1-27-2019 “Not Some Hocus Pocus”

Sunday, January 27, 2019 ~ Epiphany III

Sermon: “Not Some Hocus Pocus”

Gospel Lesson: John 2:1-11

I teach a class at Salem State University entitled The Philosophy of Religion. The underlying question that governs the readings, lectures, and discussions is, “Can one construct an argument to prove (or at least point to the probability of) the existence of God?” Although God’s existence cannot be proved or disproved using logic and the scientific method, there are some arguments that are stronger than others. Along with these arguments, students struggle with the problem of evil (also known as theodicy) as well as miracles. In terms of the latter, we ask do miracles occur or do they not occur? This conversation usually begins with students trying to construct the definition of a miracle. Some of the more popular answers are:

A miracle is something that defies the laws of nature.
A miracle is when God makes the impossible possible.
A miracle is when God intervenes and changes what would have otherwise happened.

And still there are others. I am sure you have your own definition. The eighteenth century Scottish philosopher David Hume did not believe in miracles and attacked the idea in his writings. Among his criticisms, Hume said that we typically find belief in miracles among less educated and more primitive people. He also said that miracles may not defy laws of nature; in fact, they may conform to a scientific law that we have yet to discover. Once we do, we will no longer think that the event in question is a miracle. The contemporary philosopher of religion C. Stephen Evans adds that “Many people find it hard to believe in miracles simply because they have never experienced one.”[1] We’ll come back to that one in a minute. And still, there are other reasons why people reject miracles, some claiming that miracles may have occurred in biblical times, but they do not happen anymore.

It is true that the Bible — the Old and New Testaments — are filled with stories of miracles. Some theologians argue that the presence of a miracle confirms the presence of God. It is his calling card, if you like. The performance of miracles was one of the ways that Jesus confirmed his identity. Prof. Doug Bookman agrees, writing, “the miracles vindicated [Jesus’] claims about Himself and His teaching.”[2]

In an article that appeared in the online journal the Newark Advocate, which is part of USA Today, Rev. Greg Robbins expounded upon this. According to him, there are three reasons why Jesus performed miracles.[3]

Jesus performed miracles to show compassion and to meet human needs.
Jesus performed miracles to affirm his true identity as the Son of God. (This is similar to Prof. Bookman’s claim.)
Jesus performed miracles to provide us with a glimpse of the world that is to come.

All three of these reasons come into play in today’s Gospel Lesson.

Jesus turning water into wine is the very first of his recorded miracles, and it only appears in John’s Gospel. The setting is a wedding feast. This is important for a couple of reasons. First of all, it is a very public event. Wedding feasts in first century Palestine were large events that lasted for several days. A large section of the community would be in attendance; hence many people would witness the miracle. Secondly, Jesus did not just perform this miracle so that they could have ample wine at the reception. In part, he was saving the reputation of the host. To run out of wine at a wedding would have been a huge affront to his guests. Not only did Jesus fill the cisterns with ample wine, but it tasted like a superior vintage, which brought praise to the host. Third, and most importantly, the miracle is highly symbolic — and this idea needs to be unpacked further.

The legendary New Testament Bible scholar William Barclay once wrote, “what John wants us to see here is not that Jesus once on a day turned some [pots] of water into wine; he wants us to see that whenever Jesus comes into a [person’s] life, there comes a new quality which is like turning water into wine. Without Jesus, life is dull and stale and flat; when Jesus comes into it, life becomes vivid and sparkling and exciting. Without Jesus, life is drab and uninteresting; with him it is thrilling and exhilarating.”[4] The real miracle is not what happened with the wine; it is about what happens in our lives when we encounter God in the flesh. Our lives are transformed. We cannot remain the same. A new thing breaks forth.

John doesn’t tell us, but we can assume that the majority of people who witnessed this miracle were changed. However, through the witness of John (as well as Matthew, Mark, Luke, Paul, and the rest of the New Testament authors), we have changed. The plain water that was our lives has been turned into the greatest vintage possible.

You do not have to look far on the internet and you will find hosts of stories about people who found Jesus and it changed their lives completely.

“Crystal DiGregorio-Bassette was in the adult film industry for 10 years and had a lucrative career as Nadia Hilton, her stage name, working for every big-name porn company.”[5] Now, she is a pastor and a Christian counselor. She entered a church one Sunday and believes that Jesus saved her — that God intervened and removed the veil from her eyes.
Twenty-one-year-old Kevin Wangi, who was born in Paris and grew up in London, became a drug dealer who was caught-up in gang street violence. He recalls being chased one time by thirty boys with “knives and sticks.”[6] He made it to a brick wall and dropped to his knees. All he remembered was “blinking twice” and then he was on the other side of the wall. He didn’t know how it happened — the wall was high and he had a bad foot. He believed it was a miracle — an act of God.
And then there’s Michelle. About twelve years ago she fell into deep depression. She seriously contemplated suicide. She started talking to people in online chatrooms and forums. She writes, “One of those people helped me learn a little about Jesus. I also found out about prayer…which led me to read about Jesus. Eventually, I began to realize that even the person who had helped me learn some about Jesus, couldn’t help me. It seemed like the only one who could help me was the Lord himself.”[7] And he did. As she says, “she no longer wants to die,” but to live for God.

The internet is filled with similar stories. They are all about water being turned into wine. It’s not hocus pocus. It’s about the miracle of transformation that comes from the greatest miracle worker of all.

Has it happened to you? Is that why you are here? If it hasn’t happened, all you have to do is let it. It takes very little effort on your part. Simply allow God to enter your life and transform it. Open your spirit to the Living One. Allow Jesus to make all things new, as he promised he would. Sometimes the greatest miracles are the simplest ones: changed lives. Don’t get me wrong: I am not saying that it is easy for people to change, but it is simple in that all you have to do is let Jesus do the work. Let him in. Let him transform you. Let him make all things new. The greatest miracle you experience may just be you and what you will be, thanks be to God. Amen.

[1] C. Stephen Evans, Why Believe? Reason and Mystery as Pointers to God (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1996), 89.

[2] Doug Bookman, “Why Did Jesus Perform Miracles,” taken from christianity.com, originally published April 14, 2010.

[3] “Why Did Jesus Perform Miracles on Earth,” by Greg Robbins, taken from Newark Advocate, available online at newarkadvocate.com, February 11, 2017.

[4] William Barclay, The Gospel According to John, vol. 1, rev. ed. (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1975), 104-105.

[5] “Porn Star-Turned Pastor Wants All to ‘Experience the Love of God,’” taken from video.foxnews.com, January 15, 2017.

[6] Susan Oladokun, “From a Life of Drugs to Church: How Jesus Saved My Life,” taken from christiantoday.com, June 7, 2017.

[7] Mary Fairchild, “Short Testimonies of Transformed Lives,” taken from thoughtco.com, March 19, 2018.