"The Meaning of Christ’s First Miracle"
Sermon Summary for the Second Sunday after Epiphany
Printed 1-17-2014, Norfolk Daily News

Jesus spent the first ninety percent of his earthly life without performing a single miracle. When his time finally comes, he isn’t standing before royalty or any great religious or political leaders. Jesus performs his first miracle before man and wife. He changed water into wine at a wedding. This is how highly God regards marriage, and how much he endorses and blesses it. He created it for our benefit, after seeing that it wasn’t good for man to be alone.

Yet, just as wine isn’t to blame when it is misused, marriage isn’t to blame when it is abused. Both are gifts from God, and Jesus puts his blessing on both. And where we have gone wrong, Christ has come to bring us forgiveness, healing, and redemption.

Jesus changed water into wine. This is a gracious reminder that there is no problem that he cannot and will not solve for us. There is no sin that he has not overcome and forgiven for us. He will continue to help, bless, and be with us through his word and sacraments. He will continue to bless those he has united in holy matrimony. He never promised we wouldn’t have any difficulties. But he does promise to always help us through them. "He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?"

- Pastor Wyatt Rosebrock