Episode Transcript
WEBVTT
1
00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:05.639
Let's turn our attention to the gospel
of John, John Chapter Two, verses
2
00:00:05.759 --> 00:00:10.310
one through twelve. If you have
one of the black bibles from the cart,
3
00:00:10.349 --> 00:00:14.589
this is on page eight hundred and
eighty seven. You're welcome to read
4
00:00:14.630 --> 00:00:21.109
along. If it helps you,
however, to be an active listener and
5
00:00:21.269 --> 00:00:26.100
in other ways, that's that's wonderful
too. Let's give our attention to God's
6
00:00:26.100 --> 00:00:30.859
Word and John Chapter Two, verses
one through twelve. This morning we have
7
00:00:31.019 --> 00:00:35.700
the pleasure of hearing of Jesus First
Public Miracle That John Records for us.
8
00:00:36.609 --> 00:00:43.090
He turns water into wine. Amazing. On the third day there was a
9
00:00:43.210 --> 00:00:48.130
wedding at Cana in Galilee, and
the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus
10
00:00:48.289 --> 00:00:53.000
was also was invited to the wedding
with his disciples. When the wine ran
11
00:00:53.159 --> 00:00:57.000
out, the mother of Jesus said
to him, they have no wine,
12
00:00:58.039 --> 00:01:00.640
and Jesus said to her, woman, what does this have to do with
13
00:01:00.759 --> 00:01:06.989
me? My hour has not yet
come. His mother said to the servants,
14
00:01:07.750 --> 00:01:12.349
do whatever he tells you now.
There were six stone water jars there
15
00:01:12.469 --> 00:01:18.659
for the Jewish rites of Purification,
each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus
16
00:01:18.700 --> 00:01:23.180
said to the servants fill the jars
with water. They filled them up to
17
00:01:23.219 --> 00:01:26.579
the brim and he said to them, now draw some out and take it
18
00:01:26.700 --> 00:01:30.859
to the master of the Feast.
So they took it. When the master
19
00:01:30.980 --> 00:01:36.810
of the feast taste of the water
now become wine and did not know where
20
00:01:36.849 --> 00:01:40.969
it came from, though the servants
who had drawn the water new. The
21
00:01:41.090 --> 00:01:45.090
master of the feast called the bridegroom
and said to him everyone serves the good
22
00:01:45.129 --> 00:01:48.480
wine first and when the people have
drunk freely, then the poor wine.
23
00:01:49.079 --> 00:01:53.879
But you have kept the good wine
until now. This the first of his
24
00:01:53.000 --> 00:02:00.200
signs. Jesus did it Cana and
Galilee and manifested his glory and his disciples
25
00:02:00.319 --> 00:02:04.790
believed in him. And then after
this he went down to Copernam with his
26
00:02:04.909 --> 00:02:07.669
mother and his brothers and his disciples, and they stayed there for a few
27
00:02:07.669 --> 00:02:37.610
days. You may be seated.
One of the funny things about this passage
28
00:02:37.689 --> 00:02:44.560
is that a really solid and thorough
interpretation of it would seem to require a
29
00:02:45.000 --> 00:02:52.919
fair amount of background knowledge, purification
rights, Jewish weddings, social customs,
30
00:02:53.719 --> 00:03:00.310
even a good understanding of the language
and the way things are said. And
31
00:03:00.430 --> 00:03:06.710
yet it seems like very few of
these questions can be answered with a lot
32
00:03:06.750 --> 00:03:13.780
of certainty. Is Jesus Mad at
Mary? Is Mary Mad at Jesus?
33
00:03:14.500 --> 00:03:17.659
Is She simply pointing out a fact? Is She blaming there's a lot of
34
00:03:17.780 --> 00:03:22.939
ways in which you could read this
passage, and it was somewhat difficult to
35
00:03:23.060 --> 00:03:31.370
read it this morning without a certain
kind of interpretation. One of the challenges,
36
00:03:31.490 --> 00:03:36.569
however, is that commentators are divided
on almost all of these questions.
37
00:03:38.210 --> 00:03:44.439
There's not there's not any kind of
consensus on most of these questions as to
38
00:03:44.960 --> 00:03:49.840
a lot of the things that are
going on here. So I'm going to
39
00:03:49.960 --> 00:03:57.310
avoid them, perhaps to your frustration, and focus on what I think are
40
00:03:57.590 --> 00:04:02.349
the majors of this passage, the
things that are really, really, really
41
00:04:02.590 --> 00:04:15.060
clear. One of them is that
Jesus does this extraordinary thing and, if
42
00:04:15.100 --> 00:04:20.100
I could put it this way,
without being disrespectful at all to my Lord,
43
00:04:20.139 --> 00:04:27.569
a very, very boring way.
He does this extraordinary thing that if
44
00:04:27.610 --> 00:04:30.449
you saw something like this, if
you experience this in your own home,
45
00:04:31.050 --> 00:04:39.920
water, right wine, you would
be blown away. You would tell the
46
00:04:40.120 --> 00:04:43.199
story for the rest of your life. Right, this would be one of
47
00:04:43.240 --> 00:04:47.680
your goto stories at every dinner party
from now until the future. I was
48
00:04:47.839 --> 00:04:51.949
there, that there was no more
wine and then all of a sudden there
49
00:04:53.069 --> 00:04:57.990
was tons of wine. Jesus turned
water into wine. Raise this amazing thing.
50
00:04:58.350 --> 00:05:02.949
It demonstrates that Jesus in fact is
God, that he has creative power,
51
00:05:03.709 --> 00:05:09.779
that he can, in a way
that only God can and only the
52
00:05:09.819 --> 00:05:17.100
way that God knows, change reality
to create new reality. He's not he's
53
00:05:17.100 --> 00:05:23.610
not merely manipulating things and shifting them
around like we do, but he can
54
00:05:23.769 --> 00:05:28.089
create something out of nothing, or
change one thing that is one thing and
55
00:05:28.569 --> 00:05:34.720
something else that is something else.
Totally outstanding, extraordinary in every way.
56
00:05:36.160 --> 00:05:40.639
And yet if you didn't know,
if I didn't tell you, that this
57
00:05:41.079 --> 00:05:46.079
was the first of Jesus's miracles in
which he turned water into wine, you
58
00:05:46.160 --> 00:05:54.790
wouldn't know at all that this was
a miracle story. Until you get down
59
00:05:54.829 --> 00:06:00.310
at the very sort of bottom of
the story. It's almost a passing comment
60
00:06:00.110 --> 00:06:03.500
when it says in verse nine,
when the Master of the feast, taste
61
00:06:03.540 --> 00:06:09.620
of the water now become wine.
Right, it's just like, and this
62
00:06:09.819 --> 00:06:14.899
happened right like just this sort of
side fact. Almost when you read through
63
00:06:14.939 --> 00:06:17.970
the story, you simply have there
was an and the events don't even seem
64
00:06:18.009 --> 00:06:23.730
all that dramatic. Mary says to
Jesus they're out of wine, and he
65
00:06:23.850 --> 00:06:28.050
says, why are you asking me
this? And and she just she responds
66
00:06:28.089 --> 00:06:34.079
by going telling the servants just do
whatever he says. and Jesus, he
67
00:06:34.160 --> 00:06:39.600
doesn't promise to do anything, but
the commands that he gives are so ordinary
68
00:06:39.720 --> 00:06:42.800
to there's you know, when you
go watch a magic show, it's all
69
00:06:42.839 --> 00:06:48.550
about the performance, right, you
know, there's there's colors and lights and
70
00:06:50.110 --> 00:06:56.269
you know, movements and drama.
Listen to how Jesus performs this miracle.
71
00:06:57.430 --> 00:07:00.029
Verse Seven, Jesus said to the
servants, fill the jars with water.
72
00:07:00.939 --> 00:07:06.779
Can you imagine a more boring thing
to say or do? FILL THE JARS
73
00:07:06.860 --> 00:07:11.019
WITH WATER? Right, this is
something that you do all the time and
74
00:07:11.139 --> 00:07:14.620
all kinds of different situations and ways. This is an everyday kind of thing.
75
00:07:15.500 --> 00:07:20.370
There's no special formula, no magic
wand, no great enchantment or amulet.
76
00:07:21.129 --> 00:07:29.290
Jesus doesn't switch over to another dimension
and then switch back and just fill
77
00:07:29.370 --> 00:07:33.879
the jars with water. And it
goes on like this. They filled them
78
00:07:35.279 --> 00:07:41.560
to the brim. He said to
them, now draw some out and take
79
00:07:41.600 --> 00:07:46.709
it to the master. Of the
Feast. So they took it. When
80
00:07:46.750 --> 00:07:49.629
the master of the Feast of tastes
the water now become wine. What you
81
00:07:49.750 --> 00:07:54.029
see? To See what I mean? It's it's done. It's all this
82
00:07:54.310 --> 00:07:57.589
very, very ordinary thing. Now
become wine and did not know where it
83
00:07:57.629 --> 00:08:01.139
comes from. They'll the servants of
the water knew where it had come from.
84
00:08:01.180 --> 00:08:03.939
The master of the friest calls the
bide groom and pats him on the
85
00:08:03.980 --> 00:08:07.819
back. It says, man,
you're an amazing host. Wait, I
86
00:08:07.899 --> 00:08:11.139
thought Jesus did the miracle. What
does this have to do with the bridegroom?
87
00:08:11.579 --> 00:08:15.769
You see how Jesus, an almost
every moment in this story's receding into
88
00:08:15.810 --> 00:08:20.889
the background, is doing this in
these incredibly ordinary things, in ordinary ways,
89
00:08:20.050 --> 00:08:26.129
with ordinary means. And yet is
doing these extraordinary things. Not only
90
00:08:26.160 --> 00:08:30.160
does he turn water into wine,
but now, all of a sudden,
91
00:08:30.240 --> 00:08:35.000
the bridegrooms a hero, the waiters
and etc. They're all happy and likely
92
00:08:35.200 --> 00:08:43.870
this brought joy, more joy to
the wedding, and it was really good
93
00:08:43.870 --> 00:08:48.750
wine to we read. John Concludes
this by saying this was the first of
94
00:08:48.870 --> 00:08:54.230
his signs. Jesus did it Cana, and it manifested his glory. Right,
95
00:08:54.269 --> 00:08:58.860
if you will go, if you
if you had the opportunity to go
96
00:08:58.100 --> 00:09:03.700
to Jesus, or imagine a story
in which the son of God would come
97
00:09:03.740 --> 00:09:09.570
into the world and would do his
first big sign in which is man is
98
00:09:09.769 --> 00:09:18.250
glory. The glory of God would
be manifested, the glory of God would
99
00:09:18.250 --> 00:09:26.200
be made known. I would expect
to show something dramatic, and it is
100
00:09:26.240 --> 00:09:33.000
in some ways, but in so
many ways it's it's not. Why?
101
00:09:37.600 --> 00:09:46.389
Because this first sign is in a
way a telling sign, a sign that
102
00:09:46.509 --> 00:09:54.820
demonstrates the way his entire ministry is
going to go. On the one hand,
103
00:09:54.980 --> 00:10:01.580
it is going to be exceedingly great, beyond anything anyone has ever imagined.
104
00:10:01.620 --> 00:10:05.980
It's going to be fulfilling the kinds
of promises that were promised under the
105
00:10:07.850 --> 00:10:11.809
old covenant, New Covenant Promises.
For example, if you go over to
106
00:10:13.649 --> 00:10:22.080
Isaiah, Chapter Twenty Five, I'm
you'll hear this of these these promises,
107
00:10:22.360 --> 00:10:31.240
these coming promises for God's people.
Let me read. Oh, let me,
108
00:10:31.840 --> 00:10:33.360
there's so much good here. Let
I'll just start at verse one and
109
00:10:33.480 --> 00:10:37.950
we'll see I goes. All Right, here we go, Isaiah Twenty Five,
110
00:10:39.230 --> 00:10:41.590
the Lord you are my God.
I will exalt you. I will
111
00:10:41.590 --> 00:10:46.230
praise your name, for you have
done wonderful things. Plans formed of old,
112
00:10:46.470 --> 00:10:50.620
faithful and sure. For you have
made the city a heap, the
113
00:10:50.740 --> 00:10:54.500
fortified city a ruin, the foreigners
place a city no more. It will
114
00:10:54.620 --> 00:11:01.220
never be rebuilt. Therefore, strong
people's will glorify you. Cities of ruthless
115
00:11:01.259 --> 00:11:05.009
nations will fear you, for you
have been a stronghold to the poor,
116
00:11:05.490 --> 00:11:09.490
a stronghold to the needy in his
distress, a shelter from the storm and
117
00:11:09.570 --> 00:11:13.409
a shade from the heat. And
a breath of the ruthless is like a
118
00:11:13.570 --> 00:11:16.889
storm again, for the breath of
the ruthless is like a storm against a
119
00:11:18.009 --> 00:11:22.120
wall, like heat in a dry
place. You subdue the noise of foreigners
120
00:11:22.399 --> 00:11:26.000
as heat, by the shade of
a cloud. So the song of ruthlessness
121
00:11:26.080 --> 00:11:33.950
is pressed down. There's put down
here, the the the description of the
122
00:11:33.070 --> 00:11:37.909
Lord and his work, work that
is brought to a consummation in Christ is
123
00:11:37.029 --> 00:11:43.669
described in a way that puts down
evil, puts down ruthlessness, God's enemies,
124
00:11:43.789 --> 00:11:46.980
people that would seek to do harm. And in the second of Jesus's
125
00:11:48.019 --> 00:11:52.100
miracles, he's going to do exactly
that when he goes into the temple and
126
00:11:52.220 --> 00:11:58.299
he cleans it out of wickedness.
But in addition to making God's people safe
127
00:11:58.419 --> 00:12:03.850
and it making establishing a kingdom that
is secure and strong and a place for
128
00:12:03.970 --> 00:12:09.370
worship, it is also a place
that is filled with endless joy, endless
129
00:12:09.570 --> 00:12:15.570
blessing. Listen to the continuing description
here in verse six. Now this connects
130
00:12:15.570 --> 00:12:18.919
us to the wine miracle. Here
on this mountain, the Lord of hosts
131
00:12:20.039 --> 00:12:24.639
will make for all people's a feast
of rich food, a feast of well
132
00:12:24.799 --> 00:12:30.990
aged wine, of rich food full
of marrow, of aged wine, well
133
00:12:31.149 --> 00:12:37.110
refined. You see this glorified way
in which God is describing this kingdom that
134
00:12:37.269 --> 00:12:41.549
is going to come, this kingdom
that is established with blessings that just you
135
00:12:41.629 --> 00:12:46.539
don't just eat your daily bread,
it is the best bread you've ever had.
136
00:12:48.460 --> 00:12:52.220
You don't just drink some wine with
your dinner. It's the best,
137
00:12:52.820 --> 00:13:01.250
it's bountiful, it's a pleasurable and
brings joy. goes on and I will
138
00:13:01.289 --> 00:13:05.009
swallow up, on this mountain,
the covering that is cast over all people's
139
00:13:05.330 --> 00:13:09.529
the veil that is spread over all
nations. He will swallow up death forever
140
00:13:11.009 --> 00:13:15.000
and the Lord God will wipe away
tears from all faces, and the reproach
141
00:13:15.080 --> 00:13:18.840
of his people will be taken away
from all the earth, for the Lord
142
00:13:18.399 --> 00:13:22.159
has spoken, it will be said
on that day, behold, this is
143
00:13:22.240 --> 00:13:26.519
our God. We have waited for
him that he might save us. This
144
00:13:26.799 --> 00:13:28.789
is the Lord. We have waited
for him. Let us be glad and
145
00:13:28.909 --> 00:13:33.909
rejoice in his salvation. Remember the
words of his disciples that we've been reading
146
00:13:33.990 --> 00:13:39.429
in John. Come and see,
the Messiah has come. Behold the lamb
147
00:13:39.470 --> 00:13:43.220
of God who comes into the world. This is what they're talking about,
148
00:13:43.419 --> 00:13:46.980
the fulfillment of these things. They
have been waiting on the Lord, and
149
00:13:46.139 --> 00:13:52.620
now he has come. God Incarnate, God Emanuel with us, has come
150
00:13:52.139 --> 00:13:56.009
and these things are coming true.
First ten for the hand of the Lord
151
00:13:56.049 --> 00:14:00.850
will rest on this mountain, and
mob shall be trampled down in his place,
152
00:14:01.250 --> 00:14:05.289
a straw, as Straw is trampled
down in a Dunghill, and he
153
00:14:05.330 --> 00:14:07.730
will spread out his hands in the
midst of it, as a swimmer spreads
154
00:14:07.809 --> 00:14:13.039
his hands out to swim. But
the Lord will lay low his pompous pride,
155
00:14:13.120 --> 00:14:16.440
together with the skill of his hands
and the high fortifications of his wall,
156
00:14:16.519 --> 00:14:20.679
he will bring down, lay low, cast and cast to the ground,
157
00:14:22.200 --> 00:14:28.830
to the dust. God is not
going to tolerate anything that stands in
158
00:14:28.990 --> 00:14:33.389
his way. It will be laid
low, it will be crumpled, it
159
00:14:33.429 --> 00:14:37.580
will be destroyed, it will be
ground into the dust, but those who
160
00:14:37.700 --> 00:14:41.139
cling to him, those who wait
for him and for his salvation, will
161
00:14:41.179 --> 00:14:48.580
be lifted up and will be blast
with every blessing that could that you could
162
00:14:48.580 --> 00:14:52.889
ever imagine. This is all going
to come through this Messiah who comes,
163
00:14:54.169 --> 00:15:01.450
who is now here and turning water
into wine, who is marking the things
164
00:15:01.529 --> 00:15:05.730
that he does with celebration, with
joy, with blessing, and he's going
165
00:15:05.809 --> 00:15:09.000
to continue to do that through his
miracles that we read and John and the
166
00:15:09.039 --> 00:15:16.879
other gospels, as well as he
restores people's crippled legs, relationships, sin,
167
00:15:18.159 --> 00:15:26.509
problems many other things. Jesus does
amazing things, more amazing than anybody
168
00:15:26.590 --> 00:15:33.470
is really expecting, but he does
them in a more ordinary way than anyone
169
00:15:33.549 --> 00:15:39.220
is expecting, and that's the other
aspect here that we're learning about in this
170
00:15:39.779 --> 00:15:45.659
first of this Jesus signs and this
in his public ministry. Here not only
171
00:15:45.740 --> 00:15:52.210
is this extraordinary thing happening, but
it's going to happen in a very ordinary
172
00:15:52.289 --> 00:16:00.570
way. Fill this, take that, do this thing. Sometimes people are
173
00:16:00.409 --> 00:16:04.840
frustrated with this. When are you
coming? When is it going to happen?
174
00:16:06.200 --> 00:16:08.559
What's IT GOING TO BE? And
he says it's happening now, it's
175
00:16:08.600 --> 00:16:15.000
happening among you. Even the miracles
people will see and point to and be
176
00:16:15.159 --> 00:16:21.029
frustrated. I'm the same continues on
today. Jesus is Ministry, Jesus is
177
00:16:21.190 --> 00:16:23.470
Gospel, is still at work.
It's still at work among his people.
178
00:16:23.509 --> 00:16:32.429
He's still doing extraordinary things, like
being present with us when we come and
179
00:16:32.549 --> 00:16:37.700
worship with him, like lifting us
up out of our death, our sins
180
00:16:37.740 --> 00:16:41.059
and our trespasses so that we might
live with him, reign with him,
181
00:16:41.220 --> 00:16:45.500
walk with him, like giving us
a spirit that changes us so that,
182
00:16:45.580 --> 00:16:49.850
instead of stamping our foot and looking
Jesus and now I and saying I don't
183
00:16:49.850 --> 00:16:55.169
care and I don't want to do
it, we humble ourselves no matter what
184
00:16:55.250 --> 00:17:00.649
it takes. We say, I'll
do whatever you want. What makes a
185
00:17:00.730 --> 00:17:07.519
person do that? But change is
a person God does. If God can
186
00:17:07.599 --> 00:17:11.359
turn water into wine, he can
take dead bodies and make them live again.
187
00:17:12.119 --> 00:17:18.309
He can take dead souls and make
them live for him. Amazing things,
188
00:17:18.470 --> 00:17:25.150
but in very ordinary ways. In
Our confessions and Catechisms we talk about
189
00:17:25.190 --> 00:17:32.099
God working through the ordinary means of
grace. It's an important phrase to know
190
00:17:32.339 --> 00:17:37.380
and memorize, ordinary means of grace. Grace, on the one hand,
191
00:17:37.539 --> 00:17:41.339
is an extraordinary thing to talk about. None of us are deserving of it,
192
00:17:41.619 --> 00:17:45.130
especially the kind of grace that's been
described for you this morning here in
193
00:17:45.210 --> 00:17:51.450
God's word. And yet it comes
to us through very ordinary means. What
194
00:17:51.609 --> 00:17:57.680
are those means? The word of
God, particularly preaching, the administration of
195
00:17:57.759 --> 00:18:04.279
the sacraments and prayer. And people
will want programs and they'll clamor after all
196
00:18:04.359 --> 00:18:07.359
kinds of things and they'll want to
see all kinds of other stuff. And
197
00:18:07.759 --> 00:18:12.430
not that all that is terrible or
wrong and of itself, but God has
198
00:18:12.509 --> 00:18:19.910
promised to do some amazing things.
If we will listen to him, we
199
00:18:19.990 --> 00:18:26.390
will follow his paths. It's a
blessing to us really that he does things
200
00:18:26.470 --> 00:18:30.299
in this way. If God did
things, if got if a salvation only
201
00:18:30.460 --> 00:18:37.220
came to us if we accomplished certain
goals or if we approved ourselves to be
202
00:18:37.579 --> 00:18:41.210
worthy in some way or another,
if we were if we had to,
203
00:18:41.410 --> 00:18:45.809
let's say, go on a long
journey to a special place, or we
204
00:18:45.970 --> 00:18:51.529
had to go and collect certain elements
that we could concoct into a formula that
205
00:18:51.650 --> 00:18:56.720
and finally would be able to enact
some kind of salvation or enchantment, or
206
00:18:56.799 --> 00:18:59.480
maybe we had to do a certain
amount of good works, or anything you
207
00:18:59.559 --> 00:19:04.480
might imagine that would be really impressive
and worthy of salvation would ultimately undermine any
208
00:19:04.480 --> 00:19:10.990
kind of gift that God is giving
to us. Because God does it in
209
00:19:11.069 --> 00:19:17.869
these ordinary, totally accessible, boring
ways. It makes salvation accessible to all
210
00:19:17.950 --> 00:19:22.990
of us. Everyone the calls on
the name of the Lord, that hears
211
00:19:22.109 --> 00:19:29.299
the word and responds in faith.
It's a reminder to US constantly of how
212
00:19:29.500 --> 00:19:38.329
far the Lord humbled himself to be
with us and to love us. So
213
00:19:38.450 --> 00:19:42.410
in this first miracle where Jesus turns
water into wine, we begin to understand,
214
00:19:42.809 --> 00:19:48.170
we begin to see more of what
this Ministry of Jesus is All about,
215
00:19:49.650 --> 00:19:55.960
what the Gospel itself is that the
Lord can't the Lord of Glory,
216
00:19:56.559 --> 00:20:03.759
manifested that glory by coming into the
world, humbling himself and eventually even dying
217
00:20:03.799 --> 00:20:10.829
on a cross to forgive us our
sins. The second thing I want to
218
00:20:10.910 --> 00:20:14.710
mention in the last thing I want
to mention is what Martin Luther says is
219
00:20:14.869 --> 00:20:22.220
the most important phrase in this chapter
and the central point of of of this
220
00:20:22.859 --> 00:20:30.859
message here, and it's Mary's words
when she says in Verse Five, Do
221
00:20:30.460 --> 00:20:40.250
Whatever he tells you, do whatever
he tells you. If you could just
222
00:20:40.369 --> 00:20:45.609
get this one thing, my job
would be done. Right. If I
223
00:20:45.890 --> 00:20:49.359
could just get this one thing,
my life would be so much easier.
224
00:20:52.039 --> 00:20:59.680
Do Wherever he tells you. Now
it's easy to say, well, yeah,
225
00:20:59.839 --> 00:21:03.400
of course right, he is the
Lord of the universal what else would
226
00:21:03.400 --> 00:21:07.589
I do? But Ah, we
don't do that, do we? We
227
00:21:07.750 --> 00:21:17.670
don't do whatever he tells us.
Constantly I hear people say things like well,
228
00:21:17.750 --> 00:21:22.500
I don't like the way God did
that then the Old Testament. Oh
229
00:21:22.660 --> 00:21:26.380
really, I mean, I i. that's, of course, a very
230
00:21:26.420 --> 00:21:30.500
kind of callous way to put in
and I try not to do that because
231
00:21:30.500 --> 00:21:33.529
I understand some things are hard to
understand, some things are hard to take.
232
00:21:33.890 --> 00:21:40.650
There are providences of God, Commands
of God that are difficult. When
233
00:21:40.690 --> 00:21:44.250
Abraham was asked to sacrifice his son
Isaac, you think that was easy?
234
00:21:45.970 --> 00:21:49.160
Many other examples could be given.
You have them in your own lives.
235
00:21:51.279 --> 00:21:53.240
The point isn't to sort of blow
it off and say well, life isn't
236
00:21:53.279 --> 00:22:00.519
hard. Life is hard, but
our lives and our interpretation of them should
237
00:22:00.559 --> 00:22:07.990
not depend on how we feel about
God. He is who he is and
238
00:22:07.109 --> 00:22:12.150
there's no changing that. When we
approach God, we don't approach him at
239
00:22:12.269 --> 00:22:18.500
a distance and say, well,
all decide once, I decide. No,
240
00:22:18.740 --> 00:22:29.460
we do whatever he says. But
it's not just the commandments that we
241
00:22:29.539 --> 00:22:33.569
ought to think about. But in
chapter six Jesus will have Jesus will be
242
00:22:33.569 --> 00:22:36.490
asked, well, what, how
do we do the things of God?
243
00:22:37.410 --> 00:22:44.480
And he will say trust in me, believe in me. That is the
244
00:22:44.640 --> 00:22:52.960
work of God. You could,
maybe for thirty seconds or less, commit
245
00:22:52.079 --> 00:22:59.509
yourselves to being totally sold out and
engaged for God to do everything that he's
246
00:22:59.549 --> 00:23:02.670
going to say from now until you
know, thirty seconds from when you forget.
247
00:23:03.390 --> 00:23:07.230
You could do that. And even
if you were able to accomplish that,
248
00:23:07.309 --> 00:23:10.589
which you wouldn't be able to,
because even our best works, the
249
00:23:10.670 --> 00:23:15.299
Bible says, are like filthy rags, even if you were able to do
250
00:23:15.539 --> 00:23:22.980
that, it would not spring from
faith and would ultimately be useless and bringing
251
00:23:22.019 --> 00:23:26.890
you any kind of salvation. At
the bottom of every work that we do
252
00:23:27.210 --> 00:23:33.210
at the bottom of all striving that
we do for the name and the glory
253
00:23:33.410 --> 00:23:38.089
of God, underneath all of that, empowering all of that, is faith,
254
00:23:40.210 --> 00:23:44.960
and faith is nothing but receiving something
that God is giving to us in
255
00:23:45.160 --> 00:23:51.400
love. That's why Jesus puts it
that way. Doing the works of God
256
00:23:51.599 --> 00:23:55.950
is not going out and becoming another
Jesus. Doing the works of God is
257
00:23:56.029 --> 00:24:00.950
about trusting Jesus. If you just
go be another Jesus, you're rejecting Jesus.
258
00:24:02.029 --> 00:24:04.509
And how can that be a thing
of God if you're rejecting God?
259
00:24:04.990 --> 00:24:15.579
Not a thing of God. Trusting
the Lord for everything, doing whatever he
260
00:24:15.819 --> 00:24:25.250
says for in everything. That's what
it means to follow Jesus. That's what
261
00:24:25.369 --> 00:24:34.490
it means to be a Christian.
Now I'm I'd like to read kind of
262
00:24:34.529 --> 00:24:40.599
a lengthy quote from Martin Luther on
this, because I think what he says
263
00:24:40.599 --> 00:24:48.119
is so helpful. He says,
in noticing this interaction between Mary and Jesus,
264
00:24:49.759 --> 00:24:55.069
see how unkindly Jesus turns away the
humble request of his mother, who
265
00:24:55.109 --> 00:25:00.789
addresses him with such great confidence.
Now observe the nature of faith. What
266
00:25:02.029 --> 00:25:07.420
has it to rely on? Absolutely
nothing all. All is darkness, it
267
00:25:07.299 --> 00:25:12.140
feels its need and it sees its
help nowhere. In addition, God turns
268
00:25:12.180 --> 00:25:18.099
against it like a stranger and does
not recognize it, so that absolutely nothing
269
00:25:18.900 --> 00:25:22.490
is left. In the same way
with our conscience, when we feel our
270
00:25:22.529 --> 00:25:27.210
sin in the lack of righteousness,
or in the agony of death, when
271
00:25:27.250 --> 00:25:30.730
we feel the lack of life,
or in the dread of hell, when
272
00:25:30.769 --> 00:25:36.799
eternal salvation seems to have left us, just as he here treats his mother
273
00:25:36.960 --> 00:25:41.680
by refusal, making the need greater
and more distressing than it was before she
274
00:25:41.759 --> 00:25:45.359
came to him with her request.
This is where faith stands in the heat
275
00:25:45.440 --> 00:25:52.109
of battle. Now observe how his
mother acts, and so here becomes our
276
00:25:52.230 --> 00:25:57.069
teacher. However harsh his words sound, however unkind he appears, she does
277
00:25:57.190 --> 00:26:03.230
not, in her heart interpret this
as anger. You see that that's key.
278
00:26:04.259 --> 00:26:07.859
He's luther saying, and rightly so, that what Mary does rightly here,
279
00:26:08.299 --> 00:26:15.180
is she gets a blank, she
gets a no, she gets a
280
00:26:15.500 --> 00:26:19.890
not right now, maybe even in
a strong way. I think that's somewhat
281
00:26:19.970 --> 00:26:26.930
hard to say. But no matter
what, she refuses to Impute to God's
282
00:26:26.009 --> 00:26:30.289
Sin. She doesn't interpret it as
anger and say, well, forget you
283
00:26:30.450 --> 00:26:33.920
all, go find someone else who
can help, or this has to be
284
00:26:34.240 --> 00:26:37.880
on my own time, or don't
you understand? Didn't you hear me?
285
00:26:37.480 --> 00:26:42.319
None of that. What does she
say? Do Whatever he tells you.
286
00:26:42.960 --> 00:26:47.039
She doesn't know what he's going to
do either. She doesn't have it all
287
00:26:47.150 --> 00:26:51.309
figured out. She doesn't know all
the ways. Let me continue on with
288
00:26:51.829 --> 00:26:56.829
Luther here. However unkind he appears, she does not enter in her heart,
289
00:26:56.910 --> 00:27:00.990
interpret this as anger, as the
opposite of kindness, but adheres firmly
290
00:27:00.150 --> 00:27:06.099
to the conviction that he is kind, refusing to give up this opinion because
291
00:27:06.140 --> 00:27:10.259
of the thrust she received, and
done willing to dishonor him in her heart
292
00:27:10.660 --> 00:27:15.140
by thinking him to be otherwise than
kind and gracious, as they do,
293
00:27:15.579 --> 00:27:18.690
who are without faith, who fall
back at the first shock and think of
294
00:27:18.769 --> 00:27:23.849
God merely according to what they feel, like the horse and the mule which
295
00:27:23.849 --> 00:27:29.130
we saying about this morning, and
son thirty two. For if Christ's mother
296
00:27:29.250 --> 00:27:33.599
had allowed those harsh words to frighten
her, she would have gone away silently
297
00:27:33.799 --> 00:27:38.000
and displeased. But in ordering the
servants to do what he might tell them,
298
00:27:38.640 --> 00:27:44.789
she proves that she is overcome the
rebuff and still expects of him nothing
299
00:27:44.950 --> 00:27:48.950
but kindness. Hence, the highest
thought in this Gospel lesson, and it
300
00:27:49.029 --> 00:27:53.309
must ever be kept in his mind, is that we honor God as being
301
00:27:53.470 --> 00:28:00.980
good and gracious, even if he
seems to act and speak otherwise and all
302
00:28:00.140 --> 00:28:07.579
our understanding and feeling be otherwise.
She is certain that he will be gracious,
303
00:28:07.579 --> 00:28:14.769
although she perhaps does not yet feel
it. If that's not practical,
304
00:28:14.849 --> 00:28:19.089
I don't know what else to tell
you. We stand before the Lord,
305
00:28:19.490 --> 00:28:26.970
not as his master's we stand receiving
His grace, as those who are totally
306
00:28:26.009 --> 00:28:33.400
undeserving of it. But we hold
fast and firm to the conviction that he
307
00:28:33.599 --> 00:28:37.160
is true, he is good,
he is gracious in all that he does.
308
00:28:38.319 --> 00:28:42.069
He promises us that whoever comes to
him for mercy will receive it,
309
00:28:42.670 --> 00:28:48.710
whoever comes to him for kindness will
receive it. So trust him for that.
310
00:28:49.029 --> 00:28:53.789
You won't understand every situation of your
life. You won't understand the very
311
00:28:53.829 --> 00:28:59.099
ordinary ways in which things are happening. You will often be asked to be
312
00:28:59.299 --> 00:29:04.660
patient and to persevere over and over
and over again. But your strength is
313
00:29:04.779 --> 00:29:12.009
not in yourself if it is in
Christ. So trust him, rest on
314
00:29:12.089 --> 00:29:19.210
him, do whatever he tells you
and he will do extraordinary things. He
315
00:29:19.250 --> 00:29:23.289
will save you from death, he
will bless you with all the blessings and
316
00:29:23.400 --> 00:29:29.880
the heavenly places. Who Call you
his brother. He'll make you a son.
317
00:29:30.440 --> 00:29:32.000
Let's pray
