Last Sunday I had the privilege of marrying a wonderful couple.

At the wedding service, I read from the Gospel of St. John, chapter 2.

You probably know this story, and you’re probably not surprised that this is the one that’s picked for this occasion.

Jesus goes to a wedding in Cana, and during the celebrations they run out of wine. Jesus’ mother, Mary, urges him to do something about this. After a bit of hesitation, Jesus tells the servants to fill some jars with water. Then, when the servants take this to the man in charge, they discover that it’s been turned into wine – and the good stuff at that!

QUESTIONS RAISED!

Thinking about this story, what sticks out to you?

Perhaps it’s the miracle that catches your attention!

Or, perhaps, you’re drawn in by the happy occasion! It’s a wedding after all!

Maybe, like me, you first notice that the Gospel says that this is the “first of his signs.” Hmm…

However, there’re a few oddities in this passage that you may catch your attention.

• If this was a sign, what does it point to?
• Why is this Christ’s first miracle?
• Why does this take place at a wedding banquet?

How do we pull this all together? Let’s start by looking at a banquet from the Old Testament.

ONE FAMOUS BANQUET IS IN ISAIAH

Just like the couple from Cana, Isaiah also knew how to throw a party!

His parties, though, were grand banquets that brought God, his people, and all nations together.

For Isaiah, they meant the coming of the messianic age.

“On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of fat things, a feast of wine on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wine on the lees well refined. And he will destroy on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death for ever, and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth; for the LORD has spoken. It will be said on that day, “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”” (Isaiah 25:6-9 RSV)

When all nations come together around the one God of Israel, it’ll be like a great feast!

This banquet is the celebration of God swallowing up death, wiping away all our tears, and taking away our reproach.

Sounds like something I’d want to celebrate!

JOHN ALSO TALKS OF A WEDDING BANQUET

Isaiah wasn’t the only one to use this sort of imagery to describe the messianic age.

In the New Testament, St. John also talks of banquets.

“And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband; and I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling of God is with men. He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away.” And he who sat upon the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” Also he said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.”” (Revelation 21:2-5 RSV)

Here John uses marriage imagery to describe how God comes to dwell with his people.

The end result is that our tears are wiped away, death is no more, and there is no more crying nor pain! (Doesn’t this sound a bit like Isaiah!)

Everything, John says, is made new!

WHAT ISAIAH AND JOHN DESCRIBE IS THE GOSPEL MESSAGE!

As Christians, we recognize that all of this is the gospel message!

This is what is proclaimed as Christ’s accomplishment when he became man, was crucified for us, and rose from the dead!

Through his death and resurrection, Christ makes all things new! He tramples down death, wipes away our tears, takes away our pain, and we are transformed into the Church – the Bride of Christ.

THE WEDDING AT CANA IS A PROCLAMATION

So, back to our original question: why is this Christ’s first miracle? Why at a wedding? And what is the sign pointing to?

Well, Isaiah prophesied that a grand banquet would be the sign of the coming of the messianic age. This banquet would be like a marriage – a marriage between God and his people (or in Christian lingo: between Christ and his Church).

By turning water into wine at a wedding banquet, Christ shows us that he is one who ushers in the messianic age. He is the anoined messiah of God.

This is the wedding between Christ and his Church, and the feasting will never end – wine will flow for eternity.

P.S. AT OUR WEDDINGS WE BECOME A PART OF THE STORY

When this Gospel passage is read at our Orthodox weddings, it indicates that we become a part of the story – a part of the gospel proclamation.

Our marriages become a sign that signifies that the Christ has come to wed his bride, the Church.

Our marriage becomes a sign that Christ has come; death is vanquished, our tears are wiped away, and our pain is no more.

Our marriage indicates that in Christ all things are made new!

So our marriages stand on firm foundations, and may our marriages bring hope to everyone we encounter!

Come this Sunday to St. Elias and be transformed (9:30 am, 2001 Asbury Rd, Dubuque)(or find your nearest Orthodox Church here).