"Was Truth In The Wine?"

Sermon Delivered By Reverend Richard E. Stetler – January 20, 2013

Centenary United Methodist Church

Psalm 34:1-10; John 2:1-11

    The episode of Jesus turning the water into wine is one of those stories that has perplexed and challenged a number of Christians that firmly believe that Jesus never drank wine.  The Gospel writer indicates that not only did Jesus make wine but the wine was of such quality that the man who was in charge of the feast said to the groom, “In every wedding that I have attended, the best wine was always served first. After the guests have had plenty to drink, the host generally serves wine of a lesser quality.  You have saved the best wine for last!”

    This story that only appears in John’s Gospel has also tested the faith of people that refer to themselves as style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">thinking Christians. They have trouble with Jesus altering the chemistry of water to create vintage wine.  They list this story among other stories that to them stretch the truth excessively. 

    For example, there is a story concerning the strange way that Jesus once paid his Temple Tax.  Peter was asked by a tax collector, “Does your teacher pay the Temple Tax?”  Peter answered, “Of course, he does.”  When Peter told Jesus about the inquiry, Jesus instructed him to go fishing.  “When you catch the first fish,” Jesus said, “look in its mouth and you will find a coin worth enough to pay for your tax and mine.” (Matthew 17:24f)   

    If people abandon their faith because they do not see any significance to such stories, they probably never had a faith-based orientation toward life in the first place. This is like dismissing the insightful lessons in the Old Testament because of the account where God instructed Noah to “Take into the Ark seven pairs of each kind of clean animal and one pair of each unclean animal.  Also, take seven pairs of each kind of bird.  Do this so that every kind of animal and bird will be kept alive to reproduce again on the earth.”  (Genesis 7:2-3)

    There exists an alternate version of our scripture lesson that may supply an explanation why the story was included in John’s Gospel.  The water to wine story was likely used by an early preacher to illustrate the power that Jesus had over his listeners.  This version is quite similar to our lesson.

    When Jesus mother learned that the wedding party had run out of wine, Mary said to Jesus, “You must do something.” Jesus was not happy with his mother and told her so. He said, “Mother, don’t tell me what to do!  Why must I intervene when our hosts have not planned well for such a large gathering of guests?” She turned to the servants and said, “Do whatever he asks of you.”

    Jesus turned to the servants and told them to fill six stone jars with water. Jesus said, “Give them water to drink because most of them have already had enough wine.”  When the servants began to serve the water, however, it had turned into wine. When Jesus saw this, he immediately left the wedding in Cana to be alone. 

    Jesus heard a voice that said, “Remember, my son, this is a sign to you.  One day your words will transform ordinary people into people of extraordinary depth, character and ability.  Your power will be like turning ordinary cistern water into wine of exceptional quality.”

    This water to wine story was similar in nature to the illustration Jesus used when he was instructing Nicodemus.  Jesus said, “The transformation of life of which I speak is like being born again -- former priorities are turned upside down, judgmental attitudes give way to those that are inspired by love and compassion.” The transformation of attitudes, lifestyle and goals is the miracle.  Jesus was not interested in creating 180 gallons of vintage wine.

    In the spring of 1883 two young men completed their medical degrees at the University of Michigan and both were at the top of their class with identical records.  As the two were walking across the campus, Ben said, “Will, let’s go to New York City and set up a joint practice.  In no time we could become quite successful.”  Will said, “That’s the best offer I’ve had all day but quite honestly, I want to practice medicine somewhere in the Midwest.  There are very few doctors out there.” Ben said, “That is very noble of you Will, but not very wise.  There is nothing out there but poor farming communities.”

    Their conversation demonstrated what separated the two men.  Will had been transformed by his faith and Ben had been transformed by his desire to practice medicine among people that would influence history.  Both men honored their calling.  Ben went to New York City and Will became a horse-and-buggy doctor along with his dad in his home state of Minnesota.

    Ben became one of the most sought after doctors in Manhattan.  Will and his brother Charles set up a joint practice in Rochester, Minnesota.  The last name of the brothers was Mayo, a name that has a time-honored reputation in the medical community.  

    Was there a dramatic episode in Will’s life that inspired his decision?   The only record that we have is that he prayed for guidance after Ben’s lucrative invitation.  In the days that followed his talking to God, Will wrote that he developed a compelling, irresistible urge to return to his roots where his family lived. 

    The Apostle Paul once wrote, “When we are in union with the spirit of Christ Jesus, absolutely nothing about our personal circumstances matters; what matters is faith that works through love.” (Galatians 5:6)  

    When we totally surrender ourselves to the will of God, we lose control over the destiny we had in mind.  We travel to places we never dreamed of going to experience events we could have never planned.  Sometimes this experience is as miraculous as ordinary water being transformed into vintage wine. 

    Shortly after the German composer Johannes Brahms created his beautiful Requiem, he laid down his quill and met with a close group of his friends and colleagues. This group gathered once a month to discuss topics of mutual interest.  The topic and question on one particular day dealt with the nature of genius.  More specifically, they were interested in what separates one person from all the rest in his or her vocational field?

    Thomas Carlyle, the older, distinguished Scottish philosopher in the group said “Genius is the transcendent capacity for making trouble.”  Everyone laughed.  Carlyle could always be counted on to bring humor into their discussions.   After everyone had contributed their thoughts, Brahms said, “I think the best definition of genius is actually found in the Gospel of John 14:10. He quoted the verse, “The Father who lives in me, He is the one who does my works.”  After a slight pause, Brahms said, “I am only a tool in the hands of the greatest of all musicians.” The group became silent as they pondered his words.

    When people experience a total transformation that causes a course correction or a flash of inspiration, they realize that anything and everything is possible when God is invisibly operating behind the scenes. Bringing a life that has been walking in darkness into the light -- that is the mysterious transformation that no language can accurately describe or translate.

    When Lois learned of my topic for today, she gave me the January 14th meditation in The Upper Room.  That meditation began:

January 13, 1982, was the darkest day of my life.  After 35-years of self-centered living and countless poor decisions, I found myself standing in my barn on top of a bale of hay with a rope around my neck.  Just before I stepped off that bale into oblivion, I heard a still, small voice ask, ‘What about your three sons?’

    Just then ordinary water was turned into vintage wine.  Alfred A. Jaeger realized he could not turn his back on life because he loathed what he had become.  After he removed the rope from around his neck, angels visited him in various human forms.  His personal friends supported him emotionally and spiritually.  He retired from teaching and on July 2, 2006, he was standing in the pulpit delivering his first sermon in a country church where he had just been appointed by his bishop to serve that congregation as their pastor.

    When we authentically ask for guidance, the universe comes in all its power and forms to support us by giving us courage to transform our lives.  Sometimes we can be at the end of our rope before we learn that at the bottom God has tied a knot. God never lets go of any of us.  However, sometimes people have to be where Alfred was before they open their spirits to allow the light to stream into their darkness.

    Christianity places a lot of emphasis on personal salvation.  How does that help the world with its rich mixture of religious beliefs, politics and angry people?  What about this material environment where we are born, raise our children, make a contribution and fade from the memory of world history?  Is there any chance for the world’s people to unite into a healthy, healing community?  Absolutely there is. 

    We all know that God works in mysterious ways as God slowly creates countless transforming wonders in our midst.  God, however, never leaves fingerprints or footprints.  Why is that?  Perhaps the answer is that God wears the most deceptive disguises.  Brahms referenced one of God’s disguises when he said, “I think the best definition of genius is actually found in the Gospel of John 14:10. “The Father who lives in me, He is the one who does my works.”  

    Jesus also provided a number of clues into how God creates.  One clue came two verses later from what Brahms quoted, “I am speaking the truth – those who follow what I have taught will do even greater things than what you have seen me do.”  (John 14:12)  A second clue was when Jesus compared God’s invisible nature to yeast.  The presence of this yeast can only be detected when societies slowly become transformed.  (Luke 13:21)  God creates in such a way that societies and cultures believe they have achieved success by themselves.  God would have it no other way.

    Think of what has been achieved in many of our lifetimes.  Remarkable values and their results are electronically communicated instantly all over the world.  Very few barriers can prevent the flow of information from reaching every country.   

    Think about how the role of women has evolved in recent memory.  They are world leaders, major players in the world’s markets, news anchors and CEOs of world-class companies.  Their strides have reached the attention of their sisters that are still under wraps in a number of cultures.  These women also want the opportunity to reach their potential by fearlessly entering the 21st century.

China wants the same standard of living as nations in the West.  China spends billions of dollars, however, conducting industrial espionage.  They reverse engineer the creations of their neighbors from the West instead of creating new products themselves.  One day the Chinese government will realize that the treasure of innovation, creativity and productivity resides inside the Chinese people once they are released to reach for the stars.  

    We are living in the most exciting time to be alive. While many of us sense global chaos, transformation is taking place all round us. We are experiencing more of it in real time because change is accelerating.   Things are never what they seem.

    Humanity is tracking just fine because our creator is still in the process of creating through countless human forms. That peaceful, healthy community will not happen in our lifetime, but it will happen. One day all ordinary water will be transformed into the best wine.  When God is in charge, nothing can prevent God’s will from happening.  That thought alone should give us peace.