Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Lectionary summaries provided by LCMS.

 

SECOND SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY

(19 January 2025)

 

Isaiah 62:1–5

1 Corinthians 12:1–11

John 2:1–11

 

The Divine Glory Is Manifested in the Signs of Christ

 

When Jesus turned water into wine at the wedding in Cana, it was “the first of his signs” by which He “manifested his glory” (John 2:11). It pointed to His coming “hour,” when He was lifted up on the cross for the forgiveness of sins and the life of the world (John 2:4; 12:23–32). The glory of the cross is incomprehensible apart from the Word and Spirit of God, but disciples of Jesus recognize that glory in the signs of His Gospel, and so they believe in Him. Jesus does not wait for His disciples to discover Him on their own, but He seeks out the forsaken and the desolate and unites them to Himself. He adorns them with His own beautiful righteousness and delights in them “as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride” (Is. 62:4–5). Purified by the washing of water with His Word in Holy Baptism, His disciples confess that “Jesus is Lord,” and they return thanks to Him “in the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor. 12:3) as they drink the good wine that He pours out for them, which is the new testament in His blood.

 

Old Testament:

Isaiah 62:1-5 
    For Zion's sake I will not keep silent,
        and for Jerusalem's sake I will not be quiet,
    until her righteousness goes forth as brightness,
        and her salvation as a burning torch. 
    [2] The nations shall see your righteousness,
        and all the kings your glory,
    and you shall be called by a new name
        that the mouth of the Lord will give. 
    [3] You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord,
        and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. 
    [4] You shall no more be termed Forsaken,
        and your land shall no more be termed Desolate,
    but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her,
        and your land Married;
    for the Lord delights in you,
        and your land shall be married. 
    [5] For as a young man marries a young woman,
        so shall your sons marry you,
    and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride,
        so shall your God rejoice over you. 
 
Psalm 128:1-6 
    A Song of Ascents.
 
    Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord,
        who walks in his ways! 
    [2] You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands;
        you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you. 
    [3] Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
        within your house;
    your children will be like olive shoots
        around your table. 
    [4] Behold, thus shall the man be blessed
        who fears the Lord. 
    [5] The Lord bless you from Zion!
        May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
        all the days of your life! 
    [6] May you see your children's children!
        Peace be upon Israel!
 
Epistle:
 
1 Corinthians 12:1-11 
    Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. [2] You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. [3] Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says "Jesus is accursed!" and no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except in the Holy Spirit. 
    [4] Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; [5] and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; [6] and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. [7] To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. [8] To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, [9] to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, [10] to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. [11] All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. 
 
GOSPEL:
 
John 2:1-11 
    On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. [2] Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. [3] When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." [4] And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come." [5] His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." 
    [6] Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. [7] Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim. [8] And he said to them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast." So they took it. [9] When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom [10] and said to him, "Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now." [11] This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.