+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti Amen. +
Text: John 2:9
Theme: The Sign of the Wine
Dear baptized in the Lord Jesus,
How exquisite was the wine Jesus offered at the wedding in Cana! We look forward to finding out in heaven. For now we are content with the foretaste of the feast to come we receive when we kneel at His altar. Life with God in eternity is often described in the Scriptures as a participation in a wedding banquet. That is where we find Jesus today performing His first miracle; changing the water into wine. Little did those gathered know that the Son of God was a guest at their celebration. That miracle was a subtle but important epiphany of His power. And it was symbolic of the transformation He came to bring.
The gospel was new wine and it couldn’t be held with old wineskins. In the coming of Jesus the old forms would need to give way to His new creation. This doesn’t happen without a struggle. And that struggle still rages today. It is the battle between the power of sin and the true grace of Christ, between the servitude of the law and the freedom of the gospel. We are naturally drawn to the only glory the old creation has to offer. We naturally crave power, control, and the praise of others. We seek carnal indulgences of all types; instant gratification sexually, emotionally, psychologically. We look for safety and security in material goods. We find ourselves using others rather than serving them. Unbelief cannot see that all these things involve enslavement to the old order of things that leads only to death. The very nature of sin is to seek life where there is only death and to fear only failure can result from being connected with Him who offers life.
But this struggle does come to resolution. It culminated in Jesus’ duel with Satan and death. A sacrifice had to be made. And even Satan knew it. Remember the temptation that the devil tormented Christ with, “Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God.”1 Satan didn’t want Jesus to die. He already knew He could rise from the dead. That was no problem. But would Christ submit Himself to be ultimately humiliated for others? The devil knew if Christ went through with the crucifixion the sacrifice for the sins of the world would be made. And so it was. Death was defeated and Satan was ruined. The grave-that final resting place of the dead- had previously been a vault no human could overthrow. But Jesus made it the gateway to eternity. Death had lost its sting.
But death still has the power of fear and Satan maximizes the allure of the world. We are still in the contest because for each individual the struggle is not over until death or until Christ returns. Flesh battles against Spirit within us. Paul describes it this way, “Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of the sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.”2 True life is found in only in union with God. Marriage is symbolic of this union.
Today Isaiah also draws on the illustration of marriage. Speaking to the forsaken and unfaithful people of Israel he says, “No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate. But you will be called ‘my delight is in her’, and your land ‘married;’ for the Lord will take delight in you, and your land will be married.”3 Here God says He will treat His people as one should treat a vow in marriage. The Church, His Bride, will not be forsaken by Him even when she is unfaithful. He will be compassionate and forgiving. That is not to say He will be lenient, or tolerant or apathetic towards her unbelief and ungodliness; He is no fool. Spiritual adultery is dealt with for what it is. But the bond of spiritual marriage can be deserted only from her end- she can seek other lovers, other husbands, as believers can seek idols and forsake the true God- but for His part He remains faithful. And He rejoices as a bridegroom rejoices over the bride.
To show that the past humiliation is over she receives a new name. A new name was a mark of God’s blessing. It often indicated a changed status or the beginning of a new phase of life. Abram and Sarai4 were both given new names. Jacob had his name changed to Israel.5 It was no coincidence that believers received their Christian name at baptism. Those who bear the name of Christ always-by faith- have the newness His name brings. In Christ we are new, complete, holy, perfect, and strong. Yet within ourselves we are frail, incomplete, tarnished, and decaying. This paradox helps us to always keep the focus on Christ.
It governs every aspect of the believer’s life so that in all things- joy or sorrow, failure or success- we seek to appreciate and understand the mercy and wisdom of God. For example, one person is healed after the faithful prayers of others the next person succumbs to his illness. The second request wasn’t left unanswered- God promises to hear the prayers of His people- it just wasn’t answered in the way that was being hoped for. The difference lies not in the manner of praying or the strength of the faith of those praying- of course God is not obligated to hear the requests of the ungodly who may call out only in desperation. The difference is in the compassionate discernment of God. His mercy is particular to our needs. And though we might think it’s always best for a sick person to be healed immediately this is actually a naïve generalization. Many, many people have received great spiritual benefit from prolonged or severe sickness. To the faithful apostle Paul, troubled by a thorn in the flesh, Jesus said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.”6
Dear friends, this is the mandate for living as servants of others. Others will see Christ in us through humility and in the manner we struggle with our own burdens.
In what manner is God’s power revealed in your weakness? Give this some serious consideration. Others notice how you handle both the joys, and sorrows, successes and failures of life. Today we are reminded the Holy Spirit works through us for the common good. If we try to use the blessings of the Holy Spirit only for our personal satisfaction or agendas then we are not being led by the Spirit but deceived by Satan. You see God always gifts us with talents, desires and abilities that we might be servants of others even as Christ was. But Satan is happy to have us use those gifts for our own indulgence, our egos, and our self-righteousness. At this point they are no longer gifts, but curses.
But Christ Jesus became THE CURSE for us that in all things repentant souls might be forgiven. He is our Bridegroom. He captivates us with new wine. He organizes us for an eternal feast. He prepares us for an unending union. Amen.
1 Matthew 27:40
2 Romans 8:5-6
3 Isaiah 62:4
4 See Genesis 17:5, 15
5 See Genesis 35:10
3 2 Corinthians 12:9
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