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At the wedding in Cana of Galilee, there was a lot of joy present. A man and a woman were united in holy matrimony. It was certainly a time to celebrate. Even Jesus attended this wedding. Marriage was instituted by God and should be rightly honored. Marriage between a man and a woman is a good thing. It is God pleasing.
There is a lot of joy present today. After all of the planning and preparation, this day has finally arrived. Parents, family, and friends are present to hear God's Word regarding marriage and to witness your vows and, afterward, to celebrate with you.
However, at the wedding in Cana of Galilee, joy turned into sorrow. The wine ran out. For the wine to run out during Jesus' day was a very serious matter. The amount of wine fell short of what was needed.
Things go wrong even at modern day weddings. The groom misplaced the wedding rings and can't find them. The florist got things mixed up. The photographer had camera problems. The groom or one in the wedding party fainted. Have you seen that one? Or, the pastor drops the wedding ring. If you Google “Wedding Bloopers” and watch them on YouTube, you'll get a laugh. Anna, has anything gone wrong yet today? Brad, do you have enough food and drink for the wedding reception?
At the wedding in Cana of Galilee, the people's sorrow turned to joy, because Jesus solved their problem. He turned water into wine — His first miracle.
There are times when our days are filled with joy and happiness, excitement and celebration. On the other hand, there are days filled with sorrow and sadness, gloom and mourning.
Put your trust in worldly things, and you'll fall short. Ignore God's wrath against sin, and you'll fall short. If you expect only good from God in every situation, you'll fall short. Romans 3:23 says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
All of our own problems and problems throughout the world began in the Garden of Eden. It was a happy day when Adam and Eve were united in holy matrimony. But their joy turned to sorrow when they disregarded God's Word and ate from the forbidden fruit. That day was a day of sin and a day of mourning and a day of death.
But Adam and Eve's sorrow turned to joy when they heard news of a coming Savior. God promised that the offspring of a woman would crush and defeat Satan, their enemy. This meant that God now has mercy upon Adam and Eve.
As time when on, God developed more and more of this promise. Through the prophets of the Old Testament era, God foretold that the coming Savior would be born in the town of Bethlehem; that He would be a bridegroom to the daughter of Jerusalem. The prophet Amos said that, when the Savior would come, then there would be an abundance of wine (Amos 9:11–15). According to Deuteronomy 7:13 and Isaiah 25:6–8, wine was a symbol of celebration and prosperity. The Savior's arrival will be a day of joy and happiness.
So, after many years of waiting, the coming Savior finally arrived on the scene. His name was Jesus. At the time of our text, Jesus' ministry had just begun, but He had not yet performed any miracles. There was no better time to begin the first of His miracles than at a wedding. After all, Christ is the real bridegroom who has come for His bride the Church.
Jesus' first miracle was not giving sight to the blind or hearing to the deaf. It was not healing the sick or raising the dead. His first miracle was turning water into wine, and it was good wine at that — over 150 gallons. Jesus didn't need grapes, a wine press, oak barrels, or time to age the wine. Instead, He just miraculously turned water into wine. It was a joyful day at the wedding in Cana of Galilee.
This miracle showed that the presence of the long awaited Savior is in Jesus. It sent a message that a new era of salvation is among the people.
Jesus loved the church, his bride. How? He loved her by offering Himself as the sacrifice for sin. Jesus' death upon the cross was the “hour” when He gave His sacred blood for wine. This was the hour He was crushed in the winepress of God's wrath against sin. This was the hour He was poured out for our transgressions and was wounded for our iniquities. This was the hour in which He laid himself down for you.
On the third day, there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Well, on the third day, there was also a resurrection at a garden in Jerusalem, and the mother of Jesus was there along with other women. Jesus came alive. He defeated death and Satan.
Gone are the stone water jars for purification. There is now the water of Holy Baptism where you were sanctified and cleansed with the washing of water with the word. You are now holy and clean like Anna's wedding dress. The robe of Christ's righteousness is like Anna's wedding dress, yet better.
Gone are the animal sacrifices of the old covenant. There is now a new testament in His blood which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. The Lord's Supper is a foretaste of our wedding celebration in heaven. In heaven, Christ the bridegroom will sit down with you at a heavenly banquet.
Gone is the stone temple. There is now the forgiveness of sins — forgiveness placed on your head; spoken into your ear; and put into your mouth. The turning of water into wine was a nice gift to the unnamed wedding couple at Cana in Galilee, but the gifts of life and salvation that Christ gives to you are far greater.
Because of Christ's death and resurrection, there is joy in the forgiveness of sins — a joy which the world can never give. There is no sin too big for God not to forgive. God's mercy toward you in Christ Jesus will never fail. It will never run out. It will never fall short.
Recently, I attended the 50th wedding anniversary of my parents and the 50th wedding anniversary of my in–laws. At both events, they showed pictures of their wedding day, and at both events, they gave thanks to God for his guidance, strength and blessing. Was life easy for them? No. There were days of joy and sorrow; days of happiness and sadness; days of celebration and mourning.
Kyle and Anna, when you will celebrate your 50th anniversary, God willing, this day will be remembered. You will show pictures of this day.
From here on out, you will laugh together and cry together. You will have days of happiness and days of sadness. But in the good and the bad days, you will have each other. You will, especially, have God's grace and mercy through His Son. The Gospel and sacrament will help you to persevere. It will turn sorrow into joy.
If God will bless you with children, when they look at you, they will see a reflection of the union and love between Christ and His bride the church.
Kyle, just as Christ protects his church from sin, death, and the devil, so also, protect Anna from all harm. Just as Christ provides food that sustains and strengthens the church unto life everlasting, so also, provide the necessities of life for Anna and the family. Just as Christ leads the church on the path of righteousness, so also, be an honest and responsible leader, not selfishly, but with a self–sacrificing love for Anna's benefit and welfare. In this way, Kyle, others will see Christ in you.
Anna, just as the church submits herself in humility and in service to Christ who died for her, so also, humbly submit to Kyle as he leads the family. Gladly follow Him. It's been said, “It's a woman that makes a man,” and “Behind every good man is a good woman.” Therefore, affirm his leadership and be a helpmate for him. Just as the church nourishes and feeds her children with the Word and meal, so also, take care of things on the home front. Nurture the children and family. Just as the church is a glorious church, not having any spot or wrinkle or any such thing, so also, possess the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. Express yourself with an inner beauty and joy for Kyle's sake alone.
Kyle and Anna, marriage is like a dance. You will move together without thinking about it. Marriage is like a concert. The two of you will harmonize together. You cannot operate without the other. God created you to complement each other and not to fight against each other.
Are there perfect marriages? No. Yet, the forgiveness you receive from Christ will be the source of your forgiveness toward one another. God's love toward you in Christ Jesus will be the source of your love toward one another.
Jesus blessed the wedding party in Cana of Galilee, and Jesus will be a blessing to your marriage and to all marriages where Christ is the center.
Who is Jesus? He is your Savior from sin and death. He is the real bridegroom who has united Himself to His bride, the church. He is your only source of joy today, tomorrow, and forevermore. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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