At the same time St. John shows us that the full glory to be manifested will be in an hour that had not yet come, an hour that Jesus Himself in a conversation with His Mother calls “My hour.”

The sign manifesting His glory therefore pointed forward to a greater manifestation of His glory.
Jesus’ presence at a marriage and St. John’s characterisation of the event that then took place as Jesus’ first public sign is an indication of how important marriage is in God’s eyes.

The whole of the Scriptural revelation confirms this, and those who in our time or any other time seek to downplay the significance and importance of marriage are being thoroughly out of tune with what has been revealed to be God’s intention.

God’s gift to us of marriage shows us something of His own joy. Jesus often taught about God’s Kingdom using the idea of a marriage-feast.  This takes forward what Isaiah 62: 1-5 declares about God’s delight in the restoration of His people.

God’s Kingdom is the way He rules us and we are taught that to be ruled by God is the most joyful thing of all.

The restoration of the deserted land to its people after their return is described by the prophet in Isaiah chapter 62 as a union between land and people having those qualities of marriage that are always longed for, namely delight and permanence.

“For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your sons marry you (the land), and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.”

God extends a gracious relationship to us not merely of philanthropy, but of the ardent love of a bridegroom rejoicing over his bride.

This does not imply that for a chastely unmarried person to know God’s joy, he or she should be married.

The New Testament, especially, shows a very high regard for celibacy and the unmarried state, which have a special place in God’s purpose.

For all Jesus’ teaching about the Kingdom of God in terms of marriage, and for all St. Paul’s teaching about the relationship between Christ and His Church in terms of a husband and a wife, neither were married, and this was not seen by them, and is not seen by Christians, as something defective or missing in their lives. In connection with this we may apply St. Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians chapter 12.

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.”

In a Christian community or society we are not equal, in the sense of being identical or having identical gifts. Our “equality” must not be an equality of identity, but should become formed into an equality of complementarity.

Our Christian sources show that great joy and fulfilment is to be found in relationships that complement one another, as can be found within marriages, or within a secure society, or even between God and His people.

Those relationships, however, never show an identity between whatever gifts the various parties bring to the relationship, nor an identity between whatever benefits each party derives from it.

These considerations will build human communion, while the attempt to enforce identical privileges will destroy it. For this reason I suppose that most if not all anti-discrimination legislation starts out with premises that are confused.

At the marriage in Cana of Galilee Jesus made the very best sort of wine out of very ordinary water, and that was called a sign of His glory.

Jesus saved the bride and bridegroom from the great embarrassment in front of their guests, of having the wine run out.  He intended that their joy should not be spoilt.

He also gave those who believed in Him great joy, because of what He did, revealing His own glory.

So the glory that Jesus here reveals is two-fold. He reveals His rule, because He shows His power, and He reveals the character of His rule as one of joy.

God’s Kingdom is the way He rules us, and we are taught that to be ruled by God is the most joyful thing of all. 

When the heavenly Groom “marries” us he rules us joyfully, and for us to submit to His rule is the most joyful thing for us to do. Now even joyful marriages are not beds of roses so to speak, and neither is the joyful rule of God.

It involves the cross and following Christ, to the death if necessary, but in such a case the wondrous rule of Christ is so great that we know there is a resurrection.

One of the greatest signs to the world now of the glory of Christ is the confidence and joy in His rule displayed by His people when they are suffering.

In the extreme case of that suffering, “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.”
For commentary, information and devotional material see http://www.churchofenglandcayman.com/ and http://www.anglicansatprayer.org/