Lee Moses
In the early days of Jesus’ ministry, He was present at a wedding feast where they had run out of “wine,” evidently non-intoxicating grape juice (John 2:1-3; cf. Isa. 65:8; I Cor. 6:9-10). Jesus’ mother Mary hinted to Him that He might resolve the problem. While Jesus did not indicate to His mother that He would address the situation at all, she told the workers, “Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it” (John 2:5). This was sound advice to those workers, and this is sound advice to every man and woman of every subsequent generation. Do whatever Jesus says.
Why? (1) Because Jesus is right. We are conditioned to question what others tell us to do—and with good reason. Many people will knowingly lie to us (cf. Jer. 9:3-5). Others intend to base their statements and instructions on the truth, but they are simply mistaken on what the truth is. Following instructions from such sources can prove destructive (cf. Prov. 14:12). However, Jesus always knows the truth on every matter, and Jesus never utters a lie (cf. John 2:25; 1 Pet. 2:22; Heb. 6:18). Solomon wrote, “He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness” (Prov. 12:17). Jesus always says what is right. (2) Because Jesus has our best interests in mind. Another reason we are conditioned to question what others tell us is because others typically have their own best interests in mind. As Paul said, “For all seek their own” (Phil. 2:12). They may care little to nothing about what is best for us. But Jesus was able to say in all honesty, “The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:28). He proved His matchless love and concern for us by sacrificing Himself to the cross, and continues to do all for the good of every man and woman (cf. Heb. 7:25; 1 John 2:1-2). (3) Because Jesus is Lord. Jesus holds all authority in heaven and on earth (Matt. 28:18). God the Father has “given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him” (Dan. 7:14). To refuse to do what Jesus says is to deny His Lordship (cf. Luke 6:46). All the world must “know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36). Jesus is Lord, and all will acknowledge this at some point (Phil. 2:9-11). If one is to have hope, one must acknowledge this sooner rather than later. (4) Because Jesus can make the otherwise impossible possible. Neither Mary nor the servants could see any obvious solution it to their present dilemma. But by trusting Jesus, they could receive the solution to an inconceivable extreme. Jesus would turn simple water into wine, and into wine of the highest quality (John 2:9-10). Such an event does not fall within the laws of nature, but Jesus had the power to make it happen. Jesus maintains power to do far greater things. Jesus—and only Jesus—can make defiled sinners pleasing to God and heirs of eternal life (cf. Rom. 3:23; 6:23; Col. 1:21-22; Acts 4:12). All of this provides more than sufficient reason to heed Mary’s instructions to do whatever He says.
Even if it is difficult. Some of what Jesus commands is very simple. For example, He commands us to be baptized for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16). What could be easier? It essentially takes no effort on the part of the one being baptized. However, some of what He commands is difficult. For example, He commands us that He and His kingdom (the church) must take absolute precedence over all else in our lives (Matt. 6:33; Luke 14:33). There are times this will challenge all of us. Some of His commandments may prove easier for some than for others. He teaches us to abstain from drinking recreational alcoholic beverages (Rom. 13:13; Gal. 5:21; Eph. 5:18). For those who have never taken a sip, such abstention is not particularly challenging. But for those who have allowed alcoholic beverages to become a central part of their lives, this will probably be tough. The commandments by which we are called to live are not unnecessarily burdensome (1 John 5:3), but they will try us at times. Regardless, the difficulties are worth it. As Jesus said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it” (Matt. 16:24-25).
Even if you see it as a potential source of embarrassment. Consider what Jesus told the wedding servants to do: “Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it” (John 2:7-8). The word here used for “draw out” implies that they were drawing out water. Of course, these servants were the same people who had filled the waterpots with water. And now they were supposed to bring this water before the “governor of the feast”—essentially the master of ceremonies, who would be well qualified to distinguish between good wine and inferior wine, and certainly between good wine and water—and present it to him as wine? If the man who told them to do this had been a prankster, they would have been set up for one of the worst embarrassments in the history of Galilee. People would have laughed mercilessly at these servants when they told the governor of the feast that they
had brought wine, and they only had water. They would have been mocked for years to come. The man would not necessarily have had to be a prankster to put them in such a humiliating situation—he may have been well intended, but misled. However, when the servants trusted Jesus enough to do what He said, they were trusting in someone who is always right and in someone who is powerful. There may be occasions when we see doing what Jesus says as a potential source of embarrassment. Drinkers and fornicators will “think it strange” that we do not do what they do (1 Pet. 4:3-4). It may bother some people when we cannot forsake the assembling of the church to accommodate their plans. Others may feel offended when we simply teach what the Bible says (cf. 1 Cor. 1:23; Mark 16:15). The apostle Paul spoke of the view the world held f him: “Being defamed…we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day” (1 Cor. 4:13). Regardless of what others might think, we must trust Jesus enough to do as He says. Jesus warns, “Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels” (Mark 8:38).
Even if you think it will hinder you from doing other things you want to do. We all have plans for what we want to do with the present day, with the coming year, and with our lives. Sadly, some people find their own plans more important than doing what Jesus tells them to do. They know Christ has told them to repent of sin and be baptized, but they have other plans. They know Christ wants them to be present when the church assembles, but they have other plans. We have all been guilty of putting things we want to do ahead of what Jesus tells us to do, but to do so is foolish. All our plans are fallible; not one of Christ’s is. Solomon wrote, “There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand” (Prov. 19:21). Similarly, James warns,
Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that (Jas. 4:13-15).
Whatever He says…do it!
