Title: Saving the Best for Last
Theme: Eternal life in Christ. 2nd Sunday after the Epiphany - Year C
Object: A piece of pie
Scripture: And the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now." John 2:9-10 (NIV)
Do you like pie? I do! Today, I am going to teach you how to eat a piece of pie. You are probably thinking, "What is he talking about? I know how to eat a piece of pie." Well, you may think you do, but what I am going to teach you today may change forever the way you eat a piece of pie. You see, most people eat a piece of pie starting here at the pointed end. If you eat your pie starting at the pointed end, what do you get in your last bite? That's right! You get crust! Now pie crust is pretty good, but the best part of the pie is the filling. That is why I start eating my piece of pie at the crusty end. That way, I save the best bite for last.
One day, Jesus went to a wedding. His mother was there and so were his disciples. Everyone was having a good time until the wedding host ran out of wine. The party was about to be ruined when Jesus' mother went to him and asked him to help. Then she told the servants to do whatever Jesus told them to do.
Nearby there were six stone water jars, each holding about twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants,"Fill the jars with water"; so the servants filled them to the brim. Then he said to them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet." They did as they were told, and when the master of the banquet tasted the water, it had been turned into wine. Not only that -- it was the very best wine he had tasted all evening.
The master of the banquet called the bridegroom aside and said to him, "Most people serve the best wine first and then serve cheap wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best until the last."
This was the first of Jesus' miracles on the earth, but it wasn't his last. When we walk with Jesus every day, we become accustomed to the miracles he performs. He does so many great and wonderful things for us. He supplies everything we need -- a roof over our head, and a nice warm bed. We have clothes to wear and plenty to eat and drink. Oh yes, he is so good, but do you know what? He is saving the best for last. What is it? Eternal life. If we put our trust in Jesus as our Savior, we will live forever in heaven with him. Now, that's what I call "saving the best for last!"
Dear Father, we thank you for all of the good things which you provide each and every day, but most of all, we thank you for eternal life which we have in Jesus Christ. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
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