(John 2:5)
�His mother saith unto the servants Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.�
I�ve just finished reading an article which touched upon people�s most memorable experiences in the theater.
My personal memory wasn�t really in a theater; it was in a church Christmas pageant when I was about four, or five, years old. I nervously awaited my turn to walk across the platform in front of the choir loft. Finally, my turn came. I walked all the way to the front of the platform so my parents could see me recite my carefully memorized little part. I stood there, looking at the crowded church sanctuary. I said, in as loud a voice as I could muster, �I forgot what I was supposed to say.� Then I turned and walked away.
Sometimes we just disappoint those who have come expecting to see us perform!
Jesus did not disappoint Mary in the completion of that which was asked of Him in our text verse today.
Some, especially in the Roman Church, have misunderstood what has happened in this situation. In verse four of this chapter Jesus says to Mary, ��Woman, what have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not yet come.�
Some have supposed that Mary was a mediator between the needs of the people and the Person of Jesus. They will read that fourth verse and assume that Jesus was coerced by His mother into doing something He might not have otherwise done. Their conclusion is that it is proper to pray to Mary to intervene with Jesus on their behalf.
There are a couple of things wrong with this supposition. The first is the entire idea of praying to Mary, or anyone else, so that they will be a mediator. The Bible plainly says, �Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.� (Romans 8:34)
Lest there be any misunderstanding of this point, the Bible also says, �For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.� (I Timothy 2:5)
When the kids come to the park across the street and play their music so loud that the base shakes my house I would like to go over to them and explain the city ordinance on noise pollution. That would be pointless. Those kids would not listen to this old and fat man! They just wouldn�t.
But, if the noise continues for over half an hour I will call the police. The police will come and explain the noise ordinance to those same kids and those kids will listen.
What is the difference? I am just another old guy from the neighborhood. The policeman, however, is the person with the authority to make demands. That is part of his office as police officer.
Although an imperfect illustration, this does give a general idea of the meditorial role of Jesus Christ. He is The Mediator. This is His office. No one else has the spiritual qualification to usurp the role of mediator because that role belongs to Jesus, alone.
Therefore, neither Mary, nor anyone else - no matter how �sainted� they are said to have been, can be a mediator. Any prayer to them is false prayer uttered outside the will of God as revealed in His Word.
Besides this, Mary did not assume the role of mediator in this instance. She assumed the New Testament role of Christian. We may, and should, follow her example.
In verse four Mary explained the situation to Jesus. Jesus did not dispute the facts of the case. He merely gave Mary a picture of reluctance.
Why was this? I think it was to build up the faith of Mary. Jesus, at no point, ever told Mary that He was not going to act. I believe that He was working to cause her to go out on faith with a very important message.
In a real sense, this was Mary in prayer.
Then, in verse five, we see the faith of Mary. She was not discouraged. She knew what Jesus could do. She simply went out and witnessed to others about the power of Jesus. She would have looked rather foolish, and she knew this, had Jesus not then acted. Nonetheless, she simply moved out on faith with the message of the Power of God in Jesus Christ.
You will notice that Mary, at no time, told the people to look upon her for anything. Mary pointed toward Jesus. She didn�t ask them to follow, or even to revere her. Mary said, �Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.�
Mary prayed. She expected an answer even when circumstances may have suggested that the answer would not come. Then Mary, emboldened by her faith in the goodness of Jesus, took the opportunity to witness to others that He was the Answer to their problems.
That, simply, is the Christian life in action as it ought to be!
The first thing we need to notice in our text today is the message of the mother. �His mother saith unto the servants��
Here is an example of the story delivered.
This is very important. Many of us seem to think that others can become Christians by osmosis. Osmosis, for those who might not understand the term, is that process by which water, for instance, is able to move from an area of high density to an area of low density. If you�ve even let your towel just dip into the bath water you will understand this concept.
Maybe just a very small corner; that could be why it was not noticed that the towel had dipped into the water. The water in the tub is of high density in relation to the lack of water in the towel. �at first! Then the water begins to soak the towel by climbing into that low density. This process will continue until the entire floor is covered with water as the towel assumes, as it is soaked, a higher density than the dry, until now!, floor.
Folks, our Christian witness does not act like this. While our �quietly led lives� may give credence to the story of sin and salvation, that story will not just naturally �flow� from us. We need find ways to relate that story.
Unless a person can hear the Gospel message they are not very likely to even consider the fact that they stand as a sinner before God.
We do need to bolster that witness with prayer. But prayer, without an active witness tied in with it, will not work. The Spirit cannot quicken the heart that has not heard.
Everyone knows that there are two distinct types of revelation. The first is natural revelation. This is the nature about us which gives evidence to the fact of A Creator. It is, however, special revelation which gives knowledge of THE Creator Who made the entire universe with the force of His Own Word.
This is the story detailed.
People need to know that simple living a good life, or even worshipping in a religious tradition, is not enough to gain them a home in Heaven. People need to understand the truth of Acts 4:12. �Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.�
Christianity is an exclusionary religion. Ours is not a religion of �do your best.� Ours is not a religion of �be sincere.� Ours is definitely not a religion of �all roads lead to Rome.� Christianity is a religion of, �For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.� (I Timothy 2:5)
The only hope any person will ever have of salvation of their sins and peace with God is through reliance upon the finished work of Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary. Nothing, not any thing you might care to mention, nor anyone else can possibly save. Only Jesus is ��the way, the truth, and the life�� (John 14:6)
Please realize that after salvation, which is basic, comes the time to see the story defined.
�And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.� (Matthew 28:18-20)
Notice the progression of that verse. Jesus first says to teach. That is the message of the evangel. We teach the truth that humanity is filled with sinful people who need the salvation which Jesus offers. This is followed by baptism into a local church. After this, these same people are to be taught to observe the commandments of Jesus.
This is doctrine.
Notice that doctrine, and church ordinances come after baptism and conversion. We can never �reform� a soul into Heaven. It just can�t be done.
Complaining about the way some people act and even passing laws in an attempt to modify their lifestyle choices will never save a single soul. This is a false, and often hateful, gospel which we too often preach out into the world.
People are not saved by reformation; they are saved by the regeneration which comes from the Person of Christ via His substitutionary atonement.
To preach any other message is to preach people into Hell! Men and women do not need our view or even our Christian morality. People need the Savior. Let us never be guilty of hiding Him under the bushel of reformation of character. It is true that character often does need to be reformed. It is even �more true� that people need to be saved from their sins which are at the root of their character problems.
The second thing I�d like to look at is the directive toward the Deliverer. ��Whatsoever he saith unto you��
There was a demand for obedience.
We don�t much like to hear that sort of thing today, do we? We all want to be free spirits to fulfill our own agenda. After all, we shouldn�t be �held back� by the demands of another, should we?
We have been conditioned to resist being told what to do. It is part of our culture that authoritarian figures will gain little hearing. Those of you who are sports fans are well familiar with this principle. �Yes,� we are told, �So and so was a great coach back them. But he couldn�t get away with treating his players like that today. They just wouldn�t listen.�
Folks, it is high time that we realize God is not our celestial genie whose main purpose is to fulfill our wants and dreams. We expect Him to sit on His throne and grant whatever we desire. We need to realize that it is not what we desire; it is His holy will that is of ultimate importance.
I read a book a few weeks ago. I can�t find it now; I just looked so I could quote exactly. But, that book made a very profound statement. It said, �We do not pray so that we can convince God to do something He doesn�t want to do. We pray so our hearts will line up with His will.�
Prayer ought to be a time of worship and we have turned it into a trip to the �Wall of God Mart.�
Mary wasn�t telling these men what to do. She said, �Go to Jesus and do whatever He says to do.�
When God says, �Go,� we ought not stay. Conversely, when God says, �Stay,� we ought not go. I know a minister who has had three churches in his �career.� In the first he was a founding pastor; he was fired. The last two were both split during his �ministry.� I�m very familiar with him and his ministry. He was �called� to the ministry by his boyhood pastor. For the past forty years or so God has been trying to explain to him that his calling is to sell insurance, or something of that nature.
He has left a trail of destruction in his wake because he wanted his will rather than the will of God.
We need to subject our will to God�s will.
There is also, in this text verse, a demand for observance.
Once again, this is a picture of doctrine. This morning a pastor told me about an incident which had happened during his seminary days. There were a group of men in his class who attended a liturgical church. Every Sunday they would go to church and recite the �Apostle�s Creed.� This creed begins with the words, �I believe.� Following are some of the most basic of historic Christian doctrinal statements.
These men said, �I believe.� Then these same men would show up for class the next day and cast aspersions on those same fundamental doctrines. The men were nearly agnostic in their relationship to historic Christianity.
These men, who were being trained, should have known better. But, there are many in the churches which have never been taught the meaning of even the Lord�s Table. Many believe that they obtain a measure of grace from God by partaking of this symbolic meal! The Bible places no grace in this observance. The Bible merely says that this is a memorial service to celebrate the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary.
That is just one small example. You could probably add many more illustrations. We need to teach, and learn, doctrine in our churches. God was not just trying to fill up space, or turn a nice phrase, when He said, �Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.� (II Timothy 2:15)
We can not really believe something simply because our church says it is so. I�ve been in more church services than I care to admit where some saint of God will stand and say, �Pastor, what do we believe?�
Folks, if you don�t know it you can�t believe it. That�s rather simple math!
God wants an informed people with a reasonable faith. If this is not the case we will be easy prey for any cultist who comes by and says, �Let me show you what the Bible really says.�
We need to learn, and preachers need to teach, what �the Bible really says!�
Also, note here that there was a demand for the offering of service.
These men to whom Mary spoke were not told to simply sit by and watch Jesus work. True, in the final analysis that is all they could really do; the miracle was all of Him and nothing of their work.
It is important to note that God offers us the opportunity to work with Him in this world. That�s another reason why we need to learn.
I�ve often spoke of the incident of Cornelius and Peter. I noted that the angel spoke to Cornelius but did not tell him the way of salvation. The angel said for Cornelius to speak to Peter. Peter, as another representative of the Christian in the New Testament pages, was given the task of relating the salvation story.
We have been given that same task.
For now, however, I�d like to look at Acts 8:26 - 39.
�And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
�Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
�And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
�The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
�And the eunuch answered Philip and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
�Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
�And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water, what doth hinder me to be baptized?
�And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest, And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
�And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.�
Do you see what happened here? Here was a man being religious. He was even reading the Word of God. Still God sent Philip to this man to explain the way of salvation. That is obedience on the part of Philip. Philip had already been in the Scripture, himself. Philip had already spent time with Jesus. Philip was a prepared person; he had �studied to shew himself approved,� and was ready when the Lord requested his service.
Do you notice, also, that after the man was saved and the Spirit was with him, Philip was moved on to his next �duty station?�
We are obedient when we do what it is that God wants us to do. We do this task to the best of our abilities. We may even enjoy the task. But, when God says it is time to move on, we move on if we are honestly obedient.
Charles Simpson, a noted Charismatic teacher, tells the story of a trained dog. He said that you can teach your dog to fetch a stick. This does not make the dog trained; it merely means that the dog has learned a trick. A trained dog is one that will sit when the stick is thrown, even though every fiber of his being says to go fetch that stick, until the owner says, �Go fetch it.�
Have we learned a few tricks for God? Or, are we trained to do His will?
Finally, notice the order of the Omnipotent. ��do it�
First of all, I want to explain why I said that this outline point was �the order of the Omnipotent.� I am not talking of Mary at this point. What I am referencing is that which Mary told the servants. She told them to follow what it was that Jesus instructed. She did not view herself as more important, or even as equally important, as was He.
Mary did offer these servants a very simple solution. Do you have a problem? Do what Jesus asks you to do? Sometimes this is to accept the problem as part of one�s training as a soldier of the Cross. As Noah was not saved from the flood, he was saved in and during the flood. So also does God sometimes set adversity out for us to endure as good soldiers of the Cross.
This endurance may be training us to trust more fully upon Him. This endurance may make us more able to empathize with another so that we can witness to them of the sufficiency of the Savior.
Sometimes the suffering is a burning fire to remove impurities from our own lives, like pride in our own self sufficiency, and replace the wood, hay and stubble with the gold of the crown of life.
Not even every martyr was saved from his ordeal. Often those martyrs sealed their testimony because they passed out of this temporal life with praises to God about their eternal life. Often they brought glory to God by their attitude of forgiveness toward their tormentors; this was the testimony of the Christian!
Mary also offered them a very eloquent edict. The advice Mary gave was so simple that no one could miss the point. �Just do what Jesus asks you to do.�
We hear many people tell us that the Bible is hard to understand. Well, it is to the unconverted. They do not have the Spirit with them to interpret and illumine. But, as we pray for these same people the Spirit of God will convict them of sin and draw them to a salvation so simple that it may not be misunderstood by a true seeker. Jesus Christ died in time so that others might live in eternity.
Mary also gave a proper presentation. She removed herself from the line of sight of those servants. She simply pointed to Jesus and said that He was the only answer which was available. She said that Jesus was not only available, He also had the ability to perform the needed task.
This brings up a very important point. Have you trusted the Savior for yourself? Have you asked Jesus to take your sins and save your soul?
If you haven�t, now is the time to look to Him. He will save you from your sins and give you peace with God.
Accept Him today!