John – Chapter 2:1-11
Lord God, heavenly Father, we thank you for instituting holy matrimony to keep us from unchastity and other offenses. Send your blessing on every husband and wife, that they may not provoke each other to anger and strife, but live peaceably together in love and godliness, receive your gracious help in all temptations and raise their children according to your will. Move us all to walk before you in purity and holiness, to put all our trust in you, and lead holy lives on earth and in the world to come enjoy eternal life; through your beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one true God, now and forever. Amen. (Collect for Epiphany 1, Dietrich) Introduction: The story of the water turned to wine at the wedding in Cana is unique to the Gospel of John. Strategically, it initiates Jesus’ ministry. It continues the sequence from John’s baptism in chapter 1 to the teaching of Baptism in chapters 3-4. It is not an independent symbolic story. The Gospel text is written to be read, beginning to end. The echo of the Cana story reverberates with the Cleansing of the temple (2:12-22) and the discourse with Nicodemus (John 3) and the discourse with the Samaritan Woman (John 4). Its literary purpose is create and sustain faith (John 2:11; 20:30-31) in Jesus as the Savior who gives life to the world. This is not some abstract idea of life but is found in realities and practices of the church. Otherwise, it’s just a story that doesn’t fulfill its purpose, that one “see” and believe and that one “hear” and in hearing receive eternal life. The story of Christ is the story of the life of the church. v.1 “There was a wedding at Cana in Galilee” This text is appointed for use at weddings. Some in the early church saw weddings as base and worldly, especially the celebratory wine. Augustine, though: “For this reason the Lord was invited and came to the wedding, that conjugal chastity might be given support and the mystery of marriages might be shown forth.” “The third day” is a signal hat wine miracle reveals a connection between the water, the suffering of Jesus as the Lamb, Jesus’ own baptism, which He will give by the Spirit. See previous handout for “third day” and “sixth…