[In the so-called prologue of John's Gospel we read that "the light shines in the darkness" (John 1:5).Here: what happened at the wedding in Cana shows what this means in practice, what life looks like in a certain situation, when the light shines in the darkness. We also read in the prologue that "the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory as the glory of the only begotten of the Father)..." (Jn 1,14) Behold: the description of the wedding at Cana begins the narrative of how Christ revealed his divine glory in the world.The evangelist notes that "This first sign Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory" (Jn 2,11). A sign that something had begun. Something big. A sign, then, an act in which, like the flash of lightning, the thick cloud of mystery surrounding Jesus is lifted for a moment and it becomes clear who Jesus is. Behold, none other than the life-giving Christ who renews the world!
The story itself, with its well-known, lovely details, contains so much precious teaching that it would be best to go through it almost verse by verse, underlining some of the words. We must stop at the second verse: "Jesus was invited with his disciples to the wedding." (Jn 2,2) What we are talking about here is that Jesus, by His holy presence, has honoured, sanctified the wedding feast. The lesson Calvin draws from this is that it is indeed a great ornament of marriage that Jesus not only graced a wedding feast with His presence, but also crowned it with the performance of His first miracle. From beginning to end, the Bible always speaks of marriage with great reverence, dignity and honour. God himself ordained this way of life, even in Paradise. And it is surely no coincidence that the Lord Jesus saw the time to give the first sign of His glory at a marriage celebration. It is no coincidence that it is in a family matter, almost a household matter, in helping a household in distress, that Jesus first shows that He is indeed so connected with heaven that He is able to pour out its powers on earth. So Jesus, in his first public appearance, is as it were sanctifying marriage, the way of life that the Father created in Eden. That is why marriage is today, and always will be, a matter from which it is not good to leave Jesus out. So let the Lord Jesus be invited to every wedding as he was then in that Canaan. No believing young man or girl should ever enter into a marriage union that does not include the presence of Jesus, and for which His blessing cannot be expected and hoped for!
Then consider also that it was a wedding, and therefore a joyous occasion, in which Jesus participated. He began His revelation of glory on one of the typical occasions of human happiness and joy. It is also implied in this Word that Jesus is the friend of the believer not only in the sad hours of life, not only in times of trial, but also in occasions of joy and gladness. Faith in Christ should not only be a lamp to shine in the dreadful shadows of darkness, but should be used and lived even when everything around us is as bright as a wedding wedding-party! Not only do the sorrows and sorrows of the believer belong to Christ, but also his joy and his gladness! Our Lord does not stumble at pure human joy. So do not be afraid to invite Jesus into your entertainment, do not be afraid to beg to be allowed to spend with Him the day off, the hours of rest, the time of relaxation. If you feel that you can't invite Him to where you want to go, then you'd better not go there either! Then something is not right there, then the place or the joy you cannot invite Jesus to is not pure. If it is not for Him, it is certainly not for you! The question is often raised: What is a believer allowed of the pleasures of this earthly life? Where Jesus is present, working, sharing His blessings, where His true disciples are present, you are allowed to go! Rejoice and have fun together with Jesus!
The story goes on: They have no wine." (Jn 2,3) Big trouble! Now what? What a disgrace, what a failure, what an embarrassment! So it is with all the joys of the world, as with the wine at the wedding in Cana, that it runs out. There is not enough to last the whole wedding, the whole of life! Think of all the things you have enjoyed in your life, all the joys you have had: Where have they gone, what has become of them, do they still last, what is left of them? It is not only with the so-called sinful joys, but also with the precious, pure joys of life. Even the sweetness of human love is a joy that runs out once and does not last forever. The joy that fills our hearts today can easily turn to sadness tomorrow! Even the pure wine of the joy of a marriage that is happy in every way can run out, because it lasts as long as the vow expresses: Unto death or deathless. Even between two good friends, one will sooner reach the end of his journey, and the other must wander on alone. Even the best wine of life and love runs out, and if there were nothing better in this world, life would be very sad indeed. But behold, Jesus comes and acts, and when the wine of earth runs out, He gives His heavenly wine to fill the emptiness.
How beautiful the picture is here: The wine runs out, and Jesus steps in, with power, filling all the gaps, meeting all the needs! This is what He always does. When human joy, the earthly wine, runs out, He gives a new one in its place: better, truer, more, and one that will never run out again! How sad must be the hearts of those who have not invited Jesus into their lives, and who, when their earthly wine is gone, have nothing left but an empty cup, a great, terrifying emptiness, a nihil, filled with nothing! But where there is Jesus, there is a miracle! Quietly, unobtrusively, he takes action. And they filled them to the brim. And he said to them: Now draw, and bring to the bride's mother. And they took it." (John 2:7-8) And in the meantime, the miracle had already happened: the water had become wine! It was not a magic trick, the Lord was not a magician, he did not pour wine into the cup from nothing, not from the empty pitcher, but he used what he had, the water, and turned it into wine. A change took place that cannot be explained in any natural way, that is above all natural, chemical transformations, and that can therefore only be understood in one way: that Jesus is Lord over nature, in this case over water! Unbelievable? No! In fact, it is a plausible reality, that is, a reality that can be grasped by faith! And I do not doubt for a moment that Jesus turned water into wine there and then, not because I have seen many similar miracles in my own life and in the lives of others. I am convinced that the same Jesus who turned water into wine at Cana can change other things. For example: he can change a man! He who is so absolutely Lord over water is also absolutely Lord over another liquid: blood! Blood is a more powerful, more fiery, more dangerous thing than water - but isn't it precisely what the Word says, that where Jesus is present, a change takes place which cannot be explained in any natural way?! For the Evangelist himself says: "This first sign Jesus did in Cana of Galilee" (John 2,11a), that is to say, that this was only the first sign; from then on, there followed in turn the second, the third, the thousandth, the rest, until now, and he wants to do the same sign in the street of Haman in Budapest, on the road to Pasareti or in Torocko Square! The transformation of water into wine is just a symbol of what Jesus wants to do always, everywhere in this world!
We read that there were six stone cedars in that house in Cana. Without Jesus there was only water, but He turned the water into wine in all six of them. For example: he transforms natural love in the house into a real spiritual relationship. Perhaps some here will understand when I say it this way, to turn the philia that runs out into agape that never runs out! The joys of the house into heavenly rays of joy, the cares of the house into faithful prayers, the sufferings and losses of the house into heavenly gains. There is great exhortation, encouragement, strengthening in this Word, as if God were saying through it to you, that you may be encouraged to a new faith, that your confidence and hope may be strengthened, for you have a Saviour who is Lord over nature, who is Lord over your nature! Jesus is saying here that it is not necessary for your life to remain the same. Many things can change in your life too. You too can become purer, holier, truer, more hearty, more servant, more courageous, more joyful, more Christian, more Christlike. You too can overcome your sins, you too can love your enemies; if you have fallen, you too can rise again - and not because of who knows what excellent, noble and strong man you are, but because Christ is alive, the Christ who has the power to turn water into wine!
And here again I would like to return to marriage, for it was at his marriage feast that this first sign was given, at which he "shewed his glory"! It is so often the case that spouses live side by side without love or faith in each other! Even believing spouses who have long since lost confidence in each other, and who sighingly resign themselves to the situation because they no longer believe that it could ever be otherwise, that it could ever change. If there are such people here, let this Word now cry out to them: hold on, do not abandon one another, do not drop one another! Don't go to a lawyer! Do not go to court! Go to the One who, not by chance, has turned water into wine at a wedding, and who wants to give new strength to despondent hearts! Trust, all is not lost! There is help! Christ can lift you out of the deepest depths of despair, you and the other! Christ is Lord over the most terrible nature!
"This first sign did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and showed forth His glory" (John 2:11) Here Christ showed forth His glory on six stones. How much more can He show His glory on that which is more than a stone: man! Leave it! On you! On me! Wait! Ask! Believe!
Amen
Date: 1 October 1950.
Lesson
Jn 2,1-12