What’s the difference between a good magic trick and one of Jesus’ miracles? Actually, a lot! There is much more impact to these miracles than to just those who experienced them first-hand. This is the “long-game” of God’s presence and power in the world.
Read John 2:1-11
Today’s “Picture Jesus” image is that of the miracle worker. I feel like we have this love-hate relationship with miracles – we really want to believe them – trust that Jesus did do and could do what the Bible says – but there’s this whole science thing that gets in the way – the immutable laws of physics and nature that trip us up.
Now, if you are a parent or a grandparent of a certain age – you will no doubt have seen at least one of the Shrek movies – the story about an ogre sent on a quest with all kinds of fairy tale friends who are counting on him. This scene with Donkey voiced by Eddie Murphy came to mind as I was thinking about miracles this week…
Watch Talking/Flying Donkey Scene
I would be remiss if I did not mention that our Bible has a talking donkey as well – found in Numbers 22 – Balaam’s donkey is also quite the conversationalist. You can look that one up on your own – back to Jesus.
One question may be, and it may sound a little cynical at first – what’s the difference between a good magic trick and one of Jesus’ miracles? As we think about that question – let’s look at the miracles of Jesus that are recorded in the gospels – there are 37 of them listed roughly in chronological order – here are the first dozen:
- Jesus Turns Water into Wine at the Wedding in Cana – John 2:1-11
- Jesus Heals an Official’s Son at Capernaum in Galilee – John 4:43-54
- Jesus Drives Out an Evil Spirit from a Man in Capernaum – Mark 1:21-27, Luke 4:31-36
- Jesus Heals Peter’s Mother-in-Law Sick with Fever – Matt 8:14-15, Mark 1:29-31, Luke 4:38-39
- Jesus Heals Many Sick and Oppressed at Evening – Matt 8:16-17, Mark 1:32-34, Luke 4:40-41
- First Miraculous Catch of Fish on the Lake of Gennesaret – Luke 5:1-11
- Jesus Cleanses a Man with Leprosy – Matt 8:1-4, Mark 1:40-45, Luke 5:12-14
- Jesus Heals a Centurion’s Paralyzed Servant in Capernaum – Matt 8:5-13, Luke 7:1-10
- Jesus Heals a Paralytic Who Was Let Down from the Roof – Matt 9:1-8, Mark 2:1-12, Luke 5:17-26
- Jesus Heals a Man’s Withered Hand on the Sabbath – Matt 12:9-14, Mark 3:1-6, Luke 6:6-11
- Jesus Raises a Widow’s Son from the Dead in Nain – Luke 7:11-17
- Jesus Calms a Storm on the Sea – Matt 8:23-27, Mark 4:35-41, Luke 8:22-25
As you look through these you’ll see the familiar – lots of healing from Peter’s mother-in-law (we don’t hear a lot or anything about Peter as a married man), to the man with leprosy, the Centurion’s servant and the vivid image of the Paralytic man lowered through the hole in the roof by his friends.
The next dozen:
- Jesus Casts Demons into a Herd of Pigs – Matt 8:28-33, Mark 5:1-20, Luke 8:26-39
- Jesus Heals a Woman in the Crowd with an Issue of Blood – Matt 9:20-22, Mark 5:25-34, Luke 8:42-48
- Jesus Raises Jairus’ Daughter Back to Life – Matt 9:18-26, Mark 5:21-43, Luke 8:40-56
- Jesus Heals Two Blind Men – Matt 9:27-31
- Jesus Heals a Man Who Was Unable to Speak – Matt 9:32-34
- Jesus Heals an Invalid at Bethesda – John 5:1-15
- Jesus Feeds 5,000 Plus Women and Children – Mt 14:13-21, Mk 6:30-44, Lk 9:10-17, John 6:1-15
- Jesus Walks on Water – Matt 14:22-33, Mark 6:45-52, Luke 6:16-21
- Jesus Heals Many Sick in Gennesaret – Matt 14:34-36, Mark 6:53-56
- Jesus Heals a Gentile Woman’s Demon-Possessed Daughter – Matt 15:21-28, Mark 7:24-30
- Jesus Heals a Deaf and Dumb Man – Mark 7:31-37
- Jesus Feeds 4,000 Plus Women and Children – Matt 15:32-39, Mark 8:1-13
More healing in this next group, as well, plus the only miracle of the list that is found in all four gospels – the feeding of the 5000 plus women and children. We also see Jesus walking on water. And finally, the last group of miracles:
- Jesus Heals a Blind Man at Bethsaida – Mark 8:22-26
- Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind by Spitting in His Eyes – John 9:1-12
- Jesus Heals a Boy with an Unclean Spirit – Matt 17:14-20, Mark 9:14-29, Luke 9:37-43
- Miraculous Temple Tax in a Fish’s Mouth – Matt 17:24-27
- Jesus Heals a Blind, Mute Demoniac – Matt 12:22-23, Luke 11:14-23
- Jesus Heals a Woman Who Had Been Crippled for 18 Years – Luke 13:10-17
- Jesus Heals a Man with Dropsy on the Sabbath – Luke 14:1-6
- Jesus Cleanses Ten Lepers on the Way to Jerusalem – Luke 17:11-19
- Jesus Raises Lazarus from the Dead in Bethany – John 11:1-45
- Jesus Restores Sight to Bartimaeus in Jericho – Matt 20:29-34, Mark 10:46-52, Luke 18:35-43
- Jesus Withers the Fig Tree on the Road from Bethany – Matt 21:18:22, Mark 11:12-14
- Jesus Heals a Servant’s Severed Ear – Luke 22:50-51
- The Second Miraculous Catch of Fish at the Sea of Tiberias – John 21:4-11
And in this final group more healing, including the story of the 10 lepers, as well as Lazarus being raised from the dead. Plus there is one here that I do not really recall – it is recorded in Matthew 17 – it is the story of the “Miraculous Temple Tax in a Fish’s Mouth”. The temple tax collectors want to know if Jesus pays his taxes and Peter tells them that, of course Jesus pays his taxes. Then, Peter runs and asks Jesus if he pays his taxes. To prove a point, Jesus tells Peter what to do:
…”Go to the sea and cast a hook; take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a coin; take that and give it to them for you and me.” (Matthew 17:27)
Isn’t that awesome? What a story!
I’ll be honest, that one sounds a little bit more on the magic trick side of things, but I couldn’t believe that I had never really noticed this story before. But back to the question – what’s the difference between the miracle and the magic trick? There are probably a few ways to answer this, but for my part, the miracle is not entertainment – it is life-giving and it is not just an end unto itself – it points to something – namely God’s power and salvation and abundance, in some cases, even God’s extravagance.
In my mind, Jesus is playing the ultimate “long-game” here – these stories of miracles impacted the early Christian communities as they struggled with their identity as followers of Jesus – as they learned what it meant to follow in Jesus’ way, especially in the midst of challenge and persecution.
These stories pointed those early believers to the in-breaking of God’s power in the world – particularly for those who were on the margins of society – the sick, the mentally ill, the hungry, the oppressed, those in need of good news, any good news.
Even as we might be tempted, all these centuries later, to dismiss stories of miraculous healing or being raised from the dead as beyond belief – we might also find ourselves amazed at a friend who has found new life in recovery from addiction, or a family member who has found their passion and is pursuing it – and we might say good for them, they are changing their lives for their better – but we might also say, glory to God – that these are signs of God’s Spirit moving among us – that these are miracles of God, right in our midst.
In today’s reading, Jesus finds himself at a wedding – his disciples are there, his mother is there. Weddings in those days were multi-day celebrations that would involve the whole community, and wine was very much a part of the celebration – and when the wine ran out that would normally be a pretty good signal that the end of the celebration was at hand.
For some reason, Jesus’ mother brings the disturbing news to Jesus that there is no more wine. Jesus feigns disinterest, but ultimately responds to his mother’s implied request.
Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.” (John 2:6-8)
This was an enormous amount of wine – and not just any wine, it was the best of the celebration.
Truth be told, this is way more than the best party trick ever – it may even be the ultimate story of God’s call on our lives.
In the awesomeness of the water being turned to wine, we can easily miss an important detail – those stone water jars were empty – they were dry until Jesus instructed them to be filled.
It could well be that we are those jars – dry and parched – from the wear and tear of life. We are those empty jars ready to be filled – to be called into action – to be a vehicle, a conduit for God’s work in the world.
We are those jars and we are a part of this “long-game” with God.
It is the long game. When we think about addressing the issues of hunger and homelessness in our community and our world – we don’t solve it in a week or a year – we work at it, we feed people, we house them – we attempt to get to the source of the issue and create structures to intervene before a crisis in a family or a community becomes too acute. We partner with the Food Pantry and Feed My Starving Children and ELCA World Hunger and Family Promise and we advocate with our elected representatives to do their part as well.
It is the long game. When we think about addressing violence, and the issue of guns in our schools and communities – again there are no easy answers – it won’t be solved in a week or a year – but we work at it – because everyone deserves to feel safe at school, in their workplace, at home. We take care of each other, we advocate with our elected representatives for new laws or the enforcement of laws that already exist. We insist that mental healthcare be funded and taken seriously. We work to protect the precious and fragile lives that God has created.
One of the traits attributed to our denomination in the ELCA is that when there is a disaster, whether it be a hurricane in the Gulf Coast, flooding in Iowa or an earthquake in Haiti – the Lutherans stay long after the cameras have gone home – they stay until the work is done – it’s the long game – the long game of God at work in the world.
The same God, the creator of the universe is still at work – the one to whom the miracles of Jesus point.
Water into wine. Unbelief into faith. Death into life. Indifference into love.
Perhaps we are no longer those empty jars. We have been filled to the brim, made in God’s image, prepared for just a time as this to point to God’s power and presence, God’s salvation, God’s abundance in the world.
The steward called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.” Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. (John 2:10-11)
Amen.
Rev. John Berg
Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Northbrook, IL