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THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY Pastor Tom Steers Christ the Saviour Lutheran Church, Toronto January 19, 2025 Divine Service III – Pages 184-202 Lutheran Service Book Our Hymn of Praise: 507 “Holy, Holy, Holy” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsuqrvJrT2Q The Invocation Confession and Absolution Page 184-185 Opening Versicles Pastor: This is the day which the Lord has made. Congregation: Let us rejoice and be glad in it. P: From the rising of the sun to its setting. C: The name of the Lord is to be praised. P: Better is one day in Your courts than a thousand elsewhere. C: I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. P: Make me to know Your ways, O Lord. C: Teach me Your paths. P: Sanctify us in Your truth. C: Your Word is truth. P: From the rising of the sun to its setting. C: The name of the Lord is to be praised. (All) Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Amen. Collect Prayer: Almighty and everlasting God, who governs all things in heaven and on earth, mercifully hear the prayers of Your people and grant us Your peace throughout all our days; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. Our Bible Readings – First Reading Isaiah 62:1-5 Psalm 128 Epistle Reading 1st Corinthians 12:1-11 Gospel Reading John 2:1-11 THE APOSTLES’ CREED Page 192 HYMN OF THE DAY: 402 “The Only Son from Heaven” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xc2-PqKsvJo THE SERMON – In the Gospel of John, it’s at the wedding at Cana that the Ministry of Jesus begins. The Apostle writes, “On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee” when Jesus did the first of His signs that manifested His glory. A “sign” in John’s Gospel is more than just a miracle, it’s something that points to the Divinity and saving work of Jesus as the Messiah, it indicates His mission as God in Human flesh. This third day mentioned in our text ends the sequence of six days begun in the ministry of John the Baptist. The first day was the occasion when John the Baptist saw Jesus and said to his followers, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” From the Book of Genesis, we know that Creation also took place in six days, and on the sixth day man was created. With this reference of six days, John is saying the Old Testament times have ended, and the New Covenant is being inaugurated. The old man, Adam, will finally be replaced by the new man, Christ, who is God with us. The marriage feast of Christ and His Church is beginning. In this way, the changing of water into wine is intimately connected with the witness of the Baptist and the gathering of the first disciples. At the very beginning of the Cana account there’s a signal. The wine miracle reveals the connection between water, Christ’s own Baptism, and the life and suffering of Jesus as the Lamb of God. John begins his Gospel narrative at a wedding, and this is not an accidental nor irrelevant detail. In the miracle at Cana, it’s revealed that through the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, the marriage of God and the Church has commenced. We see the mother of Christ in this passage. In John’s Gospel, we won’t see her again until she is at the foot of the cross with John. It is another signal that the Cana miracle is a sign of the coming crucifixion of Jesus, a ‘time’ that Jesus, reminds Mary, has not yet come. Still, the wine miracle itself, John tells us, reveals Christ’s glory, the glory of the only Son from Heaven. The new purification, which the wine miracle symbolizes, lies wholly within the creative will of God. The Gospel of John opens with the Apostle telling us, as Genesis did, that Christ was in the beginning with God, and that all things were made through Him. While Christ’s saving act at the cross is the fulfillment of the Old Testament, it proceeds from His coming from the Father from eternity, and in the gift of the Creator Spirit. The transformation of the water into wine springs from the Word, Christ, who speaks, and the miracle happens. Just as God the Father, through Christ, spoke the universe into existence at the beginning of time. Martin Luther wrote that the water in the stone jars represents the Law, which demands our works and leaves us like those stone jars, hardened with fear and dread of God’s judgment. But the Gospel removes the penalty of the Law, and consoles us. For when the heart hears that Christ fulfills the Law for us, and takes our sins upon Himself, we are no longer burdened by the impossible things, the absolute perfection, the Law demands. This is because the heart now has Christ. The transformation of water into wine indicates that the Old Testament ritual purification of God’s people is being replaced by another, far greater, and permanent purification. The best wine, Christ’s blood, has been shed on the cross, and is given to us in the Lord’s Supper along with His body. The bread and wine of Communion is transformed, by God’s Word. In this holy Sacrament, this foretaste of the Heavenly banquet, we have forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation. The Sacrament of the Altar was instituted by Christ Himself, and He commanded Christians to receive, to participate in it. It is the earthly fulfillment of the promise of the wedding feast of Christ and His Church until we join Jesus at His table in Heaven at the end of time. Water is a frequent theme in John’s Gospel. The water turned into wine. The water and blood that poured from Christ’s side on the cross, that not only creates the Bride of Christ, the Church, but also cleanses and clothes her in His righteousness. Water is not just a mere symbol though, but the material instrument, the earthly element, of a Divine act. By John the Baptist using water, Christ is baptized. Baptism is performed by the Apostles at Christ’s direction using water. The water isn’t a symbol of a gift, but a means through which it is given when combined with God’s Word and command. Christ gave Himself over for the Church, “that He might sanctify her by the washing of water with the Word.” (Ephesians 5:26) That He might present His bride, the Church, to Himself as glorious. That she might be holy, and without blemish. Here we have, with full clarity, the word that Christ’s death is the sanctifying purification for mankind. That through Christ’s payment for our sins on the cross we are redeemed. That in the washing of Christian Baptism, we are rescued from sin, death, and the devil. That the body and blood of Christ truly are given and shed for you in the Lord’s Supper, and that through them we have salvation and eternal life. In other words, Christ performs another miracle this day for you. He gives you, through the Church, the means of grace. The fine wine, which the divine Bridegroom has reserved to the last, is His blood shed for us. In that holy death and resurrection, the work of redemption has reached its conclusion. Jesus did this sign at Cana, and so manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him. As believers you are part of the wedding feast, the marriage of Christ and His Church. We have God’s sign in Jesus and confess Him to be the Saviour of the world. Amen. THE PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH SERVICE OF THE SACRAMENT Page 194 SANTCUS (Holy, Holy, Holy) Page 195 THE LORDS PRAYER THE WORDS OF OUR LORD (The words of Institution of the Lord’s Supper) Page 197 THE AGNUS DEI (Lamb of God) Page 198 THE DISTRIBUTION NUNC DIMITIS (The Song of Simeon) Page 199 Post Communion Collect (Left-hand column) Page 201 The Benediction Page 202 CLOSING HYMN 514 “The Bridegroom Soon Will Call Us” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ep7-ZhHQA1M