A Wedding Blessing—Lectionary Reflection for Epiphany 2C (John 2:1-11)

John 2:1-11 New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

2 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. ² Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. ³ When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” ⁴ And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what concern is that to me and you? My hour has not yet come.” ⁵ His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” ⁶ Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. ⁷ Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. ⁸ He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the person in charge of the banquet.” So they took it. ⁹ When the person in charge tasted the water that had become wine and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), that person called the bridegroom ¹⁰ and 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.” ¹¹ Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee and revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.

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                Weddings are complicated affairs. It’s one of the reasons most clergy (including me) prefer to preside over funerals than weddings. Weddings are more joyful, but they can quickly get out of hand. For one thing, there are often too many people involved in the decision-making process. Trying to get everybody on the same page, whether at the rehearsal or wedding day can be a challenge, especially if not everyone shows up on time. That’s the service. The wedding banquets, which appear to be more important these days than the service, that’s a whole different issue. Fortunately, as a pastor, I don’t have to involve myself in them. At most, if it’s a church member or friend I might offer a blessing at the banquet.

                Here on the Second Sunday after Epiphany, immediately following Baptism of Jesus Sunday (we have to wait a bit to head out with the Spirit into the wilderness for the time of testing), we go to a wedding in Cana of Galilee. This is an interesting move on the part of the Gospel writer (and the lectionary creators who chose this passage). I will note that the first reading for the day comes from Isaiah 62, which is also a wedding-oriented passage. In Isaiah, Israel is the bride and God the groom. Thus, even as a groom rejoices over his bride, the same is true with regard to God’s relationship with Israel (Is. 62:1-5).

Our reading begins three days after John the Baptist pointed to Jesus and called him the Lamb of God. Whether John baptized Jesus is not revealed in the Gospel of John. He’s at the Jordan, but nothing is said of baptism. However, John does point to Jesus and tells two of his disciples that Jesus is the Lamb of God, after which these two disciples leave John and follow Jesus. One is Simon, whom Jesus renames Cephas or Peter. The other would appear to be Andrew. Then two other figures join the group—Philip and Nathaniel (Jn. 1:35-51). Then, Jesus, accompanied by these four disciples, and perhaps a few others who have followed him, head north to Galilee and the village of Cana. As to the location of the village—there are several options. But, as with the location of Emmaus, identifying the exact spot isn’t a necessary element of the story. The point of the passage is not the location but what happens there. So Jesus heads to Galilee so he and his disciples can attend a wedding. As to who is getting married, that’s not revealed either. However, since his mother is there and is worried about logistics, perhaps this is a family member. We can use our imagination here! I will also point out that since John does not have an infancy narrative, this is the first time Jesus’ mother is mentioned, though she remains unnamed. In fact, while there are several Marys in John’s Gospel, his mother, who appears several times remains nameless. She is simply his mother. She first appears here and again at the cross.

After Jesus arrived at the wedding at Cana, to which he and his disciples had been invited, his mother learned that the wine had given out. a wedding to which he and his disciples had been invited, the wine gave out. This is a passage that should give temperance advocates problems since it’s likely the wine gave out because the wedding party had enjoyed a large amount of wine (as we will see). Besides that, Jesus will provide additional wine, though it’s not that Jesus went to the wedding intending to produce wine. That’s because it was the groom’s responsibility to provide the wine. If the wine ran out, the invited guests were not expected to pitch in and provide additional wine. Whatever the reason for the shortage, whether more guests showed up than the groom expected, or his guests drank more wine than anticipated, which might mean this was a rather raucous banquet. Whatever the case, the wine ran out and Jesus’ mother came up with a plan that included him.

                When Mary learned that the wine had run out she turned to Jesus and told him what had occurred. Jesus responded, as we might respond, well, what does that have to do with me? Perhaps sensing what she had in mind, Jesus also told her “My hour has not yet come.” As of yet, Jesus hadn’t done any miracles (John calls them signs). Nevertheless, his mother was undeterred. She ignored Jesus and told the servants to do whatever Jesus told them to do. She must have assumed that Jesus couldn’t say no to his mother. She was correct because Jesus saw that there were six stone water jars used for purification rites that held twenty to thirty gallons of water. He told the servants to fill the jars with water.  Then he told them to draw out some of the liquid in the jars and take it to the person in charge of the banquet. When the person in charge (the chief steward) tasted the liquid, he discovered that what was once water was now wine. While the servant knew where this new wine came from, the chief steward didn’t. So, he sent word to the groom, telling him that normally people served the best wine first and then offered the inferior wine later in the evening after everyone was drunk. In this case, the wine brought to him was better than what was served at the beginning. How did this happen?

                John records, after the person in charge asked the question about the wine, that this was Jesus’ “first sign.” It revealed his glory. For John, this is a central theme along with belief. If we turn back to John 1:14, we read that “the Word became flesh, and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.” Because of this sign that revealed the glory of Jesus, the disciples believed. As far as this narrative goes, the only people who knew about what happened, at least in terms of Jesus’ involvement, were his mother, his disciples, and the servants. In John’s mind, this rather muted and odd sign was done not for the general public, but for his disciples.

                What should we make of this passage? Jesus seemed reluctant to perform the miracle (sign) but he couldn’t say no to his mother. So, he turned water into wine. He didn’t heal anybody or raise the dead, he just helped out a groom who ran short of wine. Yet, it reveals his glory, so his disciples believed. That this is a sign (only John uses the word signs—Greek semeia—for a miracle). As such, the sign points beyond itself to something revelatory. Therefore, while the reading seems odd, it does fit the season of Epiphany, which highlights revelatory moments. As Emerson Powery notes:

Epiphany is about the grand expectations that come after the visitor has arrived. Sometimes we have to adjust our expectations. Because sometimes Jesus simply turns water into wine at a neighbor’s wedding feast, and only a few hear about the sign. With appropriate eyes to see, sometimes this story implies turning scarcity into plenty for all. With such signs God reveals the glory of Jesus. Perhaps God is saving the best for last! During this season of Epiphany, we hope so! [Connections, p. 190].

                As ponder this story, which seems rather out of place, we can ask what it might signal. Could it be that John is highlighting God’s abundance and extravagance? Having your first miracle take place at a wedding does seem a bit extravagant. Yet as noted above, it served to reveal to at least a few the glory of Jesus. So, in service to that revelation, Jesus produces lots of high-quality wine (120-180 gallons). Weddings are, in scripture, revelatory. Consider the image of the wedding banquet in Revelation 19. At that banquet, the Lamb of God (Jesus) is united with the bride (the church). According to John the Revelator this is a glorious scene. The bride is decked out in fine linen that is bright and pure. And then the angel tells the Revelator: “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb” (Rev. 19:7-10). Yes, the ones invited to the wedding will be blessed. Here, in John 2, Jesus’ act of blessing on the wedding banquet at Cana is a sign of what is to come. That Jesus offered top-quality wine at Cana reminds us that when it comes to God, only the best will do since God is extravagant when pouring out blessings.  This should serve as a reminder to us when it comes to being church. Why be dour when we can be joyous? I will grant that there are times when solemnity is required. Reverence is important but it needn’t exclude joy. Remember that Jesus was accused of being a winebibber and a glutton (Luke 7:34). He might have been reluctant to get involved, but he was no stick in the mud! As Matthew Skinner writes, regarding Jesus’ promise of abundant life (John 10:10): “Christians, therefore, should refuse to rely on dour methods of assessing our ministry’s proper limits. We cannot do everything, but limited time, energy, and resources should not make us stingy in our dispositions toward God and neighbors” [Connections, p. 191]. To that, I offer a hearty amen!