Wedding of Selvam Thambiah & Sheila Aiyadurai - 23 Jan 1948

The Gospel for last Sunday (John 2:1-11 )was the story of the marriage at Cana at which the Lord turned water into wine. As I thought of the Gospel story and the marriage of these our friends, there were two thoughts that came into my mind which I want to pass on to you this evening.

Sometimes we may have wondered whether we are right in bringing the name of God into marriage, which appears to be a very human affair. Is it not purely a social event, and what has that to do with God and religion? When the almighty and all loving God created the world, He made all things good. And among the supreme excellences of His creation is the beauty of the human family. So good and strong did He make family love that it has persisted and has continued to flower in almost indescribable loveliness. In spite of man’s sin and selfishness family love has continued to shed its lustre and brighten life throughout the centuries. In family life and love there is a reservoir of strength which nations and people require for their stability and progress.

When the Son of God took upon Himself the human form in order to deliver man He found not only much sin and evil to endure and sorrow over, but also much that was very lovely to be rejoiced in. And the chief beauty of the human life which he assumed was that of family love. He experienced family love to the full in His mother’s arms, and in the quiet home at Nazareth among His kith and kin. Again, by His presence at the marriage at Cana Our Lord has taught us that God takes a personal interest in every marriage, but saved this one from a calamity at the start. We have, therefore, reasons to believe that God has created men and women to live together and to form homes of love as the basis of Society. We are right in believing that He is present at every marriage to bless the young couple.

The other thought is that we should look upon the miracle of turning water into wine as an allegory. We are told in the story that when the wine failed Jesus turned ordinary water into new wine, which was found to be even better than what was served first. At the beginning of married life love between man and woman is more on a physical plane rather than on a spiritual plane. The intoxication of physical attraction and romance inevitably comes to an end. Love that springs from mere physical attraction cannot be lasting. It cannot stand the test of time. That first love must grow into something finer and more enduring. If the two people are to keep their marriage vows and be united to each other for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, the love between the two must be built on a firmer foundation than the emotions and impulses of early married life. It is here that we need Christ in our daily home life.

When the old wine was finished, the touch of Christ was necessary to produce the new wine out of water. The growth of love from a mere physical plane into the more perfect love of a Christian man and woman is nothing short of a miracle. Only God can do it. He can take the ordinary unselfish love of Christians and with it make a new love, stronger and far richer. Only when family love has been raised to such a spiritual level is it lasting. We can learn the way of love only when we have Christ as our companion and guide in our home life.

My friends, whatever may have been the circumstances which have brought you here together as husband and wife, believe that it is God’s will that you should thus be united. If you set out on your new life with the one desire of seeking to know His will in all things, and serve Him, God will bless your union. It is His will that you should set up a truly Christian home. And you, my brother, have chosen the ministry of healing as your vocation and I know that you have set before yourself high ideals of service in that noble profession. I have no doubt that your wife will cooperate with you in working for your ideals.

On the threshold of a new life I would ask you both to dedicate yourselves afresh at the altar of God, and ask God to use you both as His instruments in alleviating pain and suffering in the world. If you set your minds on serving God and your fellowmen in this manner, your own love will grow from day to day into something beautiful and lasting. Be regular in your worship of God, both private and public. Take pains to study God’s word regularly. May His word be a lantern unto thy feet and light unto thy path. If you cultivate the friendship and companionship of Jesus, He will be a strength and support to you at all times. He will bear your burdens and fill you with true joy. May the Lord be with you in your going out and in your coming in, and bring you at length to His eternal peace for Jesus Christ’s sake.