John 2:1-11 X Epiphany 2 C
January 20, 2013 Zion Lutheran, Pampa, TX Rev. Michael Erickson
It’s really sobering to think about. There are a couple of epidemics that plague our society these days – and I am not talking about the flu that is hitting many people this time of year. It is a spiritual epidemic that troubles people of faith to no end. Fifty-four million babies have been killed in our nation since 1973 since abortion became legal. 54 million – that is staggering. We need to recall that number as we think about people’s attitudes toward the Word of God. We are NOT listening to Him.
The other epidemic that I see growing in our society is the attacks and mistreatment of the holy estate of marriage and family. Young and old seem to take marriage as to mean very little to them. This shows itself in many people living together outside of marriage, divorce, and those who try to redefine marriage as somehow between same – sex partners. People that follow Christ cannot ignore these things and worse yet we don’t want to ignore God’s Holy Word and accept them as OK for us either. God help us.
In the Gospel today, Jesus honors marriage as He is invited and attends this wedding in Cana. Jesus sanctifies things and we know from other Scripture that our Lord is deeply concerned about marriage, and family, and the sanctity of human life itself.
The church needs to be CLEAR. Our young people are seeing and hearing so many false and dangerous messages from many different places. But please hear me: Save yourself for your marriage partner and don’t live with them before marriage. That is not just some old time attitude, but God’s holy will for your life. To put your will over the Lord’s is only to rebel against the Sixth commandment (and the others also). The Fifth commandment is still intact also: Don’t murder your neighbor – whether in the womb or on their sick bed.
But sin is everywhere around us. The world is so full of it. And sin is in you and me also. We are sinners and sinners like to go with the world and hell bound society rather than God’s holy Word. In reckless rationalizing you tell yourself, “Well if my kid does it, it is not that bad.” “Oh, I don’t want to speak out for the unborn, people will think I am too forceful or it will offend.” I can do what I want, so what if it hurts other people or myself.” “The church just wants to spoil people’s fun.” And the list goes on like that. Those words and thoughts are born out of sinful pride that wants to push God out and take away His authority. Repent. Turn from those evil thoughts and believe our Lord.
Remember some early history. The early Christians showed themselves to be different in matters of marriage and family than many of their pagan neighbors. Sure, they were sinful, but for the most part – the Christian husbands didn’t have mistresses that were common in Rome and Greece. They were faithful and devoted to family. Christians spoke out in their literature against the taking of life of those in the womb and upheld the sanctity of life for all people. May be we Christians need to start doing the same today. We need to believe the Lord and trust in Him!!
Mary did in the Gospel. When the wine ran out this is what she said in her solid faith in her Son. She told the servants to, “Do whatever He tells you.” That’s right: “Do whatever He tells you.” Mary could speak these words because she had faith and knew that whatever Jesus would do --- IT WOULD BE GOOD. That is faith which does not spurn God’s word, but trusts in Him – that He is good.
We, like Mary, as the Church need to say to the Servants – the pastors of the church – do whatever He tells you.” And faith TRULY BELIEVES WHATEVER THAT IS – IS GOOD FOR US.
Jesus has told His servants of the Word what to do: Go and preach the kingdom of God. Preach the Gospel to the people. Go baptize all nations and teach them. Forgive their sins. Feed my sheep. Administer rightly the blessed Supper given and shed for the many. Those things our Lord has graciously given to His Church and that is WHAT IS GOOD FOR US.
“Do whatever He tells you,” is not just some more law that will whip us all into shape by our efforts and pious acts. Those are filthy rags says the prophet Isaiah. Our efforts and works are not good (in and of themselves) – only Jesus is good and has good for us. That goodness is found in the Gospel of Christ.
You, as Jesus’ followers can trust and believe that He has what is good for you. His law and Gospel. His Word and Sacraments. His discipline and His testing. His love and mercy. His grace and compassion. That is His goodness for you.
But you sin and you confess those sins. And Jesus FORGIVES THOSE SINS. Christ comes and this God – man who can turn the simplest water into the finest of wine, as He did for the couple at Cana – goes to the cross for you. Jesus loves you with an everlasting love. There is forgiveness – even for those sins that you are ashamed of, and the wrongful actions in your life. Don’t continue in them, but turn to the Lord Jesus and you will find mercy and forgiveness with Him. For He is good.
Jesus manifested His glory by this wonderful miracle at the wedding feast. Jesus also manifests His glory as He is beaten, suffers upon Calvary, and is crucified for the sins of the world. Jesus manifests His glory when He steps out of the tomb and defeats death. This Jesus does for you. Jesus’ glory is also found here – HIDDEN in His body is given to you to eat, and His very blood – which really is the finest of wines- is given to you to drink in the Lord’s Supper. Here Jesus showering you with His gifts of mercy and love.
The wedding of Cana teaches us to rejoice that Jesus cares about all of our lives. So much so that He has come to redeem us with His precious body and blood hung upon the cross. May His holy medicine given by grace always keep you from the plagues of the world. Amen.