Readings:
Sermon:
Jesus did this, the first of his signs, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. They had heard his call, followed, and now, at this point, believed in him. They had an epiphany moment.
An epiphany is an experience of sudden striking and enlightening realisation which allows something to be understood from a new and deeper perspective. A light bulb moment. It is a moment of revelation, of seeing something new, or something familiar in a new way. This season of epiphany has been all about the revelation of God in Jesus, about seeing Jesus the man as God, about seeing God as the man Jesus. This moment in Cana was one of the first when those close to Jesus saw him do something which marked him out as different, which revealed him to be somehow God, able to bring about transformation.
The transformation in this case was of water to wine – deeply symbolic in so many ways. On the third day – so many resonances here in retrospect – on the third day, Jesus turned water into that which was in due course to represent his blood, that which we drink in remembrance of him, to wine. A strange kind of miracle in some ways – really irritates the teetotalers! But a miracle which revealed some characteristics of God – abundant, extravagant generosity – it was good wine and there was lots of it, pastoral care, saving face for a family; the value of sharing in life events, key family moments – enjoyment of being with loved ones; and starting with what was there – involving people in the process of using what they had to bring about something more. All these things reveal to those with eyes to see, things about our God. Our transformative, life giving God.
The disciples and others got to walk and talk with Jesus the man. As they got to know him, they had constant new revelations of God. Jesus’ incarnation was God’s way of showing us who he is. Jesus said “when you have seen me, you have seen the father’. So what did they see? . What did they see him doing? Kingdom things, signs and wonders, demonstrations of care and compassion. They saw miracles – healings, deliverance, interspersed with intimate and gentle moments of encounter with hurting people, questioning people. They saw him taking time to listen, to teach and explain, and they saw him get angry, challenging injustice, confronting hypocrites. They saw him weep over Jerusalem, crying out to his father. They saw him tired – he was confined by the limitations of a human body after all. Ultimately they saw him in anguish over his forthcoming death as he wrestled in prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, and then they saw him die.
This particular moment the disciples shared with the man Jesus was one which like some of the miracles were to follow, revealed some key characteristic of Jesus, and by implication of God. When we need God to provide, he doesn’t hold back, but rather opens the floodgates of heaven. In God’s economy, there is always enough! At Cana, the wine provided was plentiful, and good. Not cheap plonk. More like Chateauneuf du Pape.
There is a second characteristic of God I believe Jesus demonstrates in this miracle too, and that’s his commitment to involve us in the process, to work with us, rather than doing things to us. God is relational, and limits himself in some mysterious way to what can be done through his people. At Cana, he uses the water in the jars, and gets the servant to do the filling and drawing out. He uses what’s there. He involves who is there.
I’m reminded of another story, way back at the beginning of the Bible, when God calls Moses to serve him, and wants to demonstrate how Moses can work in partnership with him and rely on his supernatural power. He first of all asks Moses what he has in his hand. What’s he got to contribute? He has a staff, which God tells him to throw on the ground, and it turns into a snake, As he picks it up, it turns back into a staff. God used what was already in Moses’ hand to demonstrate his power and sovereignty. He involved him in the process.
God invites us into partnership with him in his abundant generosity. He starts with what we’ve got. As we consider fresh ways of ministering in our churches and to our communities these are key characteristics of God to hold in mind. I encourage you to ask him for an epiphany moment, a fresh revelation. It may be that he shows you what you have in your hands, individually, as a church congregation. It may be that he reveals to you how you are to be involved. Be open! Be prepared to be surprised! Be confident in the abundant God of exuberant generosity, who longs to bless those who have not yet encountered him, in ways that bring them into the family of faith, and who loves his children, inviting us in to the great adventure of the kingdom.
Questions:
How much do we reflect on the concept of God’s generosity when it’s easy to feel under-resourced? How could thinking about this change our mindset?
What do I have in my hand? Is there something I have which God could miraculously use for his kingdom purposes? How ready am I to put myself and my stuff at God’s disposal, with an expectant heart?