Do Whatever He Tells You

In the gospels there is not much that we know about the Virgin Mary by what she says apart from the passages in Luke that speak about the birth of Christ. In the Gospel of John is a tiny passage about a wedding in which an older and wiser Mary appears. Here we find her encouraging her young adult son, Jesus to intervene when the wine runs out at the wedding reception. Jesus appears to give some push back at the request “Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.” But almost as if she does not hear a word he says she turns to the servants and says “Do whatever he tells you.” I love that about Mary. Jesus is God but she is still his mother. We all know the rest of the story is the marvelous miracle of the water that becomes wine.

This new year may we do just that “whatever Jesus tells you.” God speaks to us every day in quiet and not-so-quiet ways. We do a fair share of push-back, especially when the request means a sacrifice or an impossibility. Can you imagine what the servants thought when Jesus told them to “draw some out and take it to the chief steward.” They had just filled 6 stone jars full of water. But they did it anyway. Was their obedience and the miracle in some way connected? I believe it was and it will always be that God works miracles through the likes of us when we are obedient. This is especially true when we obey God’s call when we think it is preposterous, an inconvenience, and we cry out “Lord, send someone else.”

Do whatever he tells you this year and see what God will be able to do through you.

Bishop Peggy A. Johnson