Sermon – 01-26-25 (using 01-19-25 scriptures)
Scriptures – Isaiah 62:1-5, Psa1m 36; Corinthians 12:1-11, John 2:11
Sermon Title: “The Spirit of Jesus’ Love”

The wedding guests are busily talking to each other, already having had too much wine. Mary overhears someone saying that the wine has been consumed but the guests are not ready to leave. Mary hurries to find Jesus who is also a guest at his wedding. “Do something!,” she says in a loud whisper close to his ear when she finds Jesus.

:“I can’t!” Jesus whispers directly in Mary’s face. “My time is not yet come!” “What does that mean?” retorts Mary. “They need wine and you can handle this problem!” Jesus starts to walk away to avoid more arguing with his mother. He really loves his mother but he is determined that God the Father does not want Jesus to be known as the Messiah this early in the gamel

Mary must be on a direct wave length with God the Father and Jesus hears her tell the servants, “Do as Jesus tells you!” Jesus succumbs to the situation and tells the servants to fill huge stone jars with water – not just one, mind you – but six. Six jars that hold twenty or thirty gallons each.

The servants fill those jugs – think of the time that was required. But when the first person took a ladle of water from the jug, that person’s eyes popped open widely. First, the water was no longer clear. It was red or whatever grape color it was. The mouth that belongs with the popped-open eyes tastes the wine. Wow! This wine is superior to the earlier wine which was purchased or made the usual way.

The secret is out. Jesus from Nazareth is revealed as a person with special powers. The disciples believe! The Holy Spirit is working through Jesus.

Later, the Apostle Paul writes how the Holy Spirit works in us. Paul is saying that the Holy Spirit gives each of us gifts – not the same gifts but a variety of gifts. We compliment each other. You can do something in our community of believers, I can do something else. We are to use our gifts to help each other. We shall enhance the community with our abilities.

Were you curious about the picture on the cover of your bulletin? The prophet Isaiah is given words by God the Father to share with the people who had been throughdesolate experiences in captivity. The Father, the Lord God Almighty, is promising that God’s people will be as if they are married to the Father, to their builder, if you will, their creator. The people will be married to the land. This builder is like the bridegroom rejoicing over the bride with the people being the bride. We are the bride. God the Father, God the Son Jesus, God the Holy Spirit each rejoice over each person who believes.

This Holy Spirit about whom Paul writes is the same Holy Spirit that works through Jesus and Mary at the wedding and is the same Holy Spirit that enables God the Father to rejoice over each of us. This is the same Holy Spirit that comes upon us to heal us. The healing spirit helps us to be changed, to feel a deep calmness, to be bathed in the love of Jesus. Amen