Epiphany 2 January 17, 2021
John 2:1-11
Where’s the Sign?
v.11 This, the first of His signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested His glory. And His disciples believed in Him.
Dear friends in Christ, signs are important for us. Indeed, without signs, we would often be, quite literally, lost--especially if your GPS isn't working properly. Perhaps you have had such an experience when you were lost, searching for a certain address, and then you finally saw the sign! What relief! What joy! To know that you are in the right place and have come to your final destination, as hard as the journey may have been. Yet seeing the sign was like a sudden revelation to you—showing you where you were and where you needed to be. The popular Swedish band of the nineties, Ace of Base, made the statement in their hit song, The Sign, “I saw the sign and it opened up my eyes, I saw the sign.” While they were speaking of relationship issues, yet signs are important for us in all walks of life.
Signs serve to lead and to guide us, like street signs. Signs serve to warn us of possible dangers or hazards, like icy road conditions. Signs point us to things that are good and helpful for us, like those that direct us to the nearest hospital. As important as signs are for us today then, it should not surprise us to learn that signs were also very important to Jesus and His ministry.
Indeed, if you will recall, at Jesus’ birth the angel announcing the Good News to the shepherds said (Luke 2:11-12), “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” The sign of the baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger pointed to an even greater truth/reality—that this child was the long-awaited Messiah—the Saviour/Redeemer of the world.
Signs were also key to Jesus’ ministry on earth—from healing the sick and the lame—to producing food for thousands of people—all pointed to Jesus as being the One sent from God to save the people from their sins. And our text for this morning is especially significant as it is the first sign that Jesus ever performed. This miracle did more than simply save a newlywed couple from incredible shame and embarrassment (running out of wine was an enormous social faux pas), but it served to show His disciples and others gathered, just exactly Who He is—the Lord God on high.
He who can change water into wine can also change your heart of sin and death to one of life and joy. Just as the Lord Jesus blessed and sanctified that young couple’s marriage with His presence, sanctifying and blessing all marriages, He also has blessed you personally with His presence.
The signs are all around us that we live in a sin-filled and broken world—indeed, that our very own flesh is corrupt and doomed to fail. For the media is full of terrible news and disasters—riots and civil unrest—shootings and bombings—pandemics and lockdowns. Truly, the signs of our sin are ever before us—present within our very own flesh—that which is so easily hurt—broken—wracked with disease—grows old and weak—and which, eventually, dies. As Luther was fond of telling people, if you want a sure sign that you are a sinner in need of Christ’s forgiveness, simply place your hand over your heart—feel your heart beating in your chest—know then that you are still alive and full of sin—and therefore in desperate need of the mercy of Jesus.
And our gracious Lord has given you wondrous signs today to begin, uplift, strengthen, restore, and sustain your faith. In His precious Word and Sacraments the great gifts of God of forgiveness, life, and salvation, are signed, sealed, and delivered, visibly to each of you. Through the visible sign of the water along with His Holy Word in Baptism, Christ has come to you, entered into your heart, and washed away all your guilt and shame and sorrow sin and death—replacing it with His certain forgiveness and life everlasting.
What is more Jesus gives you yet another sign in the bread and wine consecrated at various altars throughout the world. For in them with His Word He also bestows upon you His holy body and blood so that you may know—with absolute certainty—that Jesus has come and died for you. His blood that He shed on Calvary’s cross flows to you. What came out of Jesus’ side when the Roman soldier pierced Him with His spear, but blood and water? Blood that was shed for you and you now receive in the wine of the Holy Sacrament of the Altar. Water that flowed from His side—water that washes over you in your Baptism, washing you clean of every stain of guilt and death.
Furthermore, He gives you the sign of Holy Absolution—so that when your sin seems too great—when your guilt is so overwhelming—you may come to your pastor as to Christ Himself—and hear from Him—as from the mouth of Jesus—that your sin is taken away—forgiven—gone forever—buried in the cleansing flood of His shed blood on Calvary’s cross.
Though we are often lost and astray in our sinfulness, wandering seemingly alone in this dark world—yet Christ has come to seek us out. Shining the light of His glory into our hearts through the wondrous signs of His amazing love. Though we are often spinning our wheels and going around in circles—He has found us. And with blazing bright signs He brings us into His presence—taking us to be with Him by His side forever and ever.
For these signs, simple though they may appear on the surface—consisting of words, water, bread and wine, are the means by which Jesus gives you saving faith in Him. What was the result of Jesus’ sign at the wedding in Cana? “And His disciples believed in Him.” As amazing as this sign was—an even greater one was yet to come. The sign that would be for you and me and all people. Jesus spoke of this sign in Matthew (12:38ff) when asked by the scribes and Pharisees, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” But He answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”
The sign of Jonah refers, of course, to Jesus’ own death and subsequent resurrection—whereby His glory was manifested to all the world—becoming the firstfruits of the new and eternal creation. This is an enormous comfort to us—for all those who believe will be made like Him. Because He has risen in triumph and glory over all the powers of sin, death, and hell—so also shall you, on the Last Day, be given all that is Christ’s. Even now, His life is yours. The sign of His resurrection is an epiphany to all the world—to flock to Him and His church—to thereby receive forgiveness and everlasting life. What joy! What peace! What security! To know that Jesus has done so much for us—out of selfless love and compassion. May the sign of His cross ever give you peace and joy. Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus. Amen.
John 2:1-11
Where’s the Sign?
v.11 This, the first of His signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested His glory. And His disciples believed in Him.
Dear friends in Christ, signs are important for us. Indeed, without signs, we would often be, quite literally, lost--especially if your GPS isn't working properly. Perhaps you have had such an experience when you were lost, searching for a certain address, and then you finally saw the sign! What relief! What joy! To know that you are in the right place and have come to your final destination, as hard as the journey may have been. Yet seeing the sign was like a sudden revelation to you—showing you where you were and where you needed to be. The popular Swedish band of the nineties, Ace of Base, made the statement in their hit song, The Sign, “I saw the sign and it opened up my eyes, I saw the sign.” While they were speaking of relationship issues, yet signs are important for us in all walks of life.
Signs serve to lead and to guide us, like street signs. Signs serve to warn us of possible dangers or hazards, like icy road conditions. Signs point us to things that are good and helpful for us, like those that direct us to the nearest hospital. As important as signs are for us today then, it should not surprise us to learn that signs were also very important to Jesus and His ministry.
Indeed, if you will recall, at Jesus’ birth the angel announcing the Good News to the shepherds said (Luke 2:11-12), “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” The sign of the baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger pointed to an even greater truth/reality—that this child was the long-awaited Messiah—the Saviour/Redeemer of the world.
Signs were also key to Jesus’ ministry on earth—from healing the sick and the lame—to producing food for thousands of people—all pointed to Jesus as being the One sent from God to save the people from their sins. And our text for this morning is especially significant as it is the first sign that Jesus ever performed. This miracle did more than simply save a newlywed couple from incredible shame and embarrassment (running out of wine was an enormous social faux pas), but it served to show His disciples and others gathered, just exactly Who He is—the Lord God on high.
He who can change water into wine can also change your heart of sin and death to one of life and joy. Just as the Lord Jesus blessed and sanctified that young couple’s marriage with His presence, sanctifying and blessing all marriages, He also has blessed you personally with His presence.
The signs are all around us that we live in a sin-filled and broken world—indeed, that our very own flesh is corrupt and doomed to fail. For the media is full of terrible news and disasters—riots and civil unrest—shootings and bombings—pandemics and lockdowns. Truly, the signs of our sin are ever before us—present within our very own flesh—that which is so easily hurt—broken—wracked with disease—grows old and weak—and which, eventually, dies. As Luther was fond of telling people, if you want a sure sign that you are a sinner in need of Christ’s forgiveness, simply place your hand over your heart—feel your heart beating in your chest—know then that you are still alive and full of sin—and therefore in desperate need of the mercy of Jesus.
And our gracious Lord has given you wondrous signs today to begin, uplift, strengthen, restore, and sustain your faith. In His precious Word and Sacraments the great gifts of God of forgiveness, life, and salvation, are signed, sealed, and delivered, visibly to each of you. Through the visible sign of the water along with His Holy Word in Baptism, Christ has come to you, entered into your heart, and washed away all your guilt and shame and sorrow sin and death—replacing it with His certain forgiveness and life everlasting.
What is more Jesus gives you yet another sign in the bread and wine consecrated at various altars throughout the world. For in them with His Word He also bestows upon you His holy body and blood so that you may know—with absolute certainty—that Jesus has come and died for you. His blood that He shed on Calvary’s cross flows to you. What came out of Jesus’ side when the Roman soldier pierced Him with His spear, but blood and water? Blood that was shed for you and you now receive in the wine of the Holy Sacrament of the Altar. Water that flowed from His side—water that washes over you in your Baptism, washing you clean of every stain of guilt and death.
Furthermore, He gives you the sign of Holy Absolution—so that when your sin seems too great—when your guilt is so overwhelming—you may come to your pastor as to Christ Himself—and hear from Him—as from the mouth of Jesus—that your sin is taken away—forgiven—gone forever—buried in the cleansing flood of His shed blood on Calvary’s cross.
Though we are often lost and astray in our sinfulness, wandering seemingly alone in this dark world—yet Christ has come to seek us out. Shining the light of His glory into our hearts through the wondrous signs of His amazing love. Though we are often spinning our wheels and going around in circles—He has found us. And with blazing bright signs He brings us into His presence—taking us to be with Him by His side forever and ever.
For these signs, simple though they may appear on the surface—consisting of words, water, bread and wine, are the means by which Jesus gives you saving faith in Him. What was the result of Jesus’ sign at the wedding in Cana? “And His disciples believed in Him.” As amazing as this sign was—an even greater one was yet to come. The sign that would be for you and me and all people. Jesus spoke of this sign in Matthew (12:38ff) when asked by the scribes and Pharisees, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” But He answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”
The sign of Jonah refers, of course, to Jesus’ own death and subsequent resurrection—whereby His glory was manifested to all the world—becoming the firstfruits of the new and eternal creation. This is an enormous comfort to us—for all those who believe will be made like Him. Because He has risen in triumph and glory over all the powers of sin, death, and hell—so also shall you, on the Last Day, be given all that is Christ’s. Even now, His life is yours. The sign of His resurrection is an epiphany to all the world—to flock to Him and His church—to thereby receive forgiveness and everlasting life. What joy! What peace! What security! To know that Jesus has done so much for us—out of selfless love and compassion. May the sign of His cross ever give you peace and joy. Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus. Amen.