“Jesus Still Reveals His Glory to Us”

by Pastor Edwin Lehmann on January 13, 2023 in

Epiphany 2 (The Wedding at Cana)                                                                                                  January 15, 2023
Text: John 2:1-11                                            Historic Series                                                      23:2361
Theme: Jesus Still Reveals His Glory to Us.

Suppose that you and I received an invitation to attend the wedding at Cana in Galilee. Dressed in our finest clothing, bringing our little wedding present, we arrive. All is delightfully prepared. The bride appears gorgeous in her bright wedding gown. The groom looks stately in his handsome wedding apparel. The guests cheerfully smile, awaiting the arrival of the blessed couple. All is delightful.
Jesus arrives. Heads turn to see Him. He is the most illustrious guest present. Recently coming from His baptism by John in the Jordan River, He is accompanied by 5 or 6 of the disciples. A low buzz fills the air as some guests tell a little of what they have heard and know about Him. Not too much yet for He has just begun the work of His public ministry. But this promises to be no ordinary occasion to which we are invited. All who learn to know Him find in Him such glory as excels anything known in this world.
Psalm 45 describes Him: “You are more excellent than the sons of man. Grace is poured out on (anointed) Your lips” (v.2). Later John wrote, “We beheld His glory, the glory as of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (Jn.1:14). Peter once asked, “Lord, where shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. You are the Holy One of God” (Jn.6:69). So great is the blessedness found in Christ, that despite persecution and suffering, those who followed Him were filled with gladness. And the shame they endured for Him, who is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life,” was to them a great honor.
As you learn to know Christ, like them you find in Him heaven on earth. You come into possession of a blessedness in life which makes the joys of this world pale into nothingness. Day by day Jesus becomes more glorious to you. He grows more precious, more indispensable. He is your Treasure, your Joy, your Comfort, and your Hope. Life centers in Him, the Savior. Is that your experience?
It began to be revealed at Cana’s wedding. He was invited, He came, and His divine presence proved a great blessing as He manifested His glory by a miracle. But He did not intend to limit the manifestation of glory to just one instance. Jesus Still Reveals His Glory to Us, and we see it, unless we prevent Him. How does He Still Reveal His Glory to Us? Like here, He Reveals His Glory when our need is exposed and we are convinced only He can fill it.
I. Think of how it happened here. The wedding was well underway when something unforeseen took place. The supply of wine began to fail. When Mary heard this, she must have thought of the prophecies and angelic revelations about her son. She remembered His kindness, mercy, and grace with which He approached all things the past 30 years as He lived under her roof. So, she approached and informed Him: “They have no wine.” What did she expect of Him?
She most certainly expected Him to do something. Why? There is only one adequate answer. She hoped, dare we say expected Him to do something in an extraordinary, wondrous way as was fitting of the Messiah. She merely stated the fact, asked nothing, not even: “Can, or will You help?” She laid before Him the need and left the rest to Him. It was a simple prayer aroused by faith’s intuition.
The Son of God’s response: “Woman, what does that have to do with you and me? My time has not yet come.” What did He mean?
Sometimes I have thought His response somewhat harsh, even cold towards His mother. But His words don’t indicate a chilly refusal to help. They merely state that the proper time for action had not yet arrived. When the proper time arrived, He would do what was needed to be done, and many, not just a few, maybe all would see His Glory. So, Jesus waited until the need was exposed.
When that moment arrived, He had the servants fill the stone jars with water, draw and take some to the steward of the feast who tasted and discovered the most excellent wine. The servants knew from whence it came. The steward remarked in astonishment to the groom how excellent it was. Then the realization sunk in as to what had happened. Jesus performed a miracle when the need was the greatest. All who were aware of it saw His glory, His kindness, and the majesty of His creative power. So, we are told, “This was the first sign Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He revealed His glory.”
This is the way Jesus still acts in our lives. First, we must become aware of our great need and must learn that only Jesus can fill it. That is done through the Word of God. If we would see the glory of Christ and have our need filled, we must hear His Word. For the inspired Word of God is the only source from which we gain sure knowledge of Christ – who He is, why He was born into our world, what the object of His mission is. As true God and true man in one Person, He is the Savior of mankind. He suffered for sin, shed His blood, and died for all. And so He reconciled us to God, redeemed from eternal death. The sins of all are pardoned; they are saved by grace through faith. That is what the Word of God teaches.
“God so loved the world that …..” “It is by grace that you have been saved….” “God was in Christ reconciling….” All men can know this for thus it is written. However, a man may have an excellent, intellectual knowledge of what the Bible says of Christ and still know nothing of the glory of Christ. One must learn to say, “How wonderful Christ is to me, a sinner! What light, comfort, life, and power I find in Him! How blessed is fellowship with Him, my Savior.” And for that to happen, you must be convinced of your deep need before Him and that only He can fill it.
Sadly, so many who know Him have never been convinced of their deep need and that only Jesus can fill it, otherwise they would be constantly found in Him, in His Word, and in worship and service to Him. It is natural for us in our fallen human nature to think that we are not so bad, that we are not such great sinners, that we do many good things so pleasing to God. Oh, perhaps we might deserve correction for a few shortcomings, but we certainly don’t deserve eternal damnation. Many fail to see and feel how deep is sin’s corruption in each one’s soul.
We must realize how lost and condemned we are on our own. We must realize the utter hopelessness of our natural spiritual condition, and that none can save himself from the eternal wrath of God except through Christ Jesus. When that need is exposed and we are convinced only He can fill it, similar to what happened at Cana, then and only then the veil drops from our sight and the Glory of Christ in our lives Is Revealed to our great joy and comfort. So…

II. …we turn in faith to Christ and trust Him with all our heart.
It happens much like it did at the wedding in Cana, except on a far greater and eternal plain.
At Cana’s wedding, Jesus tarried until the people were fully aware that the supply of wine had failed. But if they refused to believe that the water had been changed into wine, they would still not have seen the glory of Christ. It was the need that arose which prompted Jesus to manifest His glory by that miracle. And by believing that Jesus had performed a miracle to fill the need, the guests saw His glory revealed. That was true of the disciples of whom it is said, “And His disciples believed in Him.”
Already they had faith in Him. But this miracle strengthened their conviction that He was the Messiah. It made Jesus all the more precious to them. By faith alone in the Savior from sin, you too will experience that same blessedness.
This applies most of all to eternal things, but it’s not limited. It also applies to our temporal needs, as it did in Cana, for how will He not, along with our eternal needs, graciously provide all things that we truly need in Him (Ro.8:32). As a loving father provides for his children, so He will provide for us. In that His Glory Is Revealed.
Be assured that as you turn in faith to Christ and trust Him with all your heart, like Mary did, He will change the water of your tears and troubles in this life into the wine of joy and gladness. Your sighs and laments over sin will be changed into songs and praise in His divine pardon. Your weakness will be turned into strength, your fears into confidence, death into life, hell into heaven, and more. All treasures are found in Him. You will know Him, full of unspeakable love, untiring faithfulness, and unfathomable mercy. And His glory will be revealed in you through faith as you trust Him with all your heart. This is what the changing of the water into wine means to us in the Epiphany Season. “Jesus revealed His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.” God grant it to us in faith for Jesus’ sake. Amen.


The Second Sunday after the Epiphany                               January 15, 2023

   Welcome in the name of the newborn Savior. We are happy to have you worshipping with us today as the Lord continues to reveal in His Word the divine glory of His Son born at Christmas.

Miracles tend to impress people because of the power displayed. However, Jesus’ purpose in performing miracles was not to impress people with His ability. Rather, His purpose was to reveal His glory as God’s Son who came to earth for a greater purpose – to save the people from their sins. The miracles acted as signposts, pointing people to Him as their gracious Helper, their divine Savior.

May we who have seen His glory in the Word, kneel in faith before Him and worship Him for the blessings of salvation and life that He bring.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Jesus Manifests His Glory at Cana’s Wedding

The Preparation

Opening Thoughts on the Service

The Entrance Hymn: “Songs of Thankfulness and Praise”                                         #386

Order of Worship: Service: Setting Two with Holy Communion:                 pages 172-178

Hymn in Place of the Glory to God: “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”                          #350

Prayer of the Day

The Ministry of the Word

(The Lessons for the Day are taken from the Historic Pericope Series of the Christian Church.)

Isaiah 61:1-6 The Spirit of God will rest upon the Christ when He comes. The Spirit will equip Him for His work. With the Spirit upon Him, Christ will use His divine gifts for the eternal welfare of His people.

Romans 12:6-16 God bestows different gifts upon His Church to be used for the good of all. The believer’s Christian love is shown to be sincere as he follows in the footsteps of the Savior, using his or her gifts for the advancement of His Kingdom.

The Gospel Acclamation for the Epiphany Season                                            page 179

John 2:1-11 Jesus takes up His work as He begins the time of His public ministry among the people. He reveals His glory in His first miracle at Cana’s wedding, changing the water into wine and manifesting Himself as the Christ, come to help His people.

The Sermon Hymn: “The Star Proclaims the King Is Here”                                        #374

The Sermon:               “Jesus Still Reveals His Glory to Us”                      John 2:1-11

Our Response to the Word

The Confession of Faith: The Nicene Creed                                                     page 180

Prayer of the Church                                                                                           page 182

The Offering

The Lord Blesses Us

The Order of Holy Communion                                                                  pages 183-187

(We invite our communicant members to the Lord’s Table, believing that in the bread and the wine, they receive the Savior’s true body and blood for forgiveness of sins. Since Holy Communion implies a oneness of faith, our practice is that of close communion. We therefore ask visitors to speak with the Pastor before communing.)

The Distribution

(There will be no Distribution Hymns sung this morning)

Thanksgiving & Blessing                                             Beginning the middle of page 187

Closing Hymn: “Lord, Bid Your Servant Go in Peace”                                               #950

Silent Prayer

*                   *                  *

The Organist: (Jane Rips is absent today, visiting her mother in Iowa)

The Preacher: Pastor Edwin Lehmann

Point to Ponder: “The miracle also reveals the glory of marriage in four ways. First, we see that marriage is a holy institution that God Himself ordained. Second, it is an institution that God preserves by His almighty power. Third, God Himself provides for the needs of this institution. Finally, in it, God wants to reveal Himself to man.

“As Christ once went to the wedding at Cana and there revealed His glory by a miracle, so today He uses marriage as a way to reveal Himself to all who do not shut their eyes and hearts to Him….Marriage, with its sorrows and joys, is a way in which countless couples, relying on Christ, have had their faith strengthened and preserved. For them, marriage has become a source of both temporal and eternal blessings.”

“This then is the fourfold glory with which God had honored the state of holy matrimony. He instituted it, preserves it, provides for those who enter it, and makes it a school of faith and love.”                                                        — CFW Walther on John 2:1-12


The Second Sunday after the Epiphany – Historic Series

Old Testament Lesson: Isaiah 61:1-6 The Spirit Rests on the Servant

      1The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the afflicted. He sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release for those who are bound, 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance for our God, to comfort all who mourn, to provide for those who mourn in Zion, to give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, a cloak of praise instead of a faint spirit, so that they will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord to display his beauty.

      4 They will rebuild ancient ruins. They will raise up what was formerly devastated; they will renew ruined cities, which have been devastated for generations. Strangers will stand and shepherd your flock, and foreigners will be your farmers and vinedressers. You will be called the Lord’s priests. You will be named ministers of God. You will eat the wealth of nations, and you will boast about their riches.

Epistle Lesson: Romans 12:6-16 Using the Gifts God Has Given You

      6 We have different gifts, according to the grace God has given us. If the gift is prophecy, do it in complete agreement with the faith. If it is serving, then serve. If it is teaching, then teach. If it is encouraging, then encourage. If it is contributing, be generous. If it is leadership, be diligent. If it is showing mercy, do it cheerfully.

      9 Do not just pretend to love others. Hate what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another with brotherly love. Think of others as deserving more honor than yourselves. 11 Do not be lagging behind in zeal, but be fervent in spirit, as you continue to serve the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope. Endure trials patiently. Persist in prayer. 13 Share with the saints who are in need. Be quick to welcome strangers as guests.

      14 Bless those who persecute you; bless, and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who are rejoicing; weep with those who are weeping. 16 Have the same respect for one another. Do not be arrogant but associate with the humble. Do not think too highly of yourselves.

Gospel Lesson: John 2:1-11 Jesus’ First Miracle – Wine out of Water

      1Three days later, there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there. Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no wine.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does that have to do with you and me? My time has not come yet.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

      6 Six stone water jars, which the Jews used for ceremonial cleansing, were standing there, each holding twenty or thirty gallons.Jesus told them, “Fill the jars with water.” So they filled them to the brim. Then he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” And they did. When the master of the banquet tasted the water that had now become wine, he did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew). The master of the banquet called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when the guests have had plenty to drink, then the cheaper wine. You saved the good wine until now!”

      11 This, the beginning of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.           The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version® (EHV®) copyright © 2019


                           Calendar & Announcements for Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church

A member congregation of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod

4717 S Farm Rd 135 (Golden Avenue), Springfield, MO 65810

Church phone: 417.887.0886                   www.zionluthchurch.com

Pastor’s cell phone: 417.693.3244            email: revelehmann@gmail.com

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Today

Jan.15

Monday

Jan.16

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Jan.17

Wednesday

Jan.18

Thursday

Jan.19

Friday

Jan.20

Sat.

Jan.21

Next Sun.

Jan.22

9:00 am

Divine Worship Service

with Holy Communion online -Facebook

10:15 am

Annual Voters’ Meeting

 

Epiphany 2

 

 

 

4 pm Confirmation Class

 

 

 

 

 

 

11 am

Midweek Bible Class

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9:00 am

Divine Worship Service

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 10:15 am

Fellowship & Bible Study

 

Epiphany 3

 

A Brief Bible Study on God’s Word for Today

“Grace” is a beautiful word. We normally define grace as God’s undeserved love. That is exactly right! Grace suggests the idea of giving a gift without a sense of obligation. If we feel obligated to give a gift, it’s no longer a gift. Jesus loves us not because He is obligated. He didn’t die for us out of a sense of guilt. He didn’t owe us. Everything Jesus does for us, He does for one reason only: He is gracious. He does it because He wants to, freely! Yes, Jesus is our gracious Savior.

The Gospel Lesson: John 2:1-11  (answers are found on the back side)

  1. What problem arose at the wedding in Cana to which Jesus and His disciples were invited?
  2. How did Jesus react when Mary told Him that they had run out of wine? Why did He react this way?
  3. What did Jesus do to resolve the problem?

Those We Remember In Our Prayers: Greg Miller; Lou Schulz; William & Laurie Moon; Pauline Jaeger; Kirsten Jaster (Laurie Moon’s sister); Greg Pierson (the Long’s son-in-law); Libya, Jodi Milam’s granddaughter, diagnosed with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis; Lucille Huston; Barbara Long; Lois Wiese.

Forward in Christ’s January issue has arrived. There are plenty of copies in the narthex for family and friends.

2023 Offering Envelopes are in your mailboxes or fellowship hall where you may pick up your new set for the year ahead.

Upcoming Events

Sunday, January 15 – Annual Voters’ Meeting following the ending of the 4th quarter

The Week in Review

Last Sunday Worship: 28; Bible Class 22; Midweek Bible Class: 4; Offerings: $2,588..

Next Sunday’s Lessons:               

Epiphany 3: 2 Kings 5:1-19; Romans 12:17-21; Matthew 8:1-13 (Historic Pericope Series)

Answers to Today’s Gospel Lesson Brief Study:

  1. They had run out of wine. It was customary in Jesus’ day for weddings to be celebrated for several days. It seems clear that the wedding hosts had not adequately prepared.
  2. Jesus wondered why Mary involved Him, stating, “My time has not yet come.” Jesus seems to be suggesting that it wasn’t yet time for Him to publicly reveal himself as the promised Savior through His miracles. That would take place in the Father’s and His time, not Mary’s.
  3. He changed water into wine, and His disciples put their faith in Him.

This week I am praying for……    



 

Pastor Edwin Lehmann

Preacher: Pastor Edwin Lehmann