Epiphany
January 16, 2016

Scripture Reading: John 2:1-11

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.’ –John 2:1-4

And so Jesus’ ministry begins. Water is necessary for life. We humans can survive many days without food but only a few days without water. God’s presence had been with the people from the beginning, the water of life. While it was enough for survival, God wanted so much more for God’s people and provided even the food of life, manna in the desert, as the Lord led the people out of slavery. Ways of living were set forth to provide the means of successful existence but still that was not enough. Something more was needed for God’s kingdom to not just survive but flourish. So God sent God’s own son as an example for all and as a savior.

I pulled into a left turn lane and stopped because the light was red. It was a busy intersection and cars were speeding by to my right with a green light directing their path going north. A fire truck with sirens blaring and lights flashing came from the east hurriedly headed west. One north bound car in the intersection sped up to get out of the fire truck’s way followed by six cars barreling through trying to take advantage of the green light paying no heed to the fire truck that had to come to a full stop until finally a driver in the north bound lane let the fire truck through. Shortly, my light turned green and I turned left following the fire truck’s path. It was stopped at a home a few houses from the intersection where there was no discernable fire. It was most likely an emergency run to assist a person with a health emergency. The minute or so of time wasted at the stop light, because of the selfishness of others, could have cost someone his or her life. Of course impeding the course of an emergency vehicle is against the law, but if the law is not written on someone’s heart it doesn’t matter.

Jesus came not to replace the law but to fulfill it.

Prayer: Lord, help us to be aware of those around us in this world and how our actions impact their lives and how it is possible for all of us to live together in loving concern for each other. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized 
Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council 
of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.