What were the names (January 17, 2010)
By Rev. Steve Bagnall

What were the names of the husband and wife at the wedding in Cana? We don’t know because John never tells us. We don’t know how radiant the bride was and we don’t see the nervousness and pride on the groom’s face.

Now at first glance we might guess that John doesn’t tell us about this because it isn’t important, but I’m here to tell you the exact opposite is true. How can we say that these people aren’t important? – They’re so important that the Son of God took on flesh so that He could be at their wedding. This couple is so important that God came to their wedding reception.

The reason we don’t know their names isn’t to show that they’re unimportant, but to help us see that we, too, are just as important. Jesus was at my wedding, too. And He was at yours – if you’ve had one. You see, God loves His people so much that He’s been present at every marriage since He served as Father of the bride – and of the groom – when Adam and Eve were married in Eden.

God is at our weddings because marriage is so important to Him. Through marriage He cares for society. Through marriage He creates and raises the next generation, and the next. And in marriage God partners two people so they won’t be alone, and so each can rely on the other; so that the husband can supply the wife with God’s love, and the wife can supply the husband with God’s love.

But if marriage is so great and if God blesses it, why do so many fall apart? Why do so many marriages become cold and lonely places, and why do so many end in divorce? The answer is simple, my friends. Marriages fail because we fail, because we are weak and sinful beings. Spouses sin against one another, and sometimes the world’s troubles overwhelm couples, and sometimes couples break up because of weakness or poor decisions or who knows what else.

Like every other part of our lives, marriage has been damaged by generations upon generations of sinners and their sins. We have received a broken world and we have proceeded to make it worse with our sin. That’s why there are less-than perfect parents and children, less-than perfect teachers and students, pastors and parishioners, rulers and citizens. In fact, we could spend the entire day here listing all the world’s problems – sickness and unemployment and crime and earthquakes and floods and whatever else – but if we do that we miss point of today’s Gospel.

This marriage was between two sinners – imperfect and prone to mistakes. In fact, they couldn’t even provide enough wine for their reception – either they didn’t plan well enough, or there wasn’t enough money. Either way, this problem is just a foretaste of the troubles they will face in their life together. Broken people in a broken world. And yet, the Lord of the Universe comes to their party. He doesn’t turn away in disgust because they are unfit for the institution He established. No, Jesus came specifically to sinners like these. And in the same way He comes to the marriages of sinners like you and me, to help uphold those in trouble, to bring comfort to those who’ve been injured by unfaithful or unloving spouses, to strengthen those injured by divorces, both spouses and children. He comes not because we’re perfect, but because He cares – because He loves us.

In every home – whether you’re married or not, the Savior is present. He hears your prayers, the ones you offer in church today and the ones you whisper in the secret of your heart. He hears and He sees your need, He knows your pain and He is with you to sustain you.

Now our text can help us to understand this presence of Jesus. First, notice Mary’s prayer. She doesn’t tell Jesus how to fix the problem; she just comes to Him with the need. When you come to the Lord of Life ask for your heart’s desire, but ask in the knowledge and trust that He knows best how to meet your needs. He is aware of facts we don’t know and He is loving far beyond you and me. Ask and wait in faith, trusting Him to answer as is best.

Next, notice how the couple’s need is met. The miracle is mostly secret and is entirely unseen. The water is turned to wine within the jars. This is no magic trick, and most of the time Christ takes care of our needs in quiet and unrecognized ways. He is just as much with us and providing for us each time we eat as He was present at Cana. The job we have, even the job we lost, the family who visit us when we are sick, the medicine that keeps our blood pressure low, all this is from your loving Savior. Most of His miracles come to you unasked for and unseen, but He is watching and He knows each hair on your head.

Finally, the nature of the miracles also teaches us about the Christ Who dwells in our lives. He takes water, plain and serviceable, and turns it into wine, the drink of joy and fellowship. Christ’s gifts always make our lives sweeter and more complete. The water in these pots was used for ceremonial washing to keep the law, but Jesus replaces this working of the law with the wine of celebration, the best wine, the finest. And He gives far more than will be needed for this wedding, because God’s gifts are always more than we can comprehend, our cup runs over, indeed.

Brothers and sisters, as you see Jesus at this small-town wedding, be assured that He also attends your family meals. He is with you in your living room, and in your car, at home and in school and at work. He is involved in your life and He comes to give you peace.

But this leaves us with one sentence from the Lord that hasn’t been accounted for. He says, “My hour has not yet come.” Before performing this great miracle, this sign that points to God’s great love and concern for our daily lives – before providing this wine, Jesus points ahead to the foundation on which all His work is built. His care for us, His loving presence in our lives, His answer for the consequences of our sin, all that rests only upon His “hour” – this hour, the hour of His death.

This hour of the cross is where all the other gifts flow from. Here Jesus penetrates beneath the symptoms of sin, below sin’s consequences. Here He enters the cause of our troubles, the cause of our pain – Here Jesus enters sin, He takes our sin upon Him, He even, as it were, becomes Sin for us. On the cross He converts your sin into His suffering, your offenses and mine into His blood and He pours that blood out for us. But miracle of miracles, even greater than feeding us each day, Your Savior converts His blood of the cross into the wine of the Sacrament. Here the blood of your forgiveness is made present in the wine of the wedding feast, the wine of the altar and He gives us eternal life to eat and drink. Jesus was at the wedding of Cana so that we could see and understand Him here, at the wedding feast of eternity.

Never forget that the Lord of the wedding of Cana is also the Lord of heaven and earth, of forgiveness and eternal life. He is the Lord of this altar and this font and this Holy Word. And dear friends, His blessings that overflow. The Lord of Salvation who is present in this holy house is also present in your life, making your house, His holy house as well. Go in His blessing and care and love, carrying with you and in you His forgiveness. Amen