January 9
Bible Reading: John 2:1-12
John 2:5, “Do whatever he tells you.”
A neighbor of our church called, asking if I would visit as he had some questions for me. I thought I knew him fairly well (though he didn’t attend our church), but what he shared with me came as a big shock. He had tried to kill himself and he was wondering if his attempt at suicide constituted an unforgiveable sin. He had experienced a stroke earlier that year, the pain and disability had been too much for him, so he had tried unsuccessfully to end his life. We spent some time talking about sin and Jesus and salvation. He had something on his mind. He showed me a family picture that was hanging on the wall in another room. He pointed to an aged black-and-white photo of his big family, his mom and dad, and all his siblings, and talked about how his mom had been a fine Christian lady, insisting that they attend church every Sunday. Then he said something that has stuck with me to this day: “I should have listened to my mother.” You could sense the stinging regret in his matter-of-fact statement. His health was failing. He was estranged from his daughter and his son lived far away. Having struggled with alcohol for most of his life, he was reflecting on how things might have turned out differently if he’d heeded his mom’s advice. If only he had done as she’d said!
The context of our passage is the miracle in which Jesus turned water into wine. Mary told the servants that they should, “Do whatever he tells you.” She knew, no doubt from experience, that Jesus had the power to fix things. If they simply followed Jesus’ instructions, then everything would go according to plan, and He would resolve the problem of the embarrassing lack of wine.
But our phrase, “do whatever Jesus tells you,” holds wisdom beyond its immediate context, befitting of that which we find elsewhere in Scripture. There can be no better counsel! We could avoid many of our troubles if we simply listened to Jesus. Of course, it’s not that easy. To heed Jesus, we need Jesus. The first thing necessary is to believe in Him unto salvation. John elsewhere put it this way: “And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us (1 John 3:23). Not only can He forgive us of our sins, but He can also give us ears to hear and hearts to obey. “Do whatever he tells you!” That’s a great formula for regret-free living!
Jesus alone can forgive us our sins and give us hearts to obey.
TRUST AND OBEY
When we walk with the Lord
in the light of his word,
what a glory he sheds on our way!
While we do his good will,
he abides with us still,
and with all who will trust and obey.
Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Not a burden we bear,
not a sorrow we share,
but our toil he doth richly repay;
not a grief or a loss,
not a frown or a cross,
but is blest if we trust and obey. [Refrain]
But we never can prove
the delights of his love
until all on the altar we lay;
for the favor he shows,
for the joy he bestows,
are for them who will trust and obey. [Refrain]
Then in fellowship sweet
we will sit at his feet,
or we’ll walk by his side in the way;
what he says we will do,
where he sends we will go;
never fear, only trust and obey. [Refrain]
LookingtoJesus 