FollowingJesus.me

“When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, ‘They have no more wine.’ ‘Woman, why do you involve me?’ Jesus replied. ‘My hour has not yet come.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’” – John 2:3-5

Mary’s simple, deep faith was astounding at this moment. There is a wedding feast going on and the wine has run out. A family is about to be disgraced and a wedding ruined. What can someone do in such a short time for so many people? Mary knows the answer – “Do whatever he tells you.” Sure; until you hear what Jesus tells them. Jesus tells the servants to fill the jars with water and then take some of the water and serve the master of the banquet. The wine has run out and Jesus is saying to serve water instead. That makes no sense whatsoever, except that Jesus said to do it. Somewhere between the filling of the jars and the banquet master drinking what is now being served, a miracle happens. The water has been turned into really good wine. This is not how things work. There is a process for making wine and this is not it!

No matter, Mary knows Jesus is the answer. Somehow at that moment, regardless of how crazy his instructions sound, Mary knows that if they will but listen to Jesus, the problem will be solved.

How many times have I ignored what I thought Jesus was saying because it sounded a bit crazy? How many times have I kept doing what I “know” will work even with ample evidence to the contrary?

The answer to the problem is simple and two-fold: 1. Faith in Jesus and 2. Doing what Jesus says to do. Jesus himself said that he came to give us “life and life to the full.” Jesus comes, not only to die for our sins but to show us a better way to live. Jesus offers us a life of peace, “a peace that the world cannot take away.” Jesus opens up for us a way to live in this world and not be of this world.

I struggle with this at times, because I “know” how the world works and some of the things Jesus says sound backward, upside down, and sometimes crazy. Yet, Jesus’ invitation to me (and to you) is not to live our lives better. His invitation is to a whole new life, a life wholly different from how we have been living. To experience this new life, I simply need to follow Mary’s advice – “Do what he (Jesus) tells you to do.”

Prayer:

Jesus, thank you for loving me, making me part of your family, and continuing your work in my life! Jesus, I need your help again. I see lives lived out in front of me every day. I am reminded constantly how life in this world is “supposed” to be lived. I sometimes forget that your ways are different. I sometimes drift into living life like everyone else. I follow the same principles, I seek after the same things, I cling to the same temporary stuff.

Today, once again, help me to break free from living life like everyone else. I don’t want the “life” the world offers. I want the Life that you offer. Jesus, I want your “life to the full” and your peace at work in me. Jesus, help me to stay close to you, to listen to your voice, and to be ready to do what you say no matter how upside-down it sounds. Lord, increase my faith so I might be able to follow Mary’s simple advice, “Do whatever he tells you.”