Tag: obedience

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The Best is Yet to Come

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”

4 “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”

5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.

7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so, they filled them to the brim.

8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”

They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”  John 2:1-10 (NIV)

              A friend of mine recently recommended this story to be included in my new book I am currently writing.  As I studied the characters and the circumstances that they were facing, I decided that in our current situation as a people across the globe that maybe this story should be shared now.

 As I read my mind created the scene.  It was fall in the land, that is when the weddings were preformed because there was plenty after the harvest and cooler.  The Jewish wedding feast last for five days and during that time food and wine is plentiful.  In the first verse, it states that it was the third day of the feast, that let’s us know it was serious that the wine had run out because there were two more days of feasting to go.  So that is one reason why Mary came to Jesus, she knew that he could remedy the issue. So Mary asked Jesus. Notice that Mary does not argue with Jesus or presses him, she simply tells the servants to “Do whatever he tells you.” She made her request and then left it with Jesus.

What really interest me in this story is the servants and their unwavering obedience.

Mary walks away and the servants look to Jesus. I think they were waiting on Jesus to tell them to run into town or knock on the neighbor’s door but Jesus told the servants to fill the ceremonial jars with water.  Can you imagine what was going through the minds of these servants?  They begin drawing water out of the well and dump bucket after bucket into the vessels. Finally, six huge stone jars are filled to the brim with water.  Their task complete, once again they turn to Jesus, curious maybe a bit confused, and waited for his next command. 

Now take a moment to think about this, what if you had been the servant that Jesus told to draw out the water and take to the head of the banquet?  

Now you don’t know Jesus, but you do know that there is nothing but water in that jar and now in the decanter.  However, being an obedient servant, you take the decanter to the head of the banquet.  As this servant walked through the loud hall filled with singing, winding between the couches and guests, I can only imagine what must have been going through the servant’s mind. I have thought about that a lot since studying this passage. Was he or maybe it was a she, the gender is never specified, scared?  I think that I would have been.  Yet, these servants did what was commanded without questioning. 

  I believe that a true servant must relinquish their will and body to their master.  To do that, the servant must choose to trust the master.  That person knew that they had filled the decanter with water but they took it obediently. When the servant got to the table what a sweet relief it must have been when rich, red, fragrant wine filled the cup. 

Often, we are put in situations where we do not know what God has planned next.  God rarely shares his plans or reasons for what he does.  I find that very frustrating.  I believe that God chooses to withhold that information to cultivate trust, faithfulness, and obedience.  The servant carried the vessel of water obediently to the banquet table not knowing what was going to happen until they tipped the clay jar and wine spilled out. Do not become discouraged or scared, instead like the servants, trust the master.  Do not let what is going on around us discourage you and your faith. Continue to be obedient and faithful to Jesus. 

At the end of the passage, we see that the master of the banquet was very pleased that the best wine had been saved for the end of the banquet. “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” 

 No matter what is going on in your life and in this world, remember that the best is yet to come.

Typist for Jesus.

Oh Deer

If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. 2 All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God Deuteronomy 28;1-2

It was sudden, the thud and a blur of brown in the headlights.  I slammed the brakes, and the car slid to a stop. The brown flash now hit the car again, and I realized that it was deer. She hit the hood and bounced, hitting the grass of the field, rolling, struggling to get her legs under her.  I got out of the car and watched the doe charge to the trees. I inspected the damage to my vehicle. It was not too bad, but my heart sunk.  

The next day as I spoke to the insurance adjuster, I retold the story.  She asked me at what speed I was going at the time of the collision.  

“Oh, that’s easy,” I replied, “I was doing just under 25.” 

“Well, you are lucky.  We get several claims, and many times the car is totaled and often the drivers injured as well.  If the deer goes through the windshield, it can be awful. I am glad you are ok.”

I was passing through a school zone at the time.  What was intriguing was that school was out, but the lights were still flashing.  It was an icy morning, and the county had delayed the start of school. As I pulled out onto the road, I knew that school was out, but because the lights were flashing, I chose to obey the rules.  I’ll be honest I thought of ignoring it as did many of the cars that passed me, but I was compelled to observe it anyway.  

After I hung up the phone, I thought about that decision and reflected on what the agent had said.  If I had chosen to ignore the law and had been driving faster, the outcome could have been very different. 

Many people chose to ignore the laws, not just traffic but God’s commandments.  Commonly, many people feel that God’s laws are restrictive. Old fashioned and do not pertain to today’s world.  I submit that God’s laws are not restrictive but instead intended for our good. Often we chose to disobey God’s requirements, and in doing so, we find ourselves suffering the consequences of our choices.  God gave us his Word so that we will know how to live our lives in obedience. Being obedient to God may seem difficult or oppressive; however, it is for you to have an abundant and peaceful life.  

Typist for Jesus