Second Sunday after Epiphany (1880)

The blessings of matrimony for the world and its fruitful continued existence are so great and so eye catching that occasionally even the ones full of praise are those who do not believe God's Word. What language would be able to express all the good that daily gushes forth over the world like a great river about the estate of marriage? One thinks something different about the marital state and family life on earth, and what kind of good things would be left? However, this is not to say that the marital state does not have to be difficult. Admittedly, the first tends to be a more happier thing and the wedding day seems mostly to promise nothing but cheerful sunshine for the future; but sooner or later the truth of the old proverb, "State of matrimony, state of sorrow1" is usually confirmed. At the same time, for unbelieving children of the world, comfort melts away with happiness, and their marital status, that seemed to be a lobby of Paradise, becomes the courtyard of hell. However, the situation is different with pious Christians; these always draw rich consolation for their marital state from Scripture and especially also from today's Gospel. John 2:1-11 On the rich comfort of pious Christians in their marital state. This comfort is, according to our text, chiefly a threefold comfort: 1. God's good pleasure rests on their station; because a. God Himself introduced it in the state of innocence2, b. Christ Himself has confirmed it as His endowment by His personal appearance at the wedding at Cana, together with the blessing on it. He is the one who daily and richly forgives all the sins of pious husbands and wives, as all of His faithful. He thus holds and keeps a good conscience in their marital state, and that is a richer consolation; 2. the cross befalling them in this state is laid on them by the Lord in grace, a. even in marriage pious Christians are not lacking in unpleasantness. The bride and groom in Cana gives us proof of this. Because the Lord does not disdain to present Himself at their wedding, it is no doubt that they were a pious bride and groom. Nevertheless, the dear cross quite soon settles in their house. This consisted namely in poverty, which apparently was in the eventual wine shortage. Even pious Christians must still today learn all sorts of temptation, scarcity, and tribulation in their marital state; b. this cross, however, is not by chance, it is prescribed for them graciously from all eternity, because God has determined to save them in the way of suffering

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"Ehestand, Wehestand" Genesis 2:18-22.

similar to the suffering of His Son; because Romans 8:28-29 also applies to this cross; c. this cross is not always a direct consequence of their sins, but it strikes them more often precisely because of their piety. Thus the lack of wine in Cana was probably caused by the very fact that the pious bride and groom had invited, besides the Lord Christ, His disciples to the wedding.3 What a rich consolation for Christian married couples in which to exercise their faith over the cross imposed on them! 3. when the hour of the Lord comes, He then lets His glorious help shine on them: a. His time, however, is not always ours. Mary though the embarrassment of the pious bride and groom should be immediately remedied: "They have no wine". But she had to learn to her shame that she had thus usurped a right belonging only to the Lord: that she would determine the time and hour4; b. but one should wait patiently for His hour of help. Mary herein gives us a shining example. She continued in faith in the not indistinct promise given to her in the repellent response. If His hour has not yet come, she thinks, then it will come. She comes across the servants already through her instruction in advance of the institution, to receive some help5; c. the Lord's hour finally comes and with it the help in such a way that one does not make mention of the previous lack, because the Lord reveals His glory, His glorious power, like His glorious grace, before the eyes of all.6 He thus even today still wants to turn the water of tears into the wine of joy in every need of pious husbands and wives as a wonderful Helper and Friend of the holy estate of marriage. What a richer consolation for pious spouses! Georg Stckhardt

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John 2:2. John 2:4. 5 John 2:5. 6 John 2:6-11.