John 2.1-11; Second Sunday after the Epiphany, January 20, 2019

John 2.1-11; Second Sunday after the Epiphany, January 20, 2019

Life in Christ Lutheran Church, Grand Marais, MN

On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him. (John 2:1-11, ESV)

Grace and peace to you from Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

“Dad, you’ll never guess what we found in the yard!” 

That’s the first thing Miciah said to me when I saw her at the end of one of the work days on our Mission Trip a few years ago to New Orleans.  We had been divided into different work groups. 

“We were hauling out a pile of debris out of the back yard, and at the bottom was a stop sign.”  She popped up a picture on her digital camera.  The picture showed the classic white and red sign with a few dings and scratches.   When the hurricane blew it must have come loose of its post.  When the levy broke, and the flood waters raced down the streets it dumped the sign and all that debris in a big pile right there in that back yard.  Now that stop sign was more than just a piece of trash.  That sign was a sign of something powerful that had happened.  It was a sign that pointed to the power of Katrina that happened over 14 months ago; wind so strong it can tear a sign from a post; water flowing at such a rate that it carries bricks, cinderblocks, branches, glass, mud and a stop sign, and deposits them in a big pile in a back yard with the stop sign at the very bottom.  Now, you can go over to the youth room at Divine Shepherd, Blackhawk, SD and see that sign tacked up on the all.  As it hangs there it’s a sign of something very powerful.  Actually, two things; one the awesome power of a hurricane and a flood; and the even more awesome power of the Holy Spirit that moved a Youth Group from South Dakota to give the hope of God’s love in Jesus to people still living in the wake Katrina’s destruction.  Kind of like God giving a hug of reassurance to people who really need it. 

Now here in the Gospel lesson for today St. John tells us about a sign, kind of like that stop sign.  He says, that Jesus turning water into wine was, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory.  We just heard his account and we know it well.  Jesus, his disciples and Mary his mother are quietly enjoying the wedding feast.  The unthinkable happens, the wine runs out.  Mary asks Jesus to do something about it.  Jesus says, “not yet.” Mary tells the servants to do whatever Jesus says.  Jesus tells them to fill these very large water jars used for ceremonial washing with water “to the brim” and take it out and take it to the steward.  Water goes in the jars, wine comes out.  And really good wine, “you’ve saved the best for last!” the person in charge of the feast says. 

Jesus changes water into wine.  We’ve probably heard many explanations of exactly what this miracle is all about, from Jesus blessing marriage, to Jesus showing that drinking alcohol isn’t in and of itself a sin (after all he made nearly 200 gallons!).  Now John tells us exactly why he put this account in his book.  By this sign, St. John tells us Jesus manifested his glory.  Manifested is one of those fancy church words that means: to shine the light on, to show, to make clear.  In this miracle sign Jesus tells us who he is.  In this miracles sign Jesus tells us why God was born in human flesh.  If you have any doubts about that just listen to what John tells us at the end of his Gospel:

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:30-31, ESV)

And that’s exactly what happened at the wedding of Cana.  The last thing John tells us about it all is that his disciples believed in him.  Now John tells you and me this story so that we too can have our faith in Jesus strengthened, so that we can believe that he is our Savior from sin, and that we poor sinners gathered in his name more than 2000 years later… can have life in his name.

So, what’s the sign?  Well, Martin Luther said that a sign (as John is using it here) is something that has something visible for faith to hold on to.  God loves to give us exactly what we need for faith to hold on to.  God knows how human beings work.  He knows that we need things to be concrete and tangible.  He knows the old saying “Seeing is believing.”  In the Old Testament, Luther says, [God gave] the pillar of fire, the cloud, the mercy seat; in the New Testament Baptism the Lord’s Supper and ministry of the Word[1], and the like.  By means of these God shows us, as by a visible sign, that He is with us, takes care of us, and is favorably inclined toward us. (LW 1:71)

So here at this wedding, Jesus shows that he is not only concerned with people but also such minor details as weather there is enough wine for a wedding celebration.  He showed that God was present there, in love and care for people.  He used these large jars set aside for cleaning to make wine, wine like the wine he uses to give to you and me the forgiveness he won at the cross.  In the wine he gives to you and me he is also present to take care of us.  Have you ever thought about the Lord’s Supper that way?  As a sign that God is with us to take care of us and is favorably inclined toward us.  There in broken bread and poured out wine we are reminded of Jesus death, we are reminded of how he bled and died for our sins.  We are reminded how he …loved the world, that he gave [himself], that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16, ESV) Jesus gives us his very own body and blood, really and truly present, as a visible sign of what he did for us on the cross.  We come to this altar and drink wine and eat bread, a meal for our body; and in, with and under those touchable, taste-able things we receive the very body and blood of Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins.  Jesus supplies us with all we need for eternal life right here.  He gives us everything that we need, and then he gives us even more.  Jesus fills our spiritual needs and our physical needs.  These are signs for faith to hold on to.  It’s just like the Catechism confesses says:

What is the benefit of this eating and drinking? These words, "Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins," show us that in the Sacrament forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are given us through these words. For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation.

And…

I believe that God has made me and all creatures; that He has given me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my members, my reason and all my senses, and still takes care of them. He also gives me clothing and shoes, food and drink, house and home, wife and children, land, animals, and all I have. He richly and daily provides me with all that I need to support this body and life. He defends me against all danger and guards and protects me from all evil. All this He does only out of fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me. For all this it is my duty to thank and praise, serve and obey Him. This is most certainly true.

Now some of you may be offended, but I’ve never understood how God can offer such a marvelous gift as the Lord’s Supper to his people and we say that we don’t need it.  And frankly, I’ve never understood the idea that once a month is enough of this great gift.  I think the problem is we think strong faith is that which doesn’t need God’s gifts very often, when exactly the opposite is really true.  Strong faith clings to the gift of forgiveness that God gives every single day and longs to receive them as often as possible.  You see, when we think we don’t need God and his activity in our lives that’s having faith in us.  Faith in God means leaning on him in all things.

Jesus turns water into wine.  He did it in at the wedding in Cana and he does it today.  I think it is Mary who shows us what it all about.  When the problem pops us, she turns to her Lord in faith.  Oh sure, some say she was just turning to a faithful son for help, but I think it’s more than that.  Remember how she reacted when the Angel came to her and said “you will conceive and bear a son...”?  “I am the Lord’s servant let it be done to me as you have said.”  When the wine runs out she goes to Jesus for help and then in faith she responds by telling the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”  She doesn’t know what Jesus is going to do.  She just places the problem in his hands and gets ready for his answer and action.  Jesus turns the water into wine.  He provides all that is needed and then some.  It’s the best wine ever.

Well, I don’t know about you, but I don’t always exhibit that kind of faith.  It’s difficult to “let go and let God.”  There are even times when I think I’ve done just that and as it turns out I’ve been depending on myself again.  Here’s a picture I want you to keep in mind.  I got this one from Wally.  It’s a puzzle he put together.  I’ve got it set outside my office door at the parsonage.  It’s behind the main door so those of you who’ve visited and just stood in the door haven’t seen it, but it’s right where I can see when I go out of the office.  This, I think, is a picture of Jesus at the wedding of Cana.  This is what Jesus is doing there.  Look at how he embraces this person.  Look at the love in his face.  I think you can see the worries and care of this man just melting away with Jesus loving hug.  And look what the man is doing… nothing.  He’s receiving the gift that he just doesn’t deserve, the love of God in Jesus Christ.  It’s just as Luther said he shows us by a visible sign, that He is with us, takes care of us, and is favorably inclined toward us.  Got troubles?  I do, every day.  You do to.  That’s life in the 21^st century.  That’s human life since our parents in the Garden of Eden tried to run it by themselves, without God.  That’s life since you and I try to run it ourselves without God.  Well God does a miracle right here too.  He is present to take care of us.  Now as great as this picture is… right here God gives you something even better.  It’s real food for real people; bread and wine to satisfy the stomach; Jesus’ body and blood to satisfy the spirit.  Here is a very powerful sign, a very powerful action where God himself is present to save.  Here shows you his love for you in his death at the cross for the forgiveness of your sins.  Here he tells you that he is with you always and nothing can separate you from him.  It’s a sign.  It’s a miracle.  It is God right here for you.  Amen.

The peace of God that passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

---

[1] Luther here is likely referring to the Office of the Holy Ministry, i.e. Pastors.

Holy Thursday, April 5, 2007, Luke 22:7-20

⁷Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. ⁸So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat it.” ⁹They said to him, “Where will you have us prepare it?” ¹⁰He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters ¹¹and tell the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ ¹²And he will show you a large upper room furnished; prepare it there.” ¹³And they went and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover. ¹⁴And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. ¹⁵And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. ¹⁶For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” ¹⁷And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. ¹⁸For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” ¹⁹And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” ²⁰And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. Luke 22:7-20 (ESV)

Grace and peace to you from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

During his three years of ministry I’m sure Jesus and his disciples had lots of meals together. Of course this meal, this one on the night of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, was unlike any other they had had. There was something very unique about it. Not that every meal they had was an ordinary one. I’m reminded of the time that Jesus and his followers retreated to Bethsaida to get away from the crowd. Even though it was a remote place, the crowds found out that Jesus was there and they followed. Jesus reacted welcoming them, and teaching those who had gathered about the kingdom of God, and healing “those who needed healing.” When the time grew late, the disciples told Jesus to send everyone away to find places to eat and stay for the night, “It’s a long way home.” They protested. Jesus answer was unexpected. “You give them something to eat.” The disciples weren’t sure what Jesus meant because there were well over five thousand people. “But Lord,” they said, “we only have five loaves and two fish, unless you want us to buy food for them all.” “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” When everyone was seated, Jesus took the food they had, the five loaves and two fish, and blessed them, broke the bread into pieces, and gave it all to the disciples to give out to the people. Everyone there, all five thousand plus, ate the meal. It was like none other they had ever had. This meal was provided by Jesus. Over five thousand people had enough to eat from five loaves and two fish. That meal was everything they needed and some left over, twelve baskets full. I’ll bet that every time the disciples saw Jesus breaking bread after that they thought about God providing for people exactly what they needed.

Now the amazing thing about this meal wasn’t necessarily only the fact that Jesus multiplied the loaves and fish. That alone is an amazing thing. But sometimes we get sidetracked on the big miracles that we can see. If Jesus can provide bread for a multitude we know that he can provide daily bread for me. There is really more at work here than just the filling of empty stomachs. Actually the disciples were used to seeing miracles from Jesus. We can see that that is true just paging through Luke’s Gospel. Luke carefully records for us a great many miracles of Jesus. And even the disciples had been given the ability to do them for a time. Just before this meal the disciples were sent out by Jesus to preach and heal. So the miracle of multiplying is an amazing thing. But there is something else going on here that St. Luke wants us to see. There is something more that Jesus is doing. First, when the crowd gathers, he welcomes them. He doesn’t send them away. Now these people were the typical people who were following him. They were sick, lonely, outcast people. They were people that normally didn’t get invitations to meal, or gatherings. But still, Jesus welcomes them to be with him. Second, he teaches. Jesus tells the people about the kingdom of God. He tells them what it means that God is drawing near to them. He tells them how their lives are already different, just because he is there. And just to show them the reality of what he is speaking about, he blesses the bread, breaks it into pieces and the people eat it. In those days, what ever blessing you spoke over bread that is shared is a blessing for all who share it. The miracle of making the five loaves enough for everyone was only making sure that all those people knew that they were invited to have a friendship with Jesus.

It’s not unexpected for Jesus to use a meal to say that kind of thing to God’s people. The Passover meal was the very same thing. The most important even in Israel’s history was remembered every year by a meal. After the first nine plagues in Egypt, Pharaoh wasn’t impressed enough with the God of the Hebrews to let them go. Through Moses God told his people to sit down and eat. A lamb was slaughtered. Its blood was smeared on the doorposts of their houses. And while God’s friends ate the flesh of the dead lamb, the angel of death visited the houses where God’s friends weren’t eating. Inside all the bloodless houses, the first born died wherever a lamb hadn’t died in his place. So every year after that, the Jews remembered the friendship of God, showed to them in the killing and eating of a lamb.

¹⁴This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord; throughout your generations, as a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast. ¹⁵Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven out of your houses, for if anyone eats what is leavened, from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel. ¹⁶On the first day you shall hold a holy assembly, and on the seventh day a holy assembly. No work shall be done on those days. But what everyone needs to eat, that alone may be prepared by you. ¹⁷And you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this very day I brought your hosts out of the land of Egypt. Exodus 12:14-17 (ESV)

Do any of you know the first question that was to be asked by the youngest child at this meal? “Why this night is different from all others?” It was a “memorial meal” to teach the people what God had done for them. The lamb’s blood was to be shed to show them what it means that they were the people of God. That He delivered them from slavery in Egypt. How now their lives were different, just because God was with them. And just to show them the reality of what he was saying, the lamb was killed and eaten, and unleavened bread was broken and shared.

And now that brings us to this night, the night that begins the great suffering of Jesus for the sins of the world. The night Jesus had an earnest desire to share with his disciples. Everything for the Feast of Unleavened Bread was prepared. They gathered around Lord’s Table. The table was littered with what was left over from the Passover meal. They had killed and eaten a lamb. And there was unleavened bread. Jesus took the bread gave thanks, broke it and gave it to them. “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And then he took the cup of wine and gave it to them and said, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.” Jesus was teaching again. He was telling them what was going to happen beginning that night was the real reason that he came. Within hours his blood would be poured out just as it was now begin being poured into them with the wine. Within hours his body would be broken just as it was broken with the bread that they were eating. But the key to what Jesus was saying wasn’t just the miracle of his presence in the meal. The really big miracle comes in the smallest words that he spoke. “for you.” “This is my body given for you. This cup is poured out for you.” Jesus was telling his disciples what it means that God had drawn near to them. He tells them that because of what he was about to do, their lives were already different. And just to show the reality of what he is about to do, he gave his true body and true blood in bread and wine for them to eat and drink. The miracle of what Jesus had come to do was show to them in a way that they could see and taste.

Then it was out to the garden… on to arrest… on to trial… on to crucifixion… and on to death. Jesus offers himself as the replacement lamb. He was killed and his body eaten for the sake of his friends who had gathered at his table.

Tonight, in a few moments we’ll do it again, in remembrance. It is no less miraculous than the feeding of the five thousand. It is no less miraculous than the night the blood was spread on the doorposts and the angel of death passed over. It is no less miraculous than the night the disciples gathered with Jesus over the Passover meal. Right here in this place, God is coming near to us in a very special way. We’ll eat the bread and drink from the cup, just as Jesus told us to do. Jesus is still teaching. The very body and blood that hung and suffered and died on the cross is going to be right here. The very same Jesus who rose from the dead is going to be here at his table again tonight. He wants you to remember what he has done for you. He wants you to remember his broken and bloody body hanging on the cross. He wants you to remember his death and his resurrection. It will all be shown to you in a very visual way right here, tonight. Jesus is telling you what it means that he is drawing near to you. He is telling you that because of what he has done your life is already different. It is all right here and the most important thing to hear when we speak Jesus words over the bread and wine in a few moments is those two very small but very important words… “for you.”

At this meal, you’ve been invited by Jesus himself. He says to you, “Look, my baptized child, look at my body and my blood given and shed for you. Through them you have forgiveness of your sins. Through them you are my friend. I am the very Lamb of God who has given myself up to death in your place. And even though death will come to you, right here in my body and blood you have my promise of life forever with me.”

It is an unusual meal. Amen.

The Peace of God that passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

2nd Sunday after the Epiphany, John 2:1-11, Jan 14, 2007

John 2.1-11

Second Sunday after the Epiphany, January 14, 2007

St. John’s Lutheran Church, Howard, SD

On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him. (John 2:1-11, ESV)

Grace and peace to you from Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

“Dad, you’ll never guess what we found in the yard!”

That’s the first thing Miciah said to me when I saw her at the end of one of the work days on our Mission Trip to New Orleans. We had been divided into different work groups.

“We were hauling out a pile of debris out of the back yard, and at the bottom was a stop sign.” She popped up a picture on her digital camera. The picture showed the classic white and red sign with a few dings and scratches. When the hurricane blew it must have come loose of its post. When the levy broke and the flood waters raced down the streets it dumped the sign and all that debris in a big pile right there in that back yard. Now that stop sign was more than just a piece of trash. That sign was a sign of something powerful that had happened. It was a sign that pointed to the power of Katrina that happened over 14 months ago; wind so strong it can tear a sign from a post; water flowing at such a rate that it carries bricks, cinderblocks, branches, glass, mud and a stop sign, and deposits them in a big pile in a back yard with the stop sign at the very bottom. Now, you can go over to the youth room at Divine Shepherd, Blackhawk, SD and see that sign tacked up on the all. As it hangs there it’s a sign of something very powerful. Actually, two things; one the awesome power of a hurricane and a flood; and the even more awesome power of the Holy Spirit that moved a Youth Group from South Dakota to give the hope of God’s love in Jesus to people still living in the wake Katrina’s destruction. Kind of like God giving a hug of reassurance to people who really need it. (Miciah will tell you more about the Mission trip in a few weeks).

Now here in the Gospel lesson for today St. John tells us about a sign, kind of like that stop sign. He says, that Jesus turning water into wine was, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. We just heard his account and we know it well. Jesus, his disciples and Mary his mother are quietly enjoying the wedding feast. The unthinkable happens, the wine runs out. Mary asks Jesus to do something about it. Jesus says “not yet.” Mary tells the servants to do whatever Jesus says. Jesus tells them to fill these very large water jars used for ceremonial washing with water “to the brim” and take it out and take it to the steward. Water goes in the jars, wine comes out. And really good wine, “you’ve saved the best for last!” the person in charge of the feast says.

Jesus changes water into wine. We’ve probably heard many explanations of exactly what this miracle is all about, from Jesus blessing marriage, to Jesus showing that drinking alcohol isn’t in and of itself a sin (after all he made nearly 200 gallons!). Now John tells us exactly why he put this account in his book. By this sign, St. John tells us Jesus manifested his glory. Manifested is one of those fancy church words that means: to shine the light on, to show, to make clear. In this miracle sign Jesus tells us who he is. In this miracles sign Jesus tells us why God was born in human flesh. If you have any doubts about that just listen to what John tells us at the end of his Gospel:

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:30-31, ESV)

And that’s exactly what happened at the wedding of Cana. The last thing John tells us about it all is that his disciples believed in him. Now John tells you and me this story so that we too can have our faith in Jesus strengthened, so that we can believe that he is our Savior from sin, and that we poor sinners gathered in his name more than 2000 years later… can have life in his name.

So, what’s the sign? Well, Martin Luther said that a sign (as John is using it here) is something that has something visible for faith to hold on to. God loves to give us exactly what we need for faith to hold on to. God knows how human beings work. He knows that we need things to be concrete and tangible. He knows the old saying “Seeing is believing.” In the Old Testament, Luther says, [God gave] the pillar of fire, the cloud, the mercy seat; in the New Testament Baptism the Lord’s Supper and ministry of the Word[1], and the like. By means of these God shows us, as by a visible sign, that He is with us, takes care of us, and is favorably inclined toward us. (LW 1:71)

So here at this wedding, Jesus shows that he is not only concerned with people but also such minor details as weather there is enough wine for a wedding celebration. He showed that God was present there, in love and care for people. He used these large jars set aside for cleaning to make wine, wine like the wine he uses to give to you and me the forgiveness he won at the cross. In the wine he gives to you and me he is also present to take care of us. Have you ever thought about the Lord’s Supper that way? As a sign that God is with us to take care of us and is favorably inclined toward us. There in broken bread and poured out wine we are reminded of Jesus death, we are reminded of how he bled and died for our sins. We are reminded how he …loved the world, that he gave [himself], that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16, ESV) Jesus gives us his very own body and blood, really and truly present, as a visible sign of what he did for us on the cross. We come to this altar and drink wine and eat bread, a meal for our body; and in, with and under those touchable, taste-able things we receive the very body and blood of Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins. Jesus supplies us with all we need for eternal life right here. He gives us everything that we need, and then he gives us even more. Jesus fills our spiritual needs and our physical needs. These are signs for faith to hold on to. It’s just like the Catechism confesses says:

What is the benefit of this eating and drinking? These words, "Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins," show us that in the Sacrament forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are given us through these words. For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation.

And…

I believe that God has made me and all creatures; that He has given me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my members, my reason and all my senses, and still takes care of them. He also gives me clothing and shoes, food and drink, house and home, wife and children, land, animals, and all I have. He richly and daily provides me with all that I need to support this body and life. He defends me against all danger and guards and protects me from all evil. All this He does only out of fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me. For all this it is my duty to thank and praise, serve and obey Him. This is most certainly true.

Now some of you may be offended, but I’ve never understood how God can offer such a marvelous gift as the Lord’s Supper to his people and we say that we don’t need it. And frankly, I’ve never understood the idea that once a month is enough of this great gift. I think the problem is we think strong faith is that which doesn’t need God’s gifts very often, when exactly the opposite is really true. Strong faith clings to the gift of forgiveness that God gives every single day and longs to receive them as often as possible. You see, when we think we don’t need God and his activity in our lives that’s having faith in us. Faith in God means leaning on him in all things.

Jesus turns water into wine. He did it in at the wedding in Cana and he does it today. I think it is Mary who shows us what it all about. When the problem pops us, she turns to her Lord in faith. Oh sure, some say she was just turning to a faithful son for help, but I think it’s more than that. Remember how she reacted when the Angel came to her and said “you will conceive and bear a son..”? “I am the Lord’s servant let it be done to me as you have said.” When the wine runs out she goes to Jesus for help and then in faith she responds by telling the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” She doesn’t know what Jesus is going to do. She just places the problem in his hands and gets ready for his answer and action. Jesus turns the water into wine. He provides all that is needed and then some. It’s the best wine ever.

Well, I don’t know about you, but I don’t always exhibit that kind of faith. It’s difficult to “let go and let God.” There are even times when I think I’ve done just that and as it turns out I’ve been depending on myself again. Here’s a picture I want you to keep in mind. I got this one from Wally. It’s a puzzle he put together. I’ve got it set outside my office door at the parsonage. It’s behind the main door so those of you who’ve visited and just stood in the door haven’t seen it, but it’s right where I can see when I go out of the office. This, I think, is a picture of Jesus at the wedding of Cana. This is what Jesus is doing there. Look at how he embraces this person. Look at the love in his face. I think you can see the worries and care of this man just melting away with Jesus loving hug. And look what the man is doing… nothing. He’s receiving the gift that he just doesn’t deserve, the love of God in Jesus Christ. It’s just as Luther said he shows us by a visible sign, that He is with us, takes care of us, and is favorably inclined toward us. Got troubles? I do, every day. You do to. That’s life in the 21^st century. That’s human life since our parents in the Garden of Eden tried to run it by themselves, without God. That’s life since you and I try to run it ourselves without God. Well God does a miracle right here too. He is present to take care of us. Now as great as this picture is… right here God gives you something even better. It’s real food for real people; bread and wine to satisfy the stomach; Jesus’ body and blood to satisfy the spirit. Here is a very powerful sign, a very powerful action where God himself is present to save. Here shows you his love for you in his death at the cross for the forgiveness of your sins. Here he tells you that he is with you always and nothing can separate you from him. It’s a sign. It’s a miracle. It is God right here for you. Amen.

The peace of God that passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

---

[1] Luther here is likely referring to the Office of the Holy Ministry, i.e. Pastors.