The Bungee Cord 2-3-25

Hello,

A couple of weeks ago we heard the story of Jesus turning water into wine at a wedding feast where the wine had run out. (John 2). Wedding feasts in Jesus’ day were often a multiple day event, so it is not hard to imagine the case where the wine could run out. For some reason, Mary, Jesus’ mother, brought the party killing dilemma to Jesus, who asked out loud, “What has that to do with you or me?” After all, they were guests, not the hosts.

Nevertheless, when the servants, who were urged by Mary to involve Jesus in this problem came up to Jesus, Jesus told them to fill the six 25-gallon, stone jars that held the water for ritual cleansing (I guess the people needed a lot of cleansing!) to the brim with water. After doing so, they drew out some of the liquid, and brought it to the “wedding coordinator” (the steward) to be tasted, and to his amazement he found himself tasting wine much better than the expensive stuff that the groom had provided at the start of the celebration, which for a variety of reasons seemed odd to the “wedding coordinator”.

I’ve heard this story more times than I can count, and as with things familiar, sometimes one finds ones self missing something very important. And here’s the very important thing that I realized this time in hearing the story: no one commented on the jars. No one said anything about how beautiful they were. No one said anything about how sturdy they were, after all they were stone, not clay. No one said anything about how well they held the liquid inside them. Crickets about the jars. Amazement about the wine.

Obviously, they were necessary to hold the wine, but it was the wine that they held that was of most importance.

As I experience the Christian faith from the inside and listen to those who experience it from the outside, it seems to me that many Christians….maybe even most Christians…concern themselves more with the jars than the wine. We find ourselves focusing on styles of worship, which might be akin to the painting on the jars. We get all bound up with rules and regulations, which might be akin to the material of the jars. We find ourselves worried about budgets and empty seats, which might be akin to the size of the jars. When I hear many people outside of the Christian faith speak about this faith, I hear a lot of “jar” talk. “All the church wants me for is my money. The church is nothing but a bunch of hypocrites. The church is out of touch with the world.”

Looking back on my several decades of being a pastor, I confess that I, too, have done a lot of “jar” gazing. I, too, have been caught up with budget and attendance concerns, traditions and congregational habits, administration and leadership proficiency, and rules and regulations. Of course, none of these things are bad. As a matter of fact, one might rule them important….just like jars are important.

But as Jesus’ “sign” (that is what the Bible calls what Jesus did at that wedding) points us to what is essential. It is the wine. The wine! The wine that fills those jars is better than the best wine that the world can offer. Beyond its quality, is its quantity. More than we could ever drink dry. And its cost: FREE!

And what is the wine that fills the “jar”, the church? It is the mercy of God. Mercy so powerful that its stain in our lives is unremovable. Mercy so robust in hope that no plate that the world gives us can overwhelm its taste. Mercy so exquisite with peace that once you taste it, you won’t want any other. Mercy so abundant that it will never run out in this life or when this life is over. When Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead, he vinted the best wine of all eternity…and he offers it to you to drink it. For free!

So, if you are one who has found the church to be rather “jar” obsessed, let me invite you to dip your glass into the jar and taste what it holds…the mercy of God for you…and I think that you will find….it tastes REALLY good!

Have a great week.

God’s grace and peace, (ggap)

Pastor Jerry Nuernberger

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