 Word John 2:1-11
On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, "Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward." So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, "Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now." Jesus did this, the beginning of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
Meditation “We Have Wine”
“They have no wine.” Those words suggest far more than a wedding disaster or a social embarrassment. They are words of scarcity, a scarcity you know- a scarcity of resources, energy and health, a scarcity of faith, hope and joy. Wine is a biblical symbol of abundance and the presence of the kingdom of God, but as the wedding celebration is underway, “They have no wine.”
Jesus turned water into wine. He told them to fill six huge jars with water. The jars were used for the Jewish rite of purification, itself another image of scarcity- a scarcity of righteousness, a scarcity that arises out of failure, weakness and sin. Jesus turned the water of scarcity and sin into the wine of abundance and joy. They now have wine, 120 to 180 gallons of it. That’s a lot of joy!
John tells us that this happened at a wedding that took place on the third day. The third day of what? There are a couple of possibilities. The third day is a common reference to Easter and so, the scarcity of death becomes the abundance of resurrection. In chapter 1, there are several references to “the next day.” If they are added up to include this reference to the third day, the wedding takes place on the eighth day, the first day of a new creation. In the resurrection of Jesus Christ, God is bringing forth a new creation. This was the first of his signs, actually this was the beginning of his signs. This is only the beginning of abundance and joy.
Holy Communion is the marriage feast of Christ and the church, where Christ and the church become more intimately one than even husband and wife. Holy Communion is the beginning of a new life, a celebration of incredible grace, a time of abundant joy. Jesus Christ turns our water into wine, our scarcity into abundance- forgiveness of sins, life and salvation. We have wine.
As we go out into world, can we take this wine with us? All too often, when we respond to the world, we act out of scarcity rather than abundance. All too often when we gather to review and reflect, to project and to plan, it can be said of us, “They have no wine.” All too often, we live in the last week of the old creation rather than in the first day of the new creation. All too often, we live in the endings and failures of the past rather than in the beginnings and the promises of the new day. Last week, in the old creation, we crucified Christ because we are consumed by scarcity. But on the first day of a new creation, Christ rises and comes to us to turn our scarcity into abundance and joy. We have wine.
Prayer
Lord God, source of every blessing, you showed forth your glory and led many to faith by the works of your Son, who brought gladness and salvation to his people. Transform us by the Spirit of his love, that we may find our life together in him, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen
NEXT WEEK IN WORSHIP
January 24, 2010: The Third Sunday after Epiphany
Psalm 19 Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a Luke 4:14-21
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