“Every one that hangs about the court does not speak with the king.”
–Thomas Watson
In the gospel of John (2:1-11), the first miracle that Jesus performs is at a wedding in the town of Cana in Galilee. Cana was about nine miles from Nazareth. Mary and her family (see verse 12) were present at the wedding and Jesus and his disciples were included as well. Do you remember the potential disaster that loomed at that wedding? They had run out of wine. Mary informed Jesus of that situation and after a very interesting conversation, she said the following to the servants at the wedding, “His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” (2:5)
Mary’s command to the servants is instructive. She has just been mildly rebuked by her son. Jesus had addressed her as “woman,” a term of “polite distance” (see the ESV Study Notes and also John 19:26) and indicated that it was not yet his time. Yet her intimate knowledge of her son led her to believe that he would help this couple avoid disgrace and shame. She is so confident in him that she tells the servants to do “whatever” he instructed them to do. And the servants are prepared to do it. The story continues:
6 Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. 9 When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew)…” (John 2:5-9b)
Notice the following about the servants: they completely obey Jesus, filling the jars “up to the brim.” Regarding their effort, no one can speak ill of them. They do what he commands and do it fully, leaving the results to him. This is a comforting word for Christ’s servants today. Let us serve him “up to the brim” and leave the changing of the water into wine in his gracious, powerful hands. Speaking of hands, please note that Jesus, in the performing of this miracle, does not use his hands and does not speak a word in the direction of the jars. He does all he needs to do, he simply wills the change and it occurs. What power is his! He wills it to change and the very molecules of the water shift and the wine is produced. Let this be a comfort to you today, child of God, that the Lord Jesus is for you and not against you. Have a blessed week and we will see you on Sunday. D. V.
Love in Christ,
Pastor Dale
