I should think most of us here have been to a good wedding, maybe of a family member or close friend. A wedding is a wonderful celebration of union, ceremony, partying, promises and family – what could be more exciting? The Book of Common Prayer marriage service tells us that ‘The bond and covenant of marriage was established by God in creation,’ – marriage is important, God guided, and given and most definitely worth celebrating!
And here in our gospel reading today, we heard that Jesus too was at a wedding in a small town called Cana, a small insignificant town in Galilee – but we know that throughout the bible just as God regularly chose unlikely candidates to do his work, so too he chooses unlikely and often insignificant places to reveal his glory. Think back just to Christmas, as we celebrated the birth of Jesus in an insignificant little town called Bethlehem in Judea.
In that era, weddings were much anticipated events, the celebrating went on and on, often up to seven days! Most of the community would come along to celebrate, and wine would be drunk socially as people mingled and chatted. Imagine the embarrassment if the wine ran out, there would be nothing to drink, the celebrations would come to an early finish and there might be gossip and scorn heaped on the poor bridegroom.
However, Mary – she isn’t actually named in the passage, just called the mother of Jesus – notices that the wine jugs are running dry, it appears that she might have something to do with the organisation of the wedding, otherwise this wouldn’t have been of concern to her. We read in the next verse that Jesus travelled on from the wedding with his Mother and brothers, it might be that this was the wedding of one of his brothers – however, we don’t really know, but Mary is concerned and in answer she simply mentions it to her son – saying ‘they have no wine’. What was Mary’s intention? Was this simply chatter between family members or did she hope that Jesus would do something? Did she sense that he was capable of a miracle? Jesus appears fairly adamant in his reply when he asks why it’s their concern and then says, ‘My hour has not yet come.’ But strangely, despite this reply from her son, his mother said to the servants or attendants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ Did she know that he would do something to help?
She had certainly been through some strange happenings in her lifetime, a visit from an angel to inform her she would have a child, despite being a virgin, The angel telling her just how special that baby would be. She’d welcomed visitors from the far East who came with very unusual gifts for her new baby, strange happenings when her son was lost and then found ‘in his Father’s house’. Maybe this, by now much older and wiser Mary did sense a miracle, did she feel it was time for her son to start living up to all that had been said to her about him? Or did she simply trust him to be compassionate, to help others or to pass round a cap and take donations to buy more wine? It seems that she has absolute confidence that he will sort things out and avert a crisis. Her response reflects that of Pharaoh to the Egyptians during the famine, where in Genesis we read of the confidence Pharaoh has in Joseph as he puts him in charge of managing the crisis.
And what of that odd response: ‘My hour has not yet come’? Is Jesus talking about the beginning of his ministry, when he will begin to show his glory? After all the timing isn’t his or his mothers, but it is God he is waiting upon. Whatever Mary’s thoughts and despite Jesus clearly saying it wasn’t his time, he instructed the attendants to fill jars with water, and then draw some off to give to the master of the banquet. As we know when the master tries the water it has turned into wine – not just wine, but the best wine and not knowing where it had come from, he is very complimentary as he says that most people would have served the best wine first, rather than save it until later.
Those attendants that filled the jars can only wonder at what has happened but as the guests tuck in heartily to this new batch of wine, many have no idea that there had been a shortage, they are not aware of the ‘sign’ or miracle that has just taken place in their midst. All get to taste the wine, yet not all are aware of the miracle. Is this not like life? We all benefit from the works of Jesus, but do we see them, do we acknowledge them? How often have we prayed, sometimes in the depths of an emergency, but when the situation turns out positively, we forget about the fact we have asked for God’s help – and carry on as normal, often saying ‘we knew it would all be OK!’
What about the everyday signs and wonders that we see? Do we attribute them to God? Simple things like an incredible sunrise, the opening of a tiny bud – are these too not miracles? In his writings Saint Augustine argues that miracles are not lessened by their frequency, but instead reveal the power and wisdom of God. He wrote: “He who made the wine that day at the marriage feast, does this every year in vines. But we do not wonder at the latter because it happens every year; it has lost its marvel by its constant occurrence.” If we can live in a state of awe, looking at all we see as God’s work, just imagine how close that will bring us to our dear Father.
Just like at the wedding at Cana, everyone benefits from God’s work, and whilst some know who has created these things, many don’t. We can and need to share our faith to let others know that these signs, that are abundant, point to God. What a joy for us as Christians to see these signs on a daily basis and know that it is our God, with whom we can have an incredible relationship, showing us his glory.
We might think of the water being turned into wine as a miracle, but John is quite clear that it is a ‘sign’ – is there a difference? Well yes, a sign is something that points to a reality beyond itself. In both Old and New Testaments, ‘signs’ crack open heaven just a tiny bit to give earth-bound people a glimpse of Godly truths. How incredibly special!
Therefore, I would suggest that this coming week we each eagerly seek out signs from God; that we’re alert and look intently to find the signs of Christ that are everywhere as we go about our daily lives, who knows what gift we will find from a Father that loves us?
Service: Reverend Rebecca Yates – 21st January 2024
Referenced Scripture: John 2:1-11