2ND SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY

Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord. Amen.

In this same Savior, dear Christian friends!

Everyone knows by nature that there is a God; the whole world is an open book in which is legibly written: There is a God! And in the conscience of every person this great word re-echoes loudly and clearly. But God's nature, and especially, how he is minded toward us men, neither heaven, nor earth, nor the voice of conscience can accurately tell man. Without God's revelation man continually wavers back and forth from this conception to that.

If a person prospers, if he looks up to the heavens with a happy heart and there sees how the sun, moon, and stars shine with a friendly radiance upon the earth and the clouds pour down blessings, if everywhere he sees nature laughing and bursting with blessings, then even the natural man will exclaim with shouts of joy, Oh, a good, a friendly God must have created this world and, enthroned above the stars, must lovingly preserve and rule it!

If, on the other hand, a person fares badly, and if he looks up to the heavens with a trembling heart and sees it beclouded, if he sees lightning flash out of pitch black clouds to spread death and destruction, if he hears the wrathful thunder roll over his head and sees hail and flood wipe out the hopes of a whole year in a few seconds; or, if he has vainly groaned a long time for help in sickness, pain, hunger, and nakedness; or, if he sees war, famine, and pestilence striding over the earth like evil angels and entire nations in misery under their heel, then the natural man can no longer exclaim,

"God is love!" His angry heart the rather says, God must be an obscure Being, whose heart knows no mercy; he has made a huge altar out of the world upon which he sacrifices the happiness and tears of men. By nature man, therefore, believes either that God is a God of lav'd without wrath, or a God of wrath without love.

The first thought is especially common in our day. The rationalists and apostles of a so-called enlightenment, who have gained the upper hand especially among our German people, nowadays preach from Christian pulpits, that that is the teaching which Christ has brought. During the times of the Old Testament God was viewed as a wrathful Jehovah; that is the way Moses and all the prophets preached about him; but Christ has come and brought the fearful world the message that God is not angry, that he is eternal love itself, that he is the gracious Father of all men, and that without exception all are his beloved children; God can and will do evil to no one nor dare and should anyone fear him.

Of course, he who does not yet know that he is a sinner, or who does not know what sin is, who has not yet discovered its sting in his conscience believes this doctrine of God. But if it becomes clear to a person that he is a creature who has fallen from God, if it becomes clear to him that ha has offended the Most High God with his sins and turned Him into an enemy; if his conscience awakens, if his heart says, What have you done? You have not kept God's commandments! Your whole life so far is worthy of being rejected, for you did not serve God but the world, yourself, yes, God's enemy, God will and must now punish you; he has threatened death and damnation for all transgressors; these threats will not be executed upon you; God can and will not accept you, but - reject, condemn, ah, then all thoughts that God is love wither in man's heart like green leaves in a roaring furnace; he dares not trustfully approach God, but he would flee if he could in order to hide in the most distant corner of creation.

You see, my friends, how necessary it is that God reveals himself to man! And how blessed we are; he has revealed himself to us. Not only in the Old Testament did he have it preached that he is "not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness, neither shall evil dwell with thee," Ps 5:5, but even Christ himself says of him, "Fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." Mt 10:28b; even Christ's messengers speak of a wrathful God; they say, "The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men." Rom 1:18. But at the same time God has also revealed: the sinner who is terrified at his wrath, who perceives that on account of his sins the holy God is a consuming fire, should only flee to Christ, the only begotten Son of God; in this Person God is manifest in the flesh; but in this man God does not want to be an angry God any more; in this man everyone should find a gracious God; in this man ho other fire burns but the fire of the eternal love of God toward all sinners; in him there has not appeared the wrath but the grace, .the mercy, the kindness of God.

Oh, happy are they all who, when they seek God, seek him in no one else but in Christ and draw near to God in no one else but in Christ, for in Christ God meets us first as a friendly child, then as a friendly lad, and finally as a kind Helper in all trouble. This is the picture we have of him in our today's Gospel; in this form let us now meditate upon him.

The text. John 2:1 - 11.

My friends, we we wanted actual proof that the Apostle Paul in his Letter to Titus accurately describes Christ's appearance in the words, "But after that

the kindness and love of God our Savior," Tit 3:4 we find it, as one might say, clearly pictured in our today's Gospel. Permit me therefore to speak to you about

THE KINDNESS WHICH CHRIST REVEALED AT THE WEDDING OF CANA

I. How and Why Christ Revealed it there, and

II. How we are to Apply this Revelation.

Lord God our Father! To know you and Jesus Christ whom you have sent is life eternal. We therefore beseech you, open the eyes of our spirit, so that we may not remain blind, as we are by nature but be filled with your knowledge and grow in it until we see you face to face in heaven. Let us particularly during this hour gaze joyfully upon the friendly picture of your only begotten Son in the mirror of your Word and thereby be aroused to faith in and love toward him. Hear us for the sake of our Lord and Savior. Amen.

I.

Our Gospel begins with the words, "And the third day;" these words refer directly to the events preceding our text. There we are told that shortly after Christ's first public appearance in Judea Nathanael, this Israelite in whom there was no guile, came to Christ one day and through a proof of the omniscience of Christ was brought to faith in him. When Nathanael in amazement exclaimed, "Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel," Jn 2: 49, Jesus replied, "Thou shalt see greater things than these."

So we find Christ three days later in Cana of Galilee. Nathanael, a native of this city, may have asked Christ and the other disciples he had assembled to go with him, and Christ had granted him his request. When it was known in Cana that Christ had arrived in the city with his disciples, and since at this time a wedding was being celebrated as it seems among the poor relatives of the mother of the Lord (for she had arrived here beforehand), "Both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage." And what did Jesus do? He accepted the invitation and actually appeared with his disciples.

If we knew nothing of the other important events which happened at this wedding, tell me, would we not have cause enough to be amazed at the kindness which the Son of God revealed by going to a wedding with his disciples, just when he is entering upon his teaching career? For, for what other reason can this have occurred but to reveal his kindness? Or did Christ come to enjoy himself at this poor wedding? Absolutely not! Was he not the Son of God, who himself is the: fount of all joy, with whom is fullness of joy and pleasures at his right hand forever more? If he had wanted to make himself happy, he would not have left heaven, the place of joy. We read expressly about him, "Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich." 2 Cor 8:9; and in another passage, "Who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross." Heb 12:2. This much is certain: Christ went with his disciples to the wedding at Cana not to enjoy himself but to reveal his kindness to men.

But why did Christ chose this means for revealing his kindness? Christ could indeed have thought: What would the Pharisees say? Would not they and all pious Jews be offended that I, who want to be such a holy person, the most holy Messiah who was foretold by the prophets, join in in the temporal joys of a wedding? Christ could also have thought: What will the rich and eminent of the country say when they see me sit at the banquet table of poor people? Will that not arouse disdainful thoughts in them about me? Again, Christ could have

thoughts that his disciples were novices; he would not dare to lead them to a place of joy; he must rather train them to practice repentance especially and lay a deep foundation for their Christianity through prayer and wrestlings. And finally, Christ could have thought, since he had just now entered upon his public teaching and had set aside only three short years to carry it out, he would not dare to spend his precious time at a wedding celebration; he had much more important things to do; he would rather hunt up the sorrowing, the miserable, the tempted, the sick and the dying, and the like.

As natural as we find such thoughts, and as certain as Christ himself must also have thought of them, he nevertheless was not deterred by these human thoughts from accepting the invitation. Why?: That is not difficult to guess. For, is it not true, that had Christ done only such works which revealed his great holiness; had he busied himself only with spiritual, pious exercises; had he associated only with saints; had he fled from every worldly or merely every happy association and with fasting and prayer had lived day and night only in the temple or in the desert; had he cultivated no other relation with his disciples and other people than preaching God's Word to them and kneeling in prayer with them, who would then have dared to. approach him? what sinner would have then trusted him? Would not everyone, whose conscience convicted him of his sinfulness, have been afraid of Christ as of a holy, great Being? And what idea would men have received of the type of Christian faith, the mind, life, and walk which Christ demanded? Would not everyone have thought that, whoever would want to become a disciple of Christ, must take the heaviest burden! and the most oppressive yoke upon himself and live a life of the spirituality of the angels, a life of continual bitter work, torment, anxiety, and sorrow? that all occupation with earthly things is something unchristian, a stain upon the soul? above all that all earthly joy is something sinful, something which arouses God's anger?

See, by going to celebrate a wedding in such gracious friendliness, Christ revealed himself, first of all, to entice all men, and even the greatest sinner, to come to him, and to show that the yoke which he lays upon his followers is easy, that the burden which he has them bear is light, that the Christian faith is not something sorrowful, nor a bitter service, nor a monastic, surly, hostile life but something easy, lovely, happy, blessed. Oh, what a faithful Savior, who would attend a wedding of a poverty-stricken couple just to encourage sinners to come to him!

However, our Gospel tells us not only that Christ accepted this invitation with his disciples; we also hear, when in a short time they lacked wine because of' the number of unexpected guests, that the mother of the Lord noticed the embarrassment of the bridal couple and secretly whispered to Christ, "They have no wine." Mary, who had thought deeply upon all the words which had been uttered about her Son by the angel, the shepherds, the prophets Simeon and Anna, and Christ himself, knew right well that it would require only one word from Christ to supply the lack. Yet in human weakness she prematurely reminded Christ; so he answered her, "Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come." Here Christ shows that not even his mother has a voice in the execution of his office. Yet Mary in deep humility accepted this rebuff, did not lose her faith that Christ in love would help, and therefore said to the servants, "Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it."

What happened? There were six big waterpots of stone, so that one could wash before and after the meal according to the Jewish law. Christ commanded that the pots be filled with water; the servants obeyed. He then commanded, "Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast." They brought it. In amazement the governor noticed that the contents of the cup is the most tasty wine; he therefore called the bridegroom and said, "Every man AT THE BEGINNING

doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk," that is, when the guests have had their sense of taste blunted, "then that which is worse; but thou hast kept the good wine until now."

Christ purposely did not do the miracle immediately when the need was felt; first of all, the guests had to clearly notide that the wine was actually all gone. Who therefore can picture the amazement of the guests and particularly the disciples, when they saw and tasted what a glorious miracle Christ did in this hour! That is why we read, "And his disciples believed on him." This is to indicate that although before this the disciples had had a weak faith .in Christ, it still was very weak; but now when that was fulfilled what Christ had told Nathanael three days before, "But thou shalt see greater things than these," their faith now first became truly bright and strong in their hearts.

We read that thus Christ manifested his glory. This glory consisted not only in the divine power but also and above all in the wonderful kindness which Christ manifested. For is this not true my dear hearers: What a kind heart Christ must have wanted to disclose to us, that he not only went to the wedding, but that he also crowned it with a miracle, that there he performed the first of his miracles, that he relieved a want with his glorious miracle which is scarcely called a want, and that he did just such a miracle, turning water into wine, by which he refreshed the guests and indeed made so much wine that the young couple could be refreshed by it for a whole year? Who dare doubt that Jesus must be a kind Savior whose heart burns and moves with love toward men, whose desire it is to make us happy here and save us in eternity, who is ready to empty the bitter cup of tears for us and to refresh us with the sweetest wines of joy and salvation? When we hear this today, would we not like to sing as though at the manger of the Christ-child:

He serves that I a lord may be;

A great exchange indeed!

Could Jesus' love do more for me

To help me in my need? (105,7)

II.

Let us now in the second place therefore ponder how we are to apply this revelation of Christ's kindness.

First of all, the correct application of his revelation consists in not being deterred from going to Christ by the feeling of our sinfulness. For if we consider Christ to be a "hard man," who as that servant says, "takest up that you layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow," Lk 19:21; if we consider Christ to be a foe of sinners who came to judge and condemn sinners; if we believe that Christ could reject a sinner or let him depart heavy laden, we make a false Christ for ourselves; all such thoughts are contradicted by Christ's behavior in Cana and are condemned and rejected as godless thoughts, which our heart has made for itself about Christ or which Satan puts into our head.

Therefore, you who would gladly be saved, who do not trust yourself to go to Christ because of your sins, because of your apostasy, because of your unfaithfulness of which you have made yourself guilty until this hour; you who always think that Christ wants to know nothing about you, look at Christ; see how he sits in the midst of poor sinners; see how he even crowns their wedding with a miracle; see the rays of pure love and kindness which he lets shine; give your heart to this kind Savior, believe in him, confidently join his disciples, yes, just try and you will know: he will most certainly not reject you in an unfriendly manner and he will certainly also give you the sweet wine of his comfort.

There are, however, those sinners who are not detained by fear of Christ but a fear of Christianity from saying farewell to the world and becoming true Christians. They think, whoever is to forsake the world, become Christ's disciple, and enjoy nothing in this world but the joy in the Gospel and the hope of eternal life, must also say farewell to all joy; he must become an unhappy person and pine away his short life in sorrow.

If perhaps such are here who have similar thoughts about Christianity, I ask them, Who has awakened' such conceptions of true Christianity in you? Do you want to judge the Christian faith according to those who wilfully turn it into a continuous worry, anxiety, work, and sorrow? You do not find this picture in God's Word. Look at Christ in our today's Gospel; see the friendly way he associates with people; he shows you that he did not come to put mankind into a sorrowful, depressed state but to refresh them and give them a joy and peace of heart which you do not find in the world and its joys and wealth. As long as a person goes his own way, so long he has not actually come to Christ and so long he wishes to divide his heart between Christ and the world, so long the Christian faith is a wretched, dismal thing; he has no rest, no peace, no certainty, no joy, no living hope, no blessed communion with Christ, but continual grief and fretfulness, a running and chasing for an uncertain goal, a constant wrestling and struggling and shadow-boxing.

But if he turns straight to Christ and takes comfort in him, and trusts his Word in spite of his heart, the world, and Satan, he becomes a happy Christian who considers himself more happy in distress than the most happy person can imagine himself to be in his good days. Therefore you who in the past have been afraid of the Christian faith, let Christ's kindness entice you to come to him and you will know what he himself says, "My yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Mt 11:30.

Moreover, this also is a part of the correct application of the kindness which Christ manifested in Cana; a Christian is not to despair in any distress even if Christ answers his first prayer for help with a, "Man, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come." Did you Christians not hear how Christ devised means even in the insignificant difficulty when they lacked wine at the wedding by a glorious miracle? Can you now believe that Christ will not hear your prayer when perhaps in greater distress you cry to him? Oh, do not listen to your heart which wants to doubt Christ's love in the hour of trouble when help does not come right away. Do not immediately think that Christ will forsake you in trouble because of your sins. Verily, he does not do that. He is a friend of sinners. If he delays his help, he want to test your faith, your patience, and your love to him. Therefore follow Mary and you will not go astray in respect to Christ. Even though you must first fill a large measure with tears to the very brim: when Christ's hour strikes, your tears will be turned into the wine of the most blessed joy. He himself explains it thus to his disciples in another passage when he says to them, "Ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy." Jn 16:20.

Finally, my friends, since Christ our Lord has manifested himself to be so kind, let us remember that he has in so doing left us an example, that we should follow in his footsteps. If we want to be disciples of this kind Savior, let us therefore also show it by our deeds; let us then walk so that the world sees that we. are not the enemies of men and that the Christian faith is not something gloomy and sad; let us walk as it becomes happy and blessed Christians, kind toward everyone in heart, in attitude, and in words and deeds. May the word of the apostle be written over our countenance, "As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing." 2 Cor 6:10. Amen.