LISTEN TO JESUS: DO WHATEVER JESUS SAYS

LISTEN TO JESUS

DO WHATEVER JESUS SAYS

John 2:1-2 And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.

Susie: John never refers to Mary by name but calls her “the mother of Jesus.” This distinguishes her from other people named Mary such as Mary Magdalene . . . 

Susan: . . . or Mary the sister of Lazarus and Martha.

Susie: The fact that both Mary and Jesus were invited to this wedding may indicate that the groom was a family member or close friend . . . 

Susan: . . . of one or both of them. 

Susie: The disciples may have known the bride or groom or may have been invited simply because they were accompanying Jesus everywhere. At this point, there were five disciples: Simon Peter, Andrew, Philip, Nathanael, and presumably John.

John 2:3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.

Susie: A wedding feast in Israel at this time could last as long as a week, so it is not surprising they could run out of wine in that amount of time. The groom was responsible for financing this elaborate affair, and it would reflect badly on him if his guests were not well taken care of. He would not want his new bride’s family to think he was “cheap!” Therefore, Mary points this out to her Son. Why would Mary tell Jesus rather than someone else? 

Susan: Maybe Mary told Jesus because she knew going to any other person might cause gossip to start. She knew they could handle it judiciously and quietly. If the groom was a family member, maybe she was trying to save face.

Susie: Do you think she was expecting Jesus to do a miracle? 

Susan: She of all people knew Jesus was the Son of God due the miraculous nature of His birth and His arrival being heralded by the angel, Gabriel. 

Susie: She was there when He was conceived in her virgin womb. 

Susan: Gabriel had even told her that the child placed in her by the Holy Spirit would be the Son of the God. When she gave birth to Jesus in the stable, she beheld the worship of the shepherds and the wonder of the star.

Susie: Surely, she knew Jesus could do something about the lack of wine.

John 2:4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.

Susan: Jesus says, “Mom, it’s not time yet. Please don’t rush me.” 

Susie: He may have meant it was not time to reveal Himself through signs yet, or He may have been saying that the time of celebration when wine would flow freely had not yet come. Throughout the Gospel of John, we see Jesus saying that His time had not yet come. Calling her “woman” was not rude nor disrespectful. It was the equivalent of addressing her as “ma’am”. However, it did indicate He was responding as the Messiah rather than her son.

Susie: Jesus is shifting from His position as the son Mary to be raised to His position as the Son of God who must act according to the Father’s plan and time schedule. 

Susan: He moved from His human responsibilities to His divine mandate.

John 2:5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.

Susie: Undeterred, Mary instructs the servants to follow Jesus’ instruction. She has faith that He will remedy the situation somehow . . . 

Susan: . . . and that He will do the right thing. Mary knows her son and that He will do it out of respect for her and the fact that He would not want anyone to suffer embarrassment on his wedding day. 

Susie: She gives the servants advice that is still good for us today, “Do whatever Jesus says to do.”

John 2:6 And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.

Susie: These stone pots kept the water from the impurities that would seep into clay jars, would have held at least 120 gallons! That’s some party! Jesus told the servants to fill them up. They followed Mary’s instructions and obeyed Him. This is another thing that makes me think Mary may have been a relative of the groom because her words carried weight with the servants.

Susan: They filled the jars to the brim which is how Jesus wants to fill those who believe with His Holy Spirit!

John 2:8 And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.

Susan: If I had been one of the servants, I might have said, “If you want it taken to the master of the feast, you take it! I’m not taking a chance on getting in trouble.”

Susie: Maybe they could smell the change of the water into wine, but I think they would still be apprehensive about its quality. However, they followed instructions.

John 2:9-10 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.

Susie: The master of the feast had not seen what had occurred over at the water jars. He was amazed at the quality of the wine. 

Susan: He was surprised the groom had saved the best for last.

Susie: Apparently the groom was also unaware of the miracle that had transpired. Jesus had met his need before he even had to ask and even though he would have had no way of knowing Jesus could perform such a sign. Jesus does not do things half-way. 

Susan: Jesus is a “go big or go home” God.  

Susie: He can and does do much more than we can imagine. 

Susan: Jesus cared (and still does) about the ordinary concerns of ordinary people.

Ephesians 3:20-21 (KJV) Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

John 2:11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.

Susie: This first sign or miracle of turning water into wine helped to solidify His disciples’ belief that He was the Messiah, the Son of God.

Susan: It helped to strengthen their confidence and trust in the reality of His divinity. 

Susie: Therefore, when He left the wedding, these five disciples, along with His mother and brothers continued following Him to Capernaum.

Ways we can apply this to our lives:

·     Jesus first miracle was not something spectacular like raising a dead man or casting out a demon. It was meeting a very practical need in a miraculous way. Do you ever wonder if we fail to recognize everyday miracles in our own lives?

·     Are things really “coincidental” or does our sovereign Lord orchestrate “circumstances” to guide us into His best for us?

·     Mary told the servants to do whatever Jesus said. Do we follow that advice on a regular basis?