation of the miraculous sign, and we learn it is being done at a very fitting place, a wedding. It houses many guests, some prominent people of esteem I'm sure, officials or people whom was well known. Actually in the ancient times, having a wedding meant it was a celebration for the whole community. It wasn't normally a quiet or small event.
To also share in the experience of a wedding, the scriptures tells us Jesus and His disciples was invited. Now if you can just try to place yourself there for a minute, you may hear some music, people talking and laughing, snacking on some appetizers, drinking some wine or soda; basically having a good time. So lets read on, "When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to Him, They have no wine. And Jesus said to her, What business do you have with Me, woman? My hour has not yet come."
Ok there's a lot here, but lets break it down. His statement on My Hour has not come yet, does indicate atleast two things. One, even at this early stage of Jesus' ministry, his death was made known to him. Drinking of the wine, as he did at the last supper as a celebration, may have been a fervent thought to state I must wait for the right moment or opportunity. Second and even deeper meaning a solemn reference to his death. So we have here a mysterious portrayal amongst a joyous event. Then when we find Mary, Jesus mother, was concerned that the wine was gone. If you think about it for a moment, what did Mary want Jesus to do? Maybe have him and the disciples buy some more or find some local person to bring some, whatever the case, but what is rather surprising is Jesus's response. "What Business do you have with me, Woman?"
Why not state, Mom, what do you want me to do? Or even, Mom, what can I do about it? I don't have any money? You get the idea! He didn't even regard mary as mother, but woman. In diving into this a little more, I found some theologians suggest this is the starting point of Jesus' ministry that identified himself to his mother as not her son, but her Savior, the Messiah. He started the role to detach himself from the world, to give himself to God the Father entirely. And how did Mary take it? Lets read on. "His mother said to the servants, Whatever He tells you, do it."
This is a very clear indication that she did not consider Jesus comment bad, but rather seeing him growing up, and now, seeing God's ultimate role as Savior being put on. Mary has the actual confidence in her son, the Savior of the world, whom she is has been blessed to witness, and experience first hand.
So now lets read on, "Now there were six stone waterpots standing there for the Jewish custom of purification, containing two or three measures each. Jesus *aid to them, Fill the waterpots with water. So they filled them up to the brim. Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter. And they took it to him. Now when the headwaiter tasted the water which had become wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter*called the groom, and said to him, Every man serves the good wine first, and when the guests are drunk, then he serves the poorer wine; but you have kept the good wine until now. This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and revealed His glory; and His disciples believed in Him."
Wow! In reading the story, I want you to think, did you witness heavenly hosts were present; trumpets were sounding; heavens opened up? You don't! A very significant thing I find in this story that is rather revealing is who knew of the actual miracle outside of Jesus and his disciples? The Servants! Not the headwaiter or groom even! This is an actual start of what we call ordinary times with extraordinary signs. All the stars don’t have to line up, and your house don’t have to be clean; your bills all have to be paid in order to receive a sign from God; you don’t need to look beautiful, have all your teeth, etc. He gives the signs to all his children, when and where its needed. It can be subtle but very powerful and effective.
Another point I want you to see here is just as entertaining; some would have thought Jesus's presence alone may have been awkward for others around him and even cause people to squirm or not feel comfortable, but it wasn't. Christ did not hold against anyone at this party for having innocent human happiness or fun! Nothing wrong at all with it!
In looking more closely to this miracle, there are a few points I want to bring out that merit attention. And when we think these points, think also on how Jesus Transforming Life has impacted you.
I. God Signs His Glory in the Ordinary
Where do you expect to encounter the glory of God? At a wedding? That wouldn't be my first thought. Remember me saying that the Servants did the serving of the water that knew what happened at first. A child that says no to drugs. A parent works several jobs to keep food on the table while making what little time they can for their children. A woman was forcibly fired from her job and left the premises not realizing just a short time later a tornado would totally destroy the plant where she worked and would have been at. And so many more like this. I heard a story about each of these examples, yet, the world we live in doesn't give emphasis on it.
At a wedding Jesus revealed his glory. God hasn't left himself without witness anywhere Rom. 1:19-20 and he frequently signs his glory in the ordinary events of life. His signature is on the mountain landscape and the rolling sea. He manifests himself in a grandchild's smile and a grandfather's prayer.
II. God Signs His Glory in the Extraordinary
Critically ill patient being brough back to health. People who cross the street, almost getting hit by a vehicle, only walking away unscathed. Cancer patients suddenly become cancer-free without treatment. World trade center employees that didn't go into work that September day due to circumstances that some realize now was by divine intervention, from cars not starting, illness, and even meeting times mis-scheduled.
How about the stories you hear God took away the addiction; I've been free from this crippling desire for fifteen years. Jesus enabled my wife to forgive me and preserved our marriage. They said I wouldn't live another year—that was ten years ago! God had other plans. God sometimes signs his glory in an extraordinary display of power.
III. Do You Believe the Signs?
When Jesus revealed his glory at the wedding "his disciples put their faith in him." Faith-encouraging signs are all around us but we often are not looking for them. We want something spectacular when God has chosen the ordinary. Jesus asked, "When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" Will he find us living by faith and responding to God's glory whether we see it on ordinary days or in an extraordinary way?
Remember friends, Jesus himself is the ultimate sign of God's glory. Are we missing him while looking for a substitute sign? Remember what he said, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe."
The African impala can jump to a height of over ten feet and cover a distance greater than thirty feet. Yet these magnificent creatures can be kept in an enclosure in any zoo with a three-foot wall. The animals will not jump if they cannot see where their feet will fall. Faith trusts what we cannot see. Faith trusts Christ. Remember what Mary told the, "Do whatever he tells you" (v. 5). Jesus tells us to believe. "Follow me," he invites. Anything less than obedience is not faith, even when you recognize the signs of his glory.
Inclosing friends, Jesus' Transforming Life should always be seen in those whom call him Savior, Lord, Master. In God's transforming life, you will find all the faith you need, all the hope that can be mustered, and all the love that God can provide. We may not experience Extraordinary events, and that's ok, but God's signs are all around us. They are without spotlights most of the time, they are without speakerphones and they are sometimes difficult to spot, especially if we are not looking. Look to Jesus friends, for everything we do. And as we grow in Him and Him in us, and as the Gospel of Matthew tells us Jesus said 'Learn of Me.' We will learn just how transforming Jesus life really is. Amen.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION