Sign - John 2:1-11 - MLK Sunday - 1-16-22

 

Sermon podcast from the MLK Sunday, 1-16-22 worship service - St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL. John 2:1-11

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"Sign" podcast

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Sign

Sermon podcast from MLK Sunday 2019 at St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL. John 2:1-11. Responding to a need.

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"Sign" podcast

Rude

MLK Sunday Sermon podcast from St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL.  A rude Jesus, MLK getting chastised by white pastors, and worshiping the same God.  Yup, It's all in there.

"Rude" podcast

Brim

This week's "I remember that meme" Bible reflection (Jesus was here) is now a "You don't want to miss this" Sunday sermon at St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Downers Grove, IL.
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"Brim" podcast

Jesus was here

I saw the Internet meme that swept through Facebook and several other social media sites a few months back. It showed grocery store shelves labeled ‘Water,” but with bottle after bottle of wine stocking the shelves.  The caption on the picture reads, “Jesus was here.”

This week’s Bible reading from John 2:1-11 describes the source material for the meme -- Jesus' first recorded miracle: Turning water into wine.

I don't know how he did it.
I don't know how it really happened.

Here are some things I've heard over the years.
"It wasn't really wine. It was grape juice."
"The wine of Jesus' time wasn't the kind that makes a person drunk."
"Jesus wasn't endorsing the consumption of alcohol -- he was simply doing what his mother asked"

It was wine.  It was the kind that could make a person drunk.  And Jesus drank the wine, too.

Look -- Jesus turned water into wine and the guests were really happy. Jesus offered extravagant hospitality in a situation where he was a guest! It’s likely that he even got a little bit tipsy -- on this and maybe some other occasions.

I also think that some people have a problem with alcohol consumption -- either from their moral perspective or as a person who has abused alcohol or as a person who has been affected by the actions of a person who abuses alcohol. I don't think a person should ever use this verse to berate or cut down a person who chooses, for whatever reason, not to drink. I also don’t think the story should be used to say that alcohol consumption is just fine. Ultimately, this story isn’t about drinking alcohol – it’s about abundance and hospitality. The wedding guests were out of wine. Wine was a part of the celebration.  Jesus (at his mother’s request) responded to the need.

Yeah.  Jesus does that.

Not Yet

Things were different at the beginning of the week when I posted the Bible study blog post for i.ucc (Whine) That entry is still present, but things have gone in a different direction than I had originally planned for Sunday's sermon. The sermon for Union Congregational United Church of Christ in Somonauk involves Jesus' turning water into wine, Martin Luther King Day, and responding to the need after the earthquake in Haiti. The morning worship service was held in fellowship hall - the boiler was broken so there was no heat in the sanctuary.
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"Not Yet" podcast

Whine

Here's this week's Bible study blog post for i.ucc:

Who wants to have the "Jesus turned water into wine, so . . . " discussion?

This week’s Bible reading from John 2:1-11 describes the story of Jesus' first recorded miracle: Turning water into wine.

Here are some things I've heard over the years.

I don't know how he did it.
I don't know how it really happened.
And over the years, I've heard some explanations from others:
"It wasn't really wine. It was grape juice."
"The wine of Jesus' time wasn't the kind that makes a person drunk."
"Jesus wasn't endorsing the consumption of alcohol -- he was simply doing what his mother asked"

I simply think that somehow, Jesus turned water into wine and the guests were really happy. Jesus offered extravagant hospitality in a situation where he was a guest! And I'm reasonably certain that Jesus drank with the guests. I think it's even possible that he got a little bit tipsy -- on this and maybe some other occasions.

I also think that some people have a problem with alcohol consumption -- either from their moral perspective or as a person who has abused alcohol or as a person who has been affected by the behavior of a person who abuses alcohol. I don't think a person should ever use this verse to berate or cut down a person who chooses, for whatever reason, not to drink. I also don’ t think the story should be used to say that alcohol consumption is just fine. This story isn’t about drinking – it’s about abundance and hospitality.

What are your thoughts?

Whining -- Water into wine

Here's the whole blog entry I posted for this week at "Opening the Bible" on i.ucc:

Whaddya think? Anyone want to have the "Jesus turned water into wine, so . . . " discussion? Here are some things I've heard over the years.

One of this week's focus Bible readings is from John 2:1-11. It's the story of Jesus' first recorded miracle: Turning water into wine.
I don't know how he did it.
I don't know how it really happened.
And over the years, I've heard some explanations from others:
"It wasn't really wine. It was grape juice."
"The wine of Jesus' time wasn't the kind that makes a person drunk."
"Jesus wasn't endorsing the consumption of alcohol -- he was simply doing what his mother asked"
I simply think that somehow, Jesus turned water into wine and the guests were really happy. I'm reasonably certain that Jesus drank with the guests. I think it's even possible that he got a little bit tipsy -- on this and maybe some other occasions.
I also think that some people have a problem with alcohol consumption -- either from their moral perspective or as a person who has abused alcohol or as a person who has been affected by the behavior of a person who abuses alcohol. I don't think a person should ever use this verse to berate or cut down a person who chooses, for whatever reason, not to drink.
What do you think?