19. Whatever He Tells You (John 2:4-5)
Posted by:
SeLahGirl on
November 5, 2007 at
2:50PM EST
WHATEVER HE TELLS YOU
(John 2:4-5)
4"Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied, "My time has not yet come."
5His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."
Mary had been amazed from the moment that Gabriel appeared to her with
a message from God. We think that it was an obvious and effortless
response to agree to birth the Messiah, but I believe that it was a
sober and deep-selah moment. I think she thought hard about the message
that was presented to her before giving an answer. I believe she knew
that once she answered and accepted what was being asked of her --
there would be no going back. There would be consequences (positive and
negative) as a result of her response to the message that was
delivered.
Have you ever been asked something, something
that you knew would affect everything and everyone in your life for the
rest of your existence and on into eternity? You think you know what
you will respond with, you feel it in the core of your being, in your
gut, but you run thru every detail several times in your heart and
thoughts before answering. Your eyes zone out, your vision blurs, as
everything in you walks thru the thought process in your mind, sorting
and weighing everything you know and understand -- all in order to
confirm that simple yes or no that you are about to commit to.
I believe that Mary had that moment, that slowing down of her
breathing, that drift of vision, as she contemplated how she would
respond to what God was asking or assigning to her. She knew the
nature/heart of her God. She knew his power/supremacy/wisdom. She
understood that for him to ask such a thing of her meant that the
importance of it was far beyond understanding. It wasn't a matter of
fully understanding the mind of God, nor of comprehending how such a
miracle could be accomplished or why it was necessary. It was a matter
of making up her mind in that one brief moment to submit herself
completely to God. That's why she was chosen. She wasn't holier than
most, or beyond what you or I am capable of. She was resolute in her
commitments, that was the defining character of this chosen, blessed
girl.
Mary was focused on loving God to the point of
trusting him no matter what he asked of her. Because he knew her
character, that she was devout in whatever she committed herself to do
or not do... God knew that her heart would yield to his will above her
own.
We are all chosen by God to perform something, to play
a key role in the arrival of the Kingdom of God. We all have the
opportunity to be known as blessed in many different ways. The key lies
in our response to whatever it is that God is asking of us at any given
moment. I think Mary had many choices set before her before this
moment. I think she answered no to some, I think she was just as
imperfect as the rest of us and missed the will of God on occasion. But
I also think that there was a consistent strength and commitment in her
heart that caused her to strive to choose the will of God over her own
-- a consistency that grew over time until she was at a place where she
had learned to trust God almost instinctively. I believe that she made
up her mind to be passionate and violent with herself or anything that
tried to hinder her from choosing the will of God.
The many
small choices she had made in the years previous (the many difficulties
in life and the many temptations) -- I think all prepared her and
trained her to consider and weigh every choice, solidifying her ability
to be resolute and to arrive at the right response more quickly --
"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." (Luke 1:38)
Mary didn't have to have all the answers. She knew that if her
heart/motives were pure, she could ask God anything and trust his
response no matter what it might be. She knew that God has a plan, but
he is always open to work our heart's desire out for us at any given
moment. She understood that he considers our requests and petitions,
and that what we ask of him matters.
The need for wine at
this feast was important to Mary, for whatever reason. Maybe it wasn't
to you or me or anyone else, but it was to her. She took that request
to Jesus because she had learned that no matter how big or how small
the need -- he always has an answer that will bring peace to any
situation. And she was right to ask this of him. He conversed with her
briefly about the situation to let her know that he had heard her, that
he wanted to understand her request, that he wanted her to understand
his heart... and then he responded
with a miracle.
Mary told the servants to do whatever he asked of them. She knew that that was the key.
Yield to God, submit to Him, trust Him with all that you hold dear...
and God will respond every time in ways that will cause you to be called BLESSED.
