This morning, we come to Jesus’s first miracle as recorded by the Apostle John, the changing of water into wine at the wedding in Cana. Our faith holds that God speaks and acts in the world.

In his book on Miracles, C.S. Lewis notes that scripture attests to two types of miracles.  One type is God doing in a condensed time and place what God does all the time anyway.  For example, every year rains fall on vineyards all over the world.  The water soaks into the ground where it is absorbed by the roots of the grape vines along with other nutrients which the vine eventually carries into the grapes themselves.  These grapes are gathered, squeezed and the juice will quite naturally turn into wine. 

(In fact, it takes special care to preserve it as grape juice – Thomas Welch patented the modern process in 1869. Grape juice naturally starts fermenting immediately.)

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One of the interesting questions of our faith is why Jesus was baptized. We hold that Jesus “knew no sin” as Paul put it in his second letter to the Corinthians. He was the Lamb of God, without spot or blemish. He had no need for ritual washing. He wasn’t dirty and needed no bath!

Further, as co-eternal with the Father and the Holy Spirit, he did not need a jolt of power. He did not become the Messiah when the Holy Spirit landed on him. He was with God and was God from the beginning.

So, then, what was happening at his baptism?

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While I was in seminary, Meg and I came to know a little boy named Liam. Liam was born in California. Sadly, he had been severely abused and shaken as an infant.  His adoptive parents were told he would never walk or speak. He would always require constant care his whole life.  They brought this tiny, helpless, little fellow into their family because he needed so much love. 

Mom, Dad and big sister all welcomed him as one of their own.  That’s how adoption works.  When we adopt a child, they become fully part of the family in every way. It is as if that child was your biological child.  There is legally and morally no difference.  An adopted child has the same rights as a biological child. Adoptive parents have the same responsibilities to care and nurture the child. This is your kid, period.  In Florida, they even change the birth certificate.

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