This sermon was preached at Glenwood Lutheran Church, Decorah, Iowa on January 27, 2019. It’s based on John 2:1-11. If you’d prefer to listen to it, find it at https://soundcloud.com/stacey-nalean-carlson/.
John 2:1-11
On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.” 5His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim.
8He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.” So they took it. 9When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom 10and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.” 11Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
On the third day
The wine ran out
And what would have been an end
Became a beginning
It wasn’t time, he thought
What was he waiting for?
A greater need?
A more worthy recipient?
A sign from his father?
The green light came from Mom
They have no wine
A request in the form of a statement
As parents are known to do
The dog needs to go out. (Take out the dog.)
The dishwasher is clean. (Unload the dishwasher.)
They have no wine. (Make some wine, Jesus.)
It is time
Because the wine ran out
The need is real
Joy is not a luxury reserved for the ones who can afford it
Celebration is a necessity in the midst of struggle
The wine ran out before it cemented the dream—
Made real the vision of life lifted above the din of fear and want—
Weightless life: dancing, laughing, present tense trusting
That there really is enough
That love is enough
And more
So the wine can’t run out
Not yet
Not here
Not now, son of mine
This is your time
Today the water will suffice, changing at your word
But the day is coming when you will be the wine
Your blood poured out for a world whose wine has run out
Whose joy has been postponed indefinitely
Whose love has grown so dim
You, son of mine, sweet, sweet wine
You will rise
And on the third day…
…death will run out
…sorrow will run out
…tears and regret and fear and lament will run out
And in their place, you
You, sweet wine and bread that fills
You, grace upon grace
You, light of the world
You, the way, the truth, and the life
You, will never run out
Do whatever he tells you, the mother commands
And later, on that mountain where he is transfigured before them,
the father takes his turn
Listen to him
Do what he tells you when he invites you
to follow him
to come and see
to not be afraid
Listen to him when he blesses
the poor
and the hungry
and the ones who weep
now
It’s not rational. It’s not reasonable. Fill the jars with water anyway.
Let down your nets
even though you’ve worked all night and caught nothing
Offer your five barley loaves and two fish
even though there are 5,000 to feed
Do whatever he tells you and watch his word be enough
Watch him speak the dream into being:
Life is dancing and laughing and present tense trusting
Life is celebration, hope, joy
Life is abundant
Above the din of fear and want
Love is enough
This love—
sweet wine for all the world,
for you
Is enough and more