The First Institution

I’m really blessed to hear the preaching of my brothers in office here at our parish. Here was today’s offering in Hamel. BB+

Sermon for Epiphany 2, 2020 - John 2:1-11; Ephesians 5:22-33

The Rev. William Gleason

As I was studying the lessons for today, the epistle stuck out to me, not for the first time, so “politically incorrect.” In today’s progressive culture, Ephesians 5 is very problematic with all the talk of wives submitting to their husbands and the husband being her “head.” In a society where holy matrimony is already under heavy attack, and with fewer people committing to marriage, many think Paul’s words about wives are demeaning to women and outdated. Some say that the Gospel lesson does the same when Jesus calls His mother, “Woman.”

Of course, neither Paul nor our Lord Jesus is guilty of such contempt for women. On the contrary, both elevate woman to places of honor in God’s sight making them equal heirs of His kingdom. But the world never misses an opportunity to mock God and His word. Such is the spirit of our age that scorns God’s word and scoffs at godly themes like marriage and family. This it is not a new spirit, though. That ungodly spirit has been working since Eden, when Satan undermined the first marriage of a husband and wife. And I’m not talking here about Adam and Eve, though Satan left their union in a shamble, too. I’m talking about the same marriage Paul spoke of, the marriage of Christ and His Church.

That union has always been Satan’s target. The same lying voice that deceived Eve and Adam is the same lying voice today telling folks to be “offended” at anything God’s word says. And just as Satan went straight to the woman, the weaker vessel, in his deceit then, so also today. He targets weak souls who reject Christ’s strong word for calls of unrestrained tolerance and emotions. And if the devil can get you to reject Christ as your Lord and Head, then you are defenseless against his satanic tyranny.

Marriage is the bedrock of a sound and healthy society. It was the first institution that God established after He created all things. As such, it is holy and good. Its holiness and goodness come from the fact that it was divinely instituted and blessed. Marriage between a man and a woman mirrors the marriage between God and His Church. In both the husband and the wife, we have an image of the one, true God. Adam, God’s son, was created in God’s image, the image of love and strength and holiness. As husband to Eve, Adam was to show those divine qualities to her without any regard for himself. He was to love her, protect her, and be faithful to her. Eve, the most special of God’s creation, taken from the side of God’s son, also showed God’s divine character. She was Adam’s “helper.” And far from being some inferior place, that is the most perfect title and position for anyone to hold. That name of “helper” (Hebrew ‘ezer) is the same one used throughout Scripture for God. Psalm 54:4 is a perfect example, “Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life.” That was the title and calling God gave Eve. God, our Helper, is simply the God who is gracious to us. And so, as the husband is meant to show God’s love to his wife, so the wife is meant to show God’s grace to her husband. This is why God blesses marriage, even in our fallen world.

That’s the significance of Christ’s first miracle there at Cana. Just as God’s very first gift to man and woman was the blessing of marriage, so the first sign of Christ’s redemption is the blessing of a marriage. Christ Jesus came to restore the Paradise of Eden by restoring the image of God’s holiness and righteousness to fallen men and women. Christ reopened the Gates of Paradise when was pierced for our iniquities. And when from His pierced side there came water and blood, we see the means whereby the Spirit recreates us in the image of Christ. And in Christ, we are made new. That image of divine love and holiness is especially important between a husband and wife, since they mirror the love between Christ and the Church. That’s why Paul’s exhortation to husbands and wives in Colossians 3 is preceded with an appeal to “put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.” The same is true in our lesson from Ephesians 5 where Paul begins that chapter saying, “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and walk in love, as Christ loved us.”

When the wedding feast at Cana ran out of wine, Jesus took the opportunity to reveal His glory. That would be the same glory revealed later when He would bless a Cup, forgive His tormentors, give up His spirit in death, and then, three days after, risen from the grave speak peace to His disciples. Jesus’ glory is revealed from start to finish in this remarkable story. His glory is revealed in the opening words, “On the third day,” where John hints at the glory of Christ’s resurrection. His glory is revealed in Mary’s appeal to Jesus for help, just as Jesus in glory now appeals to God for our help. His glory is revealed when Jesus spoke of His “hour not yet come,” pointing us toward His passion when He would provide His greatest help by dying for our sins. His glory is revealed when Mary told the servants to “Do whatever He tells you,” and they obeyed, just as Jesus would tell the disciples at His ascension, and they obeyed, along with all faithful servants of the King after them. His glory is revealed in the master of the feast praising the bridegroom for serving the finest wine after the poor wine, just as the “new wine” of Christ’s Testament of grace would be served after the Testament of the Law. And, finally, His glory was revealed when His disciples believed in Him, just as all the signs Jesus did were written down “so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

Jesus came to redeem you, His Bride, His Church, whom He cherishes. He redeemed you by giving up His life for you, atoning for all your sins and clothing you with His own holy and pure righteousness. He has taken you to be His own, sanctifying you in the “washing of water with the word.” In your baptism, He has wedded you to Himself in a mystical union that may never be broken. The sign of our communion with Christ is His Holy Feast wherein He gives us His Body broken, and His Blood poured out for the forgiveness of your sins. Here He removes all your “spots and wrinkles,” all the transgressions unbefitting a virtuous Bride. He makes you holy and without blemish to depart in peace and joy to live for Him, your loving Lord and heavenly Bridegroom. Here at His Table, Christ’s glory is also revealed as we behold His salvation in the blessed bread and wine. Jesus reveals His glory here so that you, His disciples, may believe in Him. And the glory we taste and see here, is the same glory to be revealed fully and forever when He comes again to receive you, His Church, into His eternal wedding feast. Amen.