Jesus was attested to us by God with mighty works and wonders and signs which God did through Him.
Acts of the Apostles, chapter 2, verse 22.
Song: When morning gilds the skies
When Morning Gilds The Skies (youtube.com)
Prayers:
Almighty God, whose Son revealed in signs and miracles the wonder of your saving love, renew your people with your heavenly grace, and in all our weakness, sustain us by your mighty power: through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Almighty and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against your holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have done those things which we ought not to have done.
But You, O Lord, have mercy upon us. Spare those, O God, who confess their faults. Restore those who are penitent, according to your promises declare3dto us in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Grant, O most merciful Father, for His sake, that we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of your holy name.
Reading: Psalm 119: verses 97 to 104
Song: Angel voices ever singing
Angel Voices, Ever Singing (Tune: Angel Voices - 5vv) [with lyrics for congregations] (youtube.com)
Reading: John’s gospel, chapter 2, verses 1 to 11
The story of the wedding at Cana is well known. This is recorded as the third day of Jesus’ ministry, at the start of John’s gospel. It is famous for turning water into wine, but that is not really the main part of what the story is about.
A wedding would have been a common event, and then, as now, would have been an expensive time for the family. In those days a wedding could last for several days, and would have featured a banquet. Jesus referred to heaven as banquet in some of his stories.
Cana was a small place, near to Nazareth, and Mary was invited, along with Jesus and his disciples. This implies that they were known to the family. Or families involved. Mary played a key part, and this alone make the story unusual for the time.
Later in the proceedings, the wine ran out. This would have been embarrassing for the family. Mary was watching the proceedings, and presumably was wondering what to do. She must have known that there was something special about Jesus, and she said to him “They have no more wine.” Was she being the stereotypical Jewish mother? Any way, Jesus responds in a manner that many sons would have done “Mother! Please!” and then went on to say “It is not my time.”
Undaunted, Mary tells the servants, “Do as he tells you.” It is worth noting that Jesus did not actually do anything. He told the people to fill the jars with water, and then to take some of the contents to the master of the banquet, the maître d.
The people are impressed with the quality of the wine. To the extent that they praise it by commenting that wedding organisers usually serve inferior wine at the end of the feast. The implication is that this is done because the guests will have drunk so much that they will not be able to taste that it is inferior. But this wedding has saved the best until last.
This is the first of a series of signs, 7 in all, used by John to show who Jesus really is. As a consequence, the disciples put their faith in Jesus, they believe in Him and trust him. This is not logic, it is a leap of faith.
For John, it is the first recollected event, the first sign.
In our contemporary lives, we can look for the signs which point to who Jesus is, and how he is acting in the world. The signs of kindness, concern and love are often hidden by the main headlines of the big news.
In the book “The lion, the witch and the wardrobe” by C. S. Lewis, the beaver says “Aslan is on the move”. The signs were clear. We need to look out for the signs that Jesus is on the move.
Look for the signs. God has not left this world alone.
Song: O for a thousand tongues to sing,
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