2nd Sunday After the Epiphany Service

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I'm gonna have to wait for that to start so I can mute it so that we don't get a weird audio feedback loop.

Okay.

So we'll be doing a service of the word today and The opening

hymn is gonna be 533 this is the second Sunday after the epiphany and

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Yeah, okay, all right, I'm gonna need some help with the liturgy so I need

an answer from you Josh.

Are you able to help with the liturgy?

If not, then I have to find somebody.

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Can you can you hear me?

And I don't hear you.

Gotta see if it's me though.

Hello.

Steven can hear Josh.

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Okay, we gotta figure out why I can't hear Josh.

Alright, hold on a second here.

Other people.

I can hear Josh.

I can't hear him at the moment.

So I'm trying to figure out where the breakdown is.

You can't hear me.

Hold on a second here.

It's a golden opportunity for me to do something funny.

But I'm gonna refrain.

Make sure the audio is working here.

I'm here.

Hello.

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Can hear now.

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Yeah, I had a setting changed on my on my board because yeah.

It's a it's a long story.

All right.

Okay, we got it worked out then.

Yeah, we got it worked out.

It was on my end.

So, all right.

Let me make sure we're live streaming.

Original sound is on.

Let me do an audio check to make sure this sounds.

Okay.

And then we'll go.

Did that sound?

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All right.

Oh came in loud and clear.

All right.

Thank you.

533 is our opening.

Him.

As our friend Heaven and earth now

proclaim this great wonder Jesus

brings pleasure.

Eternal has come

now see bonds rent us under fetters of

death now dissolve disappear.

See.

With the voices of thunder he sets us

free from our guilt and our fear Lifts

us from shame to the place of his honor.

Jesus.

The role of God's thunder.

As has come as the mighty Redeemer

see now the threatening strong one

Jesus breaks down all the walls of death's fortress

brings forth the prisoners triumphant.

Unharmed.

Satan you Wicked one.

Oh now your master Jesus has come.

My.

Divine service setting to.

And then let's make sure Josh is unmuted.

There we go, all right, so Josh, yeah, I'm assuming you're turning it on and off.

I'm doing so so I can respond and got it.

Okay.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen, if we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

But if we confess our sins God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse us

from all unrighteousness.

Let us then confess our sins to God our Father most merciful God.

We confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean.

We have sinned against you and thought word and deed by what we have done and by what we have left

undone.

We have not loved you with our whole heart.

We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.

We justly deserve your present and eternal punishment for the sake of your son Jesus Christ.

Have mercy on us.

Forgive us renew us and lead us so that we may delight in your will and walk

in your ways to the glory of your holy name.

Amen.

Almighty God in his mercy has given his son to die for you and for his sake he forgives you all of your sins.

As a called and ordained servant of Christ and by his authority I therefore forgive you all of your sins in the name of the

Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

The intro it is on the screen in front of us.

We'll read this together by half verse.

All the earth worships you and sings praises to you.

They sing praises to your name.

It is good to give thanks to the Lord to sing praises to your name.

Oh most high.

Shout for joy to God all the earth.

Sing the glory of his name give to him glorious praise.

Say to God how awesome are your deeds so great is your power that your enemies come

cringing to you.

All the earth worships you and sings praises to you.

They sing praises to your name.

Come and see what God has done.

He is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man.

Blessed be God.

Because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit as it was in the beginning is now

and will be forever.

Amen, all the earth worships you and sings praises to you.

They sing praises to your name.

It is good to give thanks to the Lord to sing praises to your name.

Oh most high.

In peace, let us pray to the Lord.

For.

The peace from above and for our salvation Let us pray to

the Lord.

For the peace of the whole world For the well -being of the Church of God and

for the unity of all Let us pray to the Lord.

For this Holy House and for all who offer here their worship and praise

Let us pray to the Lord.

Help save comfort and defend us gracious Lord.

Glory to God in the highest and peace to his

people on earth.

And.

The

Lord

be with

you.

Let us and also with you.

There we go.

Let us pray 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 through all of our days through Jesus

Christ your son Our Lord who lives and reigns with you in the Holy Spirit one God now and forever.

Amen.

The Old Testament text for the second Sunday after the Epiphany is taken from the book of Exodus

chapter 33.

Moses said to the Lord see you say to me.

Hang on a second.

I gotta do something.

I gotta go back.

There we go.

I have to remember to do that.

Let's try this again the the Old Testament text for the second Sunday after the Epiphany is taken from

Exodus chapter 33.

Moses said to the Lord see you say to me bring up this people.

But you have not let me know whom you will send with me yet.

You have said I know you by name and you have also found favor in my sight.

Now therefore if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways That I may know you

in order to find favor in your sight.

Consider too that this nation is your people and he said my presence will go with you and I

will give you rest.

And he said to him if your presence will not go with me Do not bring us up from here for

how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight?

I and your people is it not and you're going with us so that we are distinct I and your people from

every other people on the face of the earth and the Lord said to Moses this very thing that you Have spoken I will

do for you have found favor in my sight and I know you by name.

And Moses said, please show me your glory and he said I will make all my goodness pass before you and I

will proclaim before You my name the Lord and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious and I will

show mercy on whom I will show mercy.

But he said you cannot see my face for man shall not see me and live and The Lord said

behold there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock and while my glory passes by I

will put you in a cleft of the rock and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by.

Then I will take away my hand and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be

seen.

This is the word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

The epistle is taken from Ephesians chapter 5.

Wives submit to your own husbands as to the Lord for the husband is the head of the wife.

Even as Christ is the head of the church his body and is himself its Savior now as the church

submits to Christ So also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her so that he might

sanctify her Having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word.

So that he might present the church to himself in splendor without spot or wrinkle or any such thing.

That she might be holy without blemish.

In the same way husband should love their wives as their own bodies.

He who loves his wife loves himself for no one ever hated his own flesh.

But nourishes and cherishes it just as Christ does the church because we are members of his body.

Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife and the two shall become one

flesh.

This mystery is profound and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.

However, let each one of you love his wife as himself and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

This is the word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God

the Holy Gospel according to st. John.

The second chapter.

On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee and the mother of Jesus was there.

Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples and when the wine ran out the mother of Jesus said to

him They have no wine Jesus said to her woman.

What does this have to do with me?

My hour has not yet come.

His mother said to the servants you do whatever he tells you.

Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification each holding 20

or 30 gallons.

Jesus said to the servants fill the jars with water and they filled them up to the brim and he said to them now

draw some Out and take it to the master of the feast.

So they took it when the master the feast tasted the water now become wine and did not know where it came from

though.

The servants who had drawn the water knew the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him

everyone serves the good wine first and When people have drunk freely then the

poor wine, but you have kept the good wine until now.

This the first of his signs that Jesus did at Cana in Galilee and manifested his glory and

his disciples Believed in him.

This is the gospel of the Lord.

The sermon hymn is 402 402.

Those fear is like

So bright He's shining

Comes the Christ the

virgin Grim

death to vanquish

that

we

through

this

world

for everybody there we go and.

Already recording.

That's good.

And then real quick.

I needed to change one setting real quick here.

There we go in the name of Jesus.

Amen.

So got a little confession for you guys and that is is that um, you know I've been a pastor now for

almost 10 years and when I first was a pastor in any time a Text would come up a gospel

text from the gospel of John.

I kind of Winged a little bit.

The reason being is because John's not an easy gospel to work with.

The it's it's got layers upon layers of meaning it in fact, it's kind of like the blooming onion of

Gospels, it's just multifaceted just comes out in all kinds of different directions and when it

when you are don't make those connections it kind of Stays silent.

In fact, you sit there and go.

I don't understand why this is so important.

But when you take the time to make the connections that are there in the gospel of John

You are rewarded with depth of meaning that is just Absolutely profound

and wonderful.

So our gospel text being from the gospel of John You'll note at the end of it it says that this

was the first that of Jesus's signs that he did at Cana in Galilee and Manifested

his glory and his disciples believed in him.

So right off the bat We're gonna know this is Jesus's first miracle and one has to wonder

why why is this his first miracle?

And why is it that after doing this miracle?

It says his disciples believed in him.

And by the way Those of you who've come out of like really bad and they are churches in the charismatic stuff.

Or you've been influenced by Bethel that note here that it says that Jesus did this sign.

He did it by his own steam in his own power the claim that Jesus did all of his miracles only as

a man.

Fully yielded to the Holy Spirit.

It's baloney.

That's just not true.

So what we're gonna do is we're gonna work our way through this text and try to answer this question.

How is it that this sign caused his disciples to really believe in him?

I just like why this one because you know it the the whole thing seems kind of

well kind of mundane but again John is one of these Gospels where you're gonna have to

do some digging and after you do the digging and you make the connections.

Mmm, it's fantastic so our gospel text begins with on the third day there

was a wedding at Cana in Galilee and The mother of Jesus was there now a little bit of a note here

I've said it so many times got to pay attention to that third day stuff.

It's preparing us for something because Christ was crucified for our sins and then raised again

on the third day that third day stuff.

It's it's all throughout the the text.

So pay attention important things are happening.

So you'll note that we don't meet the the bride and the groom the groom shows up a little bit later.

We don't know who the bride is and Mary.

She's she's there but we can see.

That she is not lounging around sitting at the reception, you know table, you know eating hors

d 'oeuvres and drinking wine.

She's seems to be quite busy and very much involved and aware of what's going

on behind the scenes.

This tells us something a little bit about Mary.

She's a hard -working woman and one who legitimately has the good of her neighbor

in mind.

So it also says that Jesus was invited to the wedding with his disciples.

Important to note here that this is chapter 2 of the Gospel of John.

So Jesus's disciples.

Just started their discipleship training.

I mean these guys have only been in it for a couple of days maybe a week.

But not that long and so, you know first order of business after Jesus calls his disciples.

Is this wedding feast and so when the wine ran out the mother of Jesus said to him.

They have no wine.

And Jesus said to her woman what does this have to do with me my hour has not yet come.

Interesting reference by the way Christ's hour will come eventually and I like to think of this as a

reference to the fact that Jesus's hour is that is when he goes to the cross.

To bleed and die for your sins and mine, but you're gonna know it in this particular moment here

Mary is coming to Jesus in faith and.

And good works for her neighbor.

She's concerned for her neighbor and she knows Jesus being the Son of God in human flesh.

Is able to assist and so think of her request.

Properly as it should be thought of as what a prayer.

So Mary here is praying to Christ.

Requesting petitioning him asking for help and Jesus at first kind of pushes

back.

But you're gonna note here.

There are many other examples throughout the Gospels of people who?

Persisting in their faith.

Got their petition answered just keep that in mind.

So I think maybe that may be what's going on here.

So He pushes back and says what does this have to do to me?

My hour has not yet come and then his mother said to the servants.

You do whatever he tells you.

That's a good that's a good that's that that that'll preach.

You do whatever Jesus tells you.

Listen to Jesus's mother by the way, you do whatever Jesus tells you.

Jesus tells you to repent of your sins repent of your sins.

Jesus tells you to believe in him and trust him and that he forgives your sins by his death for you

on the cross.

You do whatever Jesus tells you you believe that you hang on to that Jesus said whoever believes in me, even though he

dies yet shall he lives so you trust in Christ you do whatever he tells you.

Jesus says to who you abide in my word.

That's an important thing.

You'll note that there's a lot of the churches out there nowadays that Jesus's words barely make

an appearance at all in the in their church services they I remember having a conversation with a

seeker driven vision casting leader and talking about the importance of Preaching Christ and him

crucified for our sins and preaching Jesus Every single Sunday and he looked at me like I'd fallen off the turnip

truck.

What do you mean talk about Jesus and read his words every Sunday and preach his

words?

Don't you understand that that the Bible, you know.

There's only four books in the Bible that contain the words of Jesus.

At least this was his thinking.

There's more than that by the way that he's his words also show up in Acts and in the book of Revelation.

But I I digress and he basically said we've got a whole lot of Bible that we need to cover and you know.

And we'll cover Jesus accordingly, you know, and it's like no, that's just not how this works.

Jesus says abide in his words and so you do whatever Jesus tells you.

Jesus says take eat.

This is my body take drink.

This is my blood given and shed for the forgiveness of your sins.

You do exactly what Jesus tells you.

Mary's Mary's a Recommendation here to the servants her admonition to them in the eye that

that that's that that works for all of us as well now here's where.

You'll note so far so good.

It seems pretty straightforward.

This is just a historical narrative.

But then it stops being merely that.

By the way, God's Word is never merely a historical narrative now we have details.

That begin to hint at a deeper understanding of what this miracle

Signifies and it goes on to say there were six stone water jars there for the

Jewish rights of purification.

All right.

Hmm.

I seem to remember that the law of God was written on stone tablets and the

number six.

Not that I'm into numerology, but I remember that God did not create the world in seven days

he created the world in six days and then he rested on the seventh and Jewish rights of

purification.

Yeah, those aren't really fun but you know kind of a necessary part of that culture and that religion so

alright.

So six stone water jars when I read the writings of the church fathers.

They seem to think that this hints at a spiritual significance related to

the current Creation that we find ourself in as well as the law of

God.

Yeah, the current creation have you noticed that we need purification.

Oh boy, do we we need purification from all of our sin and our muck and our filth.

We need that and you'll note that the the reference to the law in the stone Reminds

us that the law rightly condemns all of us, but you're gonna note here.

Bath water baptismal water washing water.

For purification rights, that doesn't sound like a lot of fun.

I mean that that kind of I mean, it's a necessary thing.

But how many of you just really enjoy some good Hand -washing water some good bath

water, you know, you just just you just enjoy that good bath one.

None of us do I mean, maybe it's just me because I'm a guy.

I mean, I hated having to take a shower and a bath when I was a kid you know, I would prefer just to keep the dirt from my

Adventures on my body so that I can put more of it on to the non the next day.

But my mother wouldn't allow me to do that.

I had to take a bath.

So baths are not that fun but you're gonna note here, so there's something going on and

again, it's happening at a wedding and this is where we might need to start doing a

little bit of cross -reference work and Let me let me explain why we have to do that.

You remember our epistle text our epistle text is a marriage text.

It talks about the roles of husband and wife and it references a text from

Genesis.

That those opening three chapters of Genesis are kind of in view here.

And so listen again to our epistle text.

We'll see if we can sort this all out.

Wives submit to your own husbands as to the Lord.

For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church his body and Is himself its

Savior now as the church submits to Christ so wives should submit in everything to their husbands right on.

Okay, but you're gonna note then the bulk of this now falls to husbands and listen to what it says

husbands.

Love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.

So that he might sanctify her having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word.

So that he might present the church to himself in splendor without spot

or wrinkle or any such thing so that she might be holy and without blemish.

Beautiful words.

And what this reveals here is that every Single marriage on

planet earth every single one of them doesn't matter if it's a Christian marriage or not.

Every single marriage is a type and shadow and the substance belongs to

the the real thing.

And that's Christ's relationship his love for his bride the

church and so you'll note then that husbands are to emulate Christ's love

for his bride in Their love for their brides, right?

Okay good.

Sacrificial love and so you'll know Christ loved the church gave himself up for her laid

down his life.

Bore her sins in his body on the cross he the righteous one became

the Unrighteous one so that we can have the righteousness of God and be the righteousness of God.

In fact, it says here so that he might present the church to himself in splendor without spot or wrinkle or any such thing.

So that she might be holy and without blemish and so when Christ finds his bride she is

covered in the filth and muck of sin and he washes away that

Sin and that muck and that iniquity and washes her cleanses her

Clothes her Gloriously clothes her makes her holy.

It's beautiful when you think about it, but then Paul goes on to say

that husbands are to love their wives.

Also as they love their own bodies, and this is where it gets really weird.

But let me work through this so now no one ever hated his own flesh.

But he nourishes it and he cherishes it just as Christ does the church.

Because we are members of his body therefore

a Man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife and the two

shall become one flesh.

Yeah, I'm familiar with that I mean isn't that read it like every single wedding.

Yeah.

But note what Paul says next.

This mystery is profound and I am saying that it the passage I he just

quoted from Genesis that it refers to Christ and to the

church.

Wait, what?

What.

Yeah.

Sort this out with me would you.

I mean so this text is legitimately saying That that passage from Genesis

for this reason a man will leave his father and mother and cleaving cleave to his wife the two will become one flesh that that text

always has Always pointed to Christ's love for his bride the church and that's the

reality of that text.

Hmm, in fact.

Now now this is starting to make sense.

Maybe just maybe the reason why Jesus is first Miracle is the changing of

water to wine at a marriage feast.

It's a big telegraph that he's heat though.

The reason why he's here is in order to save to rescue to bleed and die for lay his life

down For the love of his life the church.

Ah, this marriage is starting to make a little bit more sense.

You see the marriage feast at Cana in Galilee.

There's hints of a different marriage feast that is being referenced not just that marriage at Cana in Galilee.

But the one that is coming.

In fact, we could rightly say that in this text at in John

chapter 2 from the from that famous line from the the Prince's bride.

Marriage is what brings us together today, right?

That's right that dweam within a dweam marriage is what brought us together here today to consider the

great great love and sacrifice of our groom

Jesus Christ we being the bride and.

So you'll note that that that that starts to preach and then listen to this.

I consider man's fall into sin and then the Consequences that came as a

result of it in Genesis chapter 3 when God is doling out punishments.

For.

The transgression of eating of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

He said to the woman I will surely multiply your pain and childbearing and in pain.

You shall bring forth children and every woman who's given birth knows that's still in play.

And then he says this your desire will be contrary to your husband and he shall rule over

you.

Now what's funny is is that until really recently like yesterday, I've always read this

as only relating to.

The conflict that exists in every single marriage if it by the way those of you who've never been married I

got to warn you is that marriage is is a difficult institution.

Okay, and the reason being is because God has made it that two people become one flesh.

But they have opposing wills.

Yeah, the wife has her will the husband has his will and they constantly are doing this.

It's it's a thing but but note here that also describes the the church.

It describes the Bride of Christ now.

Our desires are obviously at times quite contrary to our husband Jesus Christ.

But still he rules over us but rules over us in mercy grace and kindness.

Mmm, good stuff to consider here.

So we've kind of worked that part of it out.

But there's more, you know I always got to think this through a little bit here and this is where

the writings of the Church Father also helped me a Bit in my sermon prep for this Sunday, and that is is

that why?

Why is it that this sign this miracle?

Really gets the disciples juices going and they will end up believing in him.

And one of the Church Fathers Suggested that the reason why that's the

case has to do with a particular pattern of miracles in the Old Testament.

Let me explain.

So if I were to quiz you guys you guys ever play like Bible trivia or something like this.

So if I were to quiz you and say, all right, so after the crossing of the Red Sea.

Okay, so after the children of Israel, they've been you know, they got the ten plagues.

You got them marching out of Egypt.

You got them crossing the Red Sea and then them finally once and for

all.

Experiencing freedom and knowing that no one would be able to have the power to enslave them again.

After the the armies of Pharaoh were drowned in the Red Sea.

What was?

Putting you on the spot here.

What was the first miracle that followed that?

Kind of think that out for a second here.

What was the first miracle that followed that?

You sit there go.

I don't know.

Luckily, I I've done the prep work for you.

I know exactly what the first miracle is after they've been finally set free from slavery and there's no going back.

It's found in Exodus chapter 15.

It says then Moses made Israel set out from the Red Sea.

This is verse 22 and they went into the wilderness of shore.

They went three days in the wilderness and found no water.

When they came to Mara, they could not drink the water of Mara because it was

bitter.

Therefore it was named Mara because Mara means bitter and the people grumbled

against Moses saying what shall we drink?

And he cried to Yahweh and Yahweh showed him a log and he threw it into the water and

The water became sweet.

Wait, what?

It's it's not it's not a it's not a high -profile miracle.

So I'm not heard a lot of preaching on this particular miracle.

But you're gonna note here the first miracle after Israel finally is Definitively

set free from slavery with no going back.

It's this miracle the changing of bitter water into sweet water by throwing a log

into it.

What's the significance of the log?

Well, when you read the Church Fathers the Church Fathers say the log is it's a foreshadowing of the

cross of Christ.

Okay, I'm gonna go with the Church Fathers on this.

I think they've there.

I think they're on to something here.

So this is a foreshadowing of how God takes the bitter waters of this life of ours

because of sin.

We've brought this upon ourselves and by the cross.

He turns the bitterness of this life the what bitter waters of this life to sweetness.

That's a pretty good way of looking at it.

But wait, there's more feel like I'm doing an infomercial here.

Let me ask you this question.

All right, so you remember Elijah the guy who you know had the showdown with the prophets of all on

Mount Carmel?

Well after he was taken up to heaven and Elisha Succeeded

him.

What was the first miracle that Elisha?

Performed after Elisha became the prophet that succeeded Elijah.

What was his first miracle?

Well, it's recorded for us in 2nd Kings chapter 2 and here's what it says.

Now the men of the city said to Elisha behold, the situation of the city is pleasant as my lord

sees but the water is bad and the land is unfruitful and

He said bring me now a new bowl and put salt in it so they brought it to him

and then he went to the spring of water and he threw salt in it and Said thus says

Yahweh I have healed this water from now on neither death nor miscarriage shall come from it.

So the water has been healed to this day according to the word that Elisha

spoke.

Okay, so what are we supposed to make of that?

So you've got the first miracle of Elisha being the healing of these deadly waters

and What does he heal it with?

He heals it with salt.

Hmm obscure reference from the book of Leviticus but Leviticus chapter 13.

Sorry chapter 2 verse 13 says this you shall season all your grain offerings with

salt.

You shall not let the salt of the covenant with your God be missing from your grain offering with all

your offerings.

You shall offer salt.

So I would note here salt has a very interesting significance in the Mosaic Covenant and that is is

that every single offering Every single one of them must be offered

with salt.

So you know when when you sacrifice a lamb you have to offer salt with it.

When you sacrifice a goat you have to offer Salt with it.

Yes offer sacrifice a bowl.

You gotta offer salt.

You gotta offer salt with it.

Why all the salt?

Well, I would note then that being the function of it is that that's also a reference to the gospel of Jesus Christ because

to be.

To lose your saltiness is to lose the gospel and that's kind of the point and so coming

back now to our old gospel text.

We're beginning to see how this is starting to play out.

Jesus's first miracle at a wedding feast.

Telegraphing his love for his bride because it's all about that marriage.

He changes water into wine that being the first of his miracles.

Just like Elisha's first miracle was the healing of those waters just like the first miracle that happened after they crossed the Red

Sea was taking the bitter waters of Mara and making them sweet.

Ah.

Now we're starting to see some stuff going on here.

We're starting to see the connection and so you'll note Christ now is taking Washing water

ceremonial washing water and was he turning it into Sweet

wine.

It just the best of the best of the best and by the way if you've ever been in a church where they said well He turned he turned it into grape juice.

No, he didn't.

Okay.

No, this was the best of the best wine so the text goes on then says.

Jesus.

So he got the six waters of stone jars for Jewish rites of purification each holding 20 or 30

gallons.

And Jesus said to the servants you fill the jars with water.

They filled them up to the brim and he said now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.

So they took it and when the master of the feast taste of the water now become wine and did not know where it

came.

From though the servants who had drawn the water they knew The master of the feast called the bridegroom.

So he sits the groom down.

He says listen, everyone serves the good wine first and then when the people have drunk freely.

Then the poor wine, but you have kept the good wine.

Until now, let me paraphrase that a little differently.

You've saved the best until last.

But it wasn't the groom of that Wedding that did it.

It was the groom of the church that did it.

So that means that Christ saved the best to last think of it this way.

Man just the misery of sin that we live under right the toil that we all experience the

Consequences of our sin the suffering the the sickness the death.

There's just the the total destruction of our lives that we languish here.

And when we read the Bible, you'll note that there's notable miracles things that God is doing.

He's visiting his people.

He's redeeming his people.

He's saving his people.

He's delivering his people but God has saved the best to

last and it's in the New Testament that God himself takes on human flesh and he

comes into our misery into this world of sin and death and suffering and

he takes our sin upon himself and He goes to the cross to

bleed and die for us so that he we can take.

We he takes our bitterness of soul and suffering and difficulty and death and

he turns that and he heals it and in the instead of death

and bitterness we get forgiveness of our sins.

We get eternal life.

We get to enter into his rest and the joy that comes from the wedding feast of the land.

It's gonna be a beautiful blowout party and we're all invited in fact, I kind of like to think that.

That when we get to the wedding feast of the Lamb.

That the folks who are there from the original wedding feast at Cana in Galilee.

Once they taste the wine, I'm positive.

They're gonna say oh, this is the wine that we had when Jesus turned the water in the wine.

It's the same vintage.

It's the same stuff.

The best wine is waiting for us.

And so you'll note then that when you start to make all of these other

connections you take the time to open up the gospel of John like a blooming onion and you see

the different layers of meaning and make all those connections then all of a sudden this

simple miracle of turning water into wine is no longer so simple in Fact what

seems so kind of, you know kind of rudimentary not a big deal all of a sudden becomes the biggest

deal of all because you can see the real meaning behind it.

And the real meaning is all about that marriage all about that marriage of the real

bridegroom Jesus Christ who saved the best to last in order to lay down his life

and to sanctify and make holy his bride.

You and me what a great text what a great miracle and

listening to Listening to Mary doing whatever Christ tells us to do.

We believe along with his disciples and we have great hope and confidence in this Jesus who will

someday return in order to take the hand of his bride and leader into the new earth and give her the inheritance that he

promised as a result of his Sacrificial death on the cross for us.

What a great Jesus we have what a wonderful marriage feast.

This is and then we look forward to the feast to come in the name of Jesus.

Amen, give me a second here.

I'm gonna share my screen again.

And make a couple of changes.

I

managed to spill some of my coffee during my sermon.

Oh, well, okay.

We.

Continue now.

By confessing our faith together in the words of the Apostles Creed.

I believe in God the Father Almighty The maker of heaven and earth and in Jesus Christ his only

Son our Lord who was conceived by the Holy Spirit born of the Virgin Mary.

Suffered under Pontius Pilate was crucified died and was buried.

He descended into hell the third day.

He rose again from the dead.

He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.

From thence he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit the Holy Christian Church the communion of saints the forgiveness of sins

the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting.

Amen.

Fix one more thing here.

There.

Well, no, no, no, there we go.

All right, we continue with the prayers of the church.

And.

Today as we pray.

Hang on a second here.

I got a Down my prayers and there we go.

There we go today as I pray.

I will say these words.

Lord in your mercy and you respond with together with me.

With these words hear our prayer.

So let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.

Lord you manifested your glory in the sign at Cana as you restored creation through the shedding of

Christ's blood.

Pour out your grace in abundance.

Give us joy and gladness in the revelation of your truth in the person of your Son.

Lord in your mercy Hear our prayer.

Raise, oh Lord the fallen churches of our fellowships.

Repair the breaches thereof rebuild a firm faith in a holy resolve.

Cause your holy word to flourish and bring forth fruit according to your good and gracious will.

Lord in your mercy Hear our prayer.

Heavenly Father lead all pastors and church leaders to imitate the servants at Cana and do as

Christ instructs.

Give them boldness to preach the law and the gospel rightly and graciously.

Provide for all their earthly needs.

Lord in your mercy Hear our prayer.

Lord God you have forged the human family in a wonderful pattern and blessed the sacred

vocations of husband and wife.

Inspire us to stand out in this world Faithful to this biblical institution and show

forth the glory of Christ and his church.

Lord in your mercy Hear our prayer.

Lord Almighty you promise that your meek ones will inherit the earth and not the wicked who seem to possess it

now.

Turn the rulers of this world toward the obedience of faith.

Draw all nations under the cover of your church that they may receive the abundance of the fruits of

salvation.

Lord in your mercy Hear our prayer.

Heavenly Father remember those in need today.

We especially lift before you Elizabeth Jeremy Allen Debbie

Paul Kerry Becky Jim Steve Christopher Sheila

Ron Melba Bill Michael Cameron Troy Jim Chloe Ellen

Brooks Gary Natalie Deb Taryn candy Todd Bonnie Brent

Roger Kevin Mark Jeff Joan Sarah Jessica Josh Ryan

Tim Laurie Mike Shirley and Carol we pray for Annie and Ethan

Sheila David Judy Linda Jean Tom Dawson Jim Ellen

Pam Chuck Charmaine Robin Colin Bill Colleen.

Heather and rich we pray for Martha Susan Una dick Wolfgang

Roseanne Rosanna the Lang family Danielle Aubrey Luke Justin

Caroline Jack Stephen Robert hermano rich Luis Tim cam

Cindy Barbara Gloria Karen Tara Robert Linda charita

Robin Luis Patti Jeff Marco Selena Rachel Mason Aaron Ashley

Elizabeth st Lou Robin Lauren Carrie Caprice and

George we asked that.

Be the father of the lonely the forsaken the helper of the sick and the needy and the comforter of the distressed

and the sorrowful.

Lord in your mercy Hear our prayer.

Lord God.

Heavenly Father We thank you that of your grace you have instituted holy matrimony in which you keep us from

unchastity and other offenses.

We implore you send your blessing on every husband and wife.

Do not let them provoke one another to anger and strife.

But let them live peaceably together in love and godliness.

Strengthen them with your gracious help in all temptations and help them to rear their children in accordance with

your will.

Grant us all to walk before you in purity and holiness putting our trust in you and Leading such lives

and earth that in the world to come we may have everlasting life through Jesus Christ your son Our Lord who

lives and reigns with you in the Holy Spirit.

One God now and forever.

Amen.

Okay, we continue now with the offertory and a little bit of a note.

We don't pass the plates at Kongsvinger, but if you would like to support the work of Kongsvinger Lutheran Church.

And you've benefited from the the receiving of God's Word and hearing the gospel.

Then consider supporting us as you know, supporting Kongsvinger.

There's a QR code that you can scan it'll take you to our website so that you can support the work of Kongsvinger Lutheran

Church and your.

Your contributions are always tax -deductible for Kongsvinger.

All right, we continue now with the offertory.

Next hymn 408, 408.

Entrusting in his promises.

We are bold to pray our Father who art in heaven.

Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses.

As we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation.

But deliver us from evil for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever.

Amen.

Let us pray.

Blessed Lord.

You have caused all holy scriptures to be written for our learning grant that we may so hear them read mark learn and inwardly digest

Them so that by patience and comfort of your holy word.

We may embrace and ever hold fast to the blessed hope of everlasting life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make his face to shine on you and be gracious to you.

The Lord look upon you with favor and give you his peace.

Amen.

Closing hymn is 644.

Now

let

me

what

we're

gonna

do

real

quick.

Check regarding questions or anything like that one.

Then what we're gonna do is we're going to take a five -minute break and then we are going to

then we are going to Continue with our study through the book of Ezekiel.

I have to leave in an hour to go to Immanuel.

They're clearing the roads out and so they're clear enough for me to be able to get out there now.

But getting a the Kongslinger earlier would have been tough.

All right.

So yeah, no, no communion when I have to do the when I have to do things.

You know.

From my office.

All right.