Luther’s interpretation of John 2:1-11

First, I planned to post this earlier, but an ice storm took down power lines all over our area and we’ve been without electricity for a week. This will delay our scheduled discussion of the next text until next week (assuming we have power restored by then). For now, I’ll post some of Luther’s comments about last week's text. Brother Martin determined that Mary was involved in the acquisition of more wine because she was helping a poor relative (niece) in acting as the bride's mother. He thought this was more evidence that Jesus goes to the poor, not the rich. Because Jesus goes to this wedding is additional confirmation that marriage is the work and institution of God.

Luther chides the leaders of the church. He calls them Caiaphases for declaring and preaching marriage as being the only state instituted by God, (which he doesn’t agree), but then the church shuns the state of marriage, deeming themselves so holy that they avoid marriage and will not even attend a marriage, making themselves holier than Christ himself (#3). Luther’s portrayal of marriage is rather comical, and sad. He says, “Marriage is a state that cultivates and exercises faith in God and love to our neighbor by means of manifold cares, labors, unpleasantness, crosses, and all kinds of adversities…” (#4). It sounds like marriage was a bit difficult for Martin, at least in the moment he was writing this sermon, but he was making the best of its trials. Later he talks about the blessings believers receive in these marriage trials, blessings that pagans are unable to experience or know because they don't have Christ to sweeten the trials. The fact that Christ provided additional wine to people who may have already had too much to drink, Luther says is evidence that Christ is not displeased with the marriage feasting and partying, but moderation is still the standard for acceptable consumption, attire, and celebration. He defines moderation as ‘twice as fine as usual for the social position of the person.’ Jesus’ reaction, or lack of immediate response to Mary’s request, was seen as the usual way of Christ. He does not hurry to meet our needs but uses this as a way to test and strengthen our faith and trust (#13). Mary is a good example for us. She didn't doubt He would help, even though she didn't know when or how He would help. We are to believe God is good all the time, no matter how harsh we think His words might be. Luther said the highest thought we can receive from this lesson is that we honor God as good even when we ‘see’ God act otherwise (#18). I think he might explain this as interpreting God’s actions are always for the best, and that human wisdom does not know all the details or why the limited amount of what we can see happening will bring about the best. Luther has some interesting ‘spiritual’ meanings that he finds in the details of the story. The most obvious is that this (and every) marriage represents Christ and His bride, the Church. The six waterpots of stone for purification represent the books of the Old Testament by which law and commandment made the people pure only on the outside, by works (#27). But works without faith does not purify the heart. There were six waterpots, not seven, showing that labor and toil to achieve purification only create a state of unrest. When there is no Sabbath or rest from our works God is not permitted to work in us. The water in the pots is the substance of the Law, and the pots are stone that represents the tablets of Moses, the commandments. This is why the Jews were 'stiffnecked'. They saw the law as difficult and against them. The Law demands our works. But when the Gospel comes, which is Christ, He changes the Law into something delightful, (#31) which is the water becoming wine. Water/law only brings the fear and dread of God’s judgment. The wine is the Gospel showing us we cannot meet the full requirements, but Christ has met them for us, and takes our sin on Himself. The servants in the story are preachers who bring the Gospel to others. My own addition to this analogy is this: water (law) is necessary to life. We need it. It cleanses our outer actions by helping us make better choices, but they are selfish choices because we understand the negative consequences of going against the law. Water does not make us joyful. It cannot lead us to celebration. But Jesus Christ changes us on the inside when He brings good news to us. He is the new and best wine that raises our spirits, and brings delight in following the law, and celebration to our lives so that we cannot get enough of Him. We can consume as much of Him as we desire. We cannot get too much of the Best Wine. I enjoyed Luther’s allegorical interpretations on this text. I hope you did, too. Blessings, PWM