Whatever He tells you, do it
WHATEVER HE TELLS YOU, DO IT
Read John 2: 1-11 This story of a wedding is found only in John’s Gospel. It marks the first of the great ‘signs’ that John incorporates into his telling of the Good News. It also reveals the remarkable insight that Jesus’ mother displays, when she says ‘Do whatever He tells you’ (verse 5).
We examine three aspects of our faith: Does God speak: then and now? What does He say?
What should we do?
A. Throughout the Bible we read that ‘God said . . .’ Genesis 1: 3, 6, 9, 14, 20, 24, 26 - creation Genesis 3: 16-17 - do eat and don’t eat . . . Genesis 6: 13ff - build an ark
Genesis 12: 1 - Jeremiah 1: 4, 7
leave your native country
- I chose you, I appointed you . . . Ananias is sent to see Saul/Paul
Acts 9: 10-19
Acts 10: 9ff -
Acts 18: 9-11 - Paul is encouraged to stay in Corinth
Gospels everywhere: particularly read Matthew 22: 37-40 and Matthew
-
Peter is sent to see Cornelius
chapters 5-7 for some essential teaching.
Matthew 11: 28-30
Matthew 9: 1-8 -
Matthew 25: 41-46 - words of rebuke
Words of command, e.g. ‘Follow Me,’ ‘Don’t be afraid’ and ‘Fill these jars
with water’ (John 2: 7)
B. How does God speak now?
i) Written word of the Bible (Psalm 119: 105) - and we should ask
ourselves whether we have moved forward in our attention to Bible reading.
ii) Expounded word from preachers who love the Bible. Some preachers
end their message with the declaration ‘This is the word of the Lord’ - and you sense that it is so.
iii) Praying, alone or together. When we are open to God’s Holy Spirit, there are moments in prayer when questions become answers, seeking becomes finding.
iv) Advice of Christian friends. Jesus speaks through them. And through you or me, if we’re in touch with Him.
v) Voice of the needy world - Leprosy Mission, TEAR Fund, Barnabas Fund, etc.
vi) The Holy Spirit convinces us of the need to change something in our own life, bringing to the front of our mind some words of Jesus.
‘Whatever He tells you, do it.’ Not ‘Whatever He tells you, agree
- words of compassion
words of forgiveness and healing
with it.’
TIME with the BIBLE - 8
C. What does Jesus say?
NB John 2:4 is quite difficult to translate: for example
NIV Dear woman, why do you involve me? My time has not yet come. Message Is that any of our business, mother? This isn’t my time, don’t
push me.
Greek What to thee and to me, woman? Not yet is come the hour of me. NRSV Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not
yet come.
There are basically two strands: a) Jesus asks: What’s the issue here?
b) He says: My actions are decided by the Father.
Mary’s reply is amazingly full of insight: ‘Whatever He tells you . . .’
Jesus tells the servants ‘Fill. . .Draw some out. . .Take to the master.’ Do it now. The servants are the key characters: their obedience leads to the miracle.
What is Jesus saying NOW?
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, strength. Love your neighbour as yourself (Matthew 22: 37-39)
Go and make disciples... (Matthew 28: 19-20)
I love the description of John Wesley as ‘a man sent from God to persuade people to put Christ at the centre of their relationships.’
Jesus is probably saying to us something about using our time, money, talents. The pastor was telling his congregation: ‘We’re going to do major alterations to the church building. The good news is that we have the money. The bad news is that it’s in your bank account.’
‘Whatever He tells you, do it.’
D. And so:
Like the servants in John ch. 2, we listen and we obey. Obedience > miracle.
Preachers hear interesting comments after a service is over. Quite often it’s ‘You gave us a lot to think about.’ At other times it might be ‘They shouldn’t ask you to preach so often’ or ‘Did you realise there are 147 pieces of glass in that stained glass window?’ The best response is: ‘Yes, Jesus, this is your message for me.
I will do as you tell me.’
Jesus taught about different responses to His words: read Matthew 13: 3-23;
Matthew 21: 28-32.
We resolve that our response will be, like Isaiah’s: ‘Lord, here I am, send me.’
