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In the name of Jesus.Amen.

Introduction: Did you know that on average, every 24 hours our hearts beat 103,680 times. We breathe 23,040 times. We inhale 438 cubic feet of air. We eat about three-and-a-half pounds of food and drink almost three pints of liquid. Whatever the weather conditions, our bodies maintain a temperature close to 98.6 degrees. In the course of our daily routine, we may walk about five miles. Even in our sinful condition, our physical abilities, which we take for granted, are not only amazing but also reveal something of the glory of our Creator.[1] On the basis of today’s Holy Gospel and with the aid of the Holy Spirit, we consider the theme “Glimpses of Glory.”

The season of Epiphany is all about revealing the Glory of God in Christ. The word “Epiphany” means “to manifest.” You’ll hear this in today’s Service of the Sacrament when we pray: “in the incarnation of Your Son, Jesus Christ, You manifested the fullness of Your glory in human flesh.” In the season of Epiphany week by week the divinity of Jesus is manifested. Epiphany began with Gentiles led by a Star glorifying Jesus in worship and it concludes with on the Feast of the Transfiguration when His disciples witness the Christ manifested in radiant glory.

Today in the Holy Gospel Jesus, His mother, and His disciples go to a wedding where they ran out of wine and Jesus manifested His glory. At this time in the Near East, a typical wedding feast began after a yearlong betrothal – which was so binding that divorce proceedings were necessary to break it. Then the bride was brought by her relatives and friends to the groom’s house in a procession – often at night. The festivities could last from seven days (Jud 14:12) up to two weeks (Tobit 8:20). The fact that they ran out of wine at this wedding was not only embarrassing but could lead to legal action against the bridegroom and his family for failing to provide the appropriate wedding gift.Mary, undoubtedly aware that Jesus was the Messiah, seeks His intervention, perhaps on behalf of relatives. Jesus has servants fill six stone jars holding 20 or 30 gallons of water each.

Many of us know the story well. The water in the stone jars becomes wine, over 120 gallons of the best wine. Wine so good that the master of the feast wondered why it hadn’t been served first and “when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine” (v. 10b). That’s plain old common sense: after drinking a fair amount of wine guests wouldn’t taste the quality as well. This does not mean the guests were “Cooter Brown drunk,” but it does indicate the partying that accompanied weddings (then and now). And now they had enough wine for the feast to continue for the duration.

There are some inanimate characters in the text that are often overlooked: the 6 stone jars. The Rev. Prof. William Weinrich believes the number six is important. The number six is the Hebrew number of incompleteness. He writes: “The idea of incompleteness or imperfection is probably indicated. … That the jars were for the purification of the Jews would support this interpretation” (John 1:1 – 7:1, Concordia Commentary [St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 2015], 300).

Six stone jars for the Jewish rites of purification. Jewish rites of purification that were unsatisfactory. Jewish rites of purification that had no real result. Jewish rites of purification that were in themselves imperfect, accomplishing nothing. Just like all our efforts to purify ourselves from our sinful nature or our actual sins. Six stone jars that speak of our impurities and uncleanness before the glory of a holy and perfect God. Six stone jars that demand our secrets, our indiscretions, our indignities, our vices, our immoralities, and our lusts – every sin of word and deed. Six stone jars that cannot prevent the coming wrath – the divine wrath both temporal and eternal that we deserve – which is all that we deserve.

When Mary alerts Jesus to the wine shortage He addresses her rather starkly with “woman.” While unusual, this was not disrespectful. In fact, it was quite formal. Remember that He also addressed her in this manner from the cross. And He says, literally, “What to me and to you?” which is a Hebrew expression that can be understood as follows: “Why involve me in your business?” (2 Ki 3:13; Hos 14:8). I am not alone in suggesting that this, together with saying “Woman,” shows Jesus distancing himself from Mary. The relationship has evolved from mother and son to Lord and disciple. As we heard in the Gospel two weeks ago, the boy Jesus tells Mary that He must be in His “Father’s house” (Lk 2:49b). It is clear that Jesus’ mission is to do the will of His Father in heaven, not that of His earthly mother.

And Jesus adds, “My hour has not yet come” (v 4b). In the Gospel of St. John the word “hour” is often used for significant stages in Jesus’ life – times when He would achieve His work of redemption through His suffering, death, and resurrection – and so glorify His Father in heaven. Jesus’ crucifixion appears ghastly, even repulsive. But in John 17:1, right before His arrest, passion and crucifixion Jesus prays to His Father saying, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you.” It was the hour of Jesus’ greatest glory. And here, in our text, Jesus gives us an indication of that hour to come.

Jesus calls and so enables us to believe that the “hour” of His greatest glorification is the ONLY means of our purification. The Father brings glory to Jesus by sending Him to the cross to accomplish our salvation. At the cross Christ carried all sin for all time for all of humankind in His own body. At the cross Jesus is our substitute … the innocent for the guilty. He suffered and died in our place to pay the penalty for our sins. He rose again from the dead – victorious over sin, Satan and death. And His resurrection also manifests His glory and is proof that His sacrifice in our place was accepted by the Father and that death and the grave have been overcome for us; promising eternal life.

Because God does not want us to experience His temporal and eternal wrath, He also calls and enables us to repent. The Holy Spirit gives us a glimpse of glory when He leads us to have sorrow for our wickedness against the Lord of Glory… and to believe “that sin has been forgiven and grace has been obtained through Christ” (AC XII.3-6) … and with that faith we desire to do better than to keep on sinning. When we repent then God forgives us of our sinful nature and all our actual sins. He forgives us for Jesus’ sake.

Our gracious Lord continues to give us Glimpses of Glory in His Word in all its forms … His Word in the Holy Scriptures is read, spoken, preached, and prayed among us. His Word connected to water in Holy Baptism brings us into the kingdom of God and creates faith. His Word of Holy Absolution comforts us and releases us from despair. His Word spoken over bread and wine nourishes us in the Holy Supper with the true body and the true blood of Christ given and shed for us giving forgiveness, life and salvation. The Glory of God is His self-manifestation; it is the sign of His presence (cf Lk 2:9: “the glory of the Lord” shone around the shepherds). His Glory is a reality in the correct proclamation of His Word and the right administration of His Sacraments

The presence of wine and weddings in today’s readings are significant. In the OT wine is a symbol of God’s grace – a sign of joy, blessing, and future hope. The Introit and Old Testament both make reference to the Lord’s rejoicing over His people as a bridegroom to His bride. And again today, we have a glimpse of glory – a foretaste of the marriage feast of the Lamb that has no end. The miracle of water into wine is more than rescuing a feast from potential ruin, it’s a glimpse of the “hour” when Jesus would redeem us from our sins and our total lack of purity. And now we become glimpses of His Glory. Because we have been made pure by faith in Christ, we are free from sin—and by faithful use of the means of grace, not just the effects of sin, but also the power of sin.

Conclusion: Now we are also free to serve Him and free to do truly good works … including the protection of human life – from before birth to natural death … every life is sacred and significant to be valued and protected. In every human being we have a glimpse of the Creator’s glory and a soul who needs the Savior’s glory. Yet far more glorious than our mortal bodies is the splendor of our eternal Redeemer, and the glorious new life He gives us through the power of the Spirit.[2] Like the Wine at Cana our Lord saves the best for last. All the glimpses of glory we experience will finally become a stunning and resplendent vista enveloped in the eternal glory of our Triune God.

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

(stand) The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.