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Obey Jesus

The last recorded words of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, provide us with the most profound insight into what it means to follow Jesus. 

The opening scenes of the story of Jesus’ life introduce us to Mary, a young woman whose greatest passion was to serve the purposes of God (Luke 1:26-38). When she was told that her life would become the avenue through which the Saviour of the world would enter into this life, her response was a simple ‘yes’! Through her obedient life, she ushered into this world the One Life through whom every human life could be restored to its original purpose. 

Some years later, attending a wedding in Cana with His mother and some of His followers, Jesus performs the first of His many miracles (John 2:1-12). But, behind the scenes, the setting up of that miracle was all Mary’s doing. Having heard the wine had run out, she mentioned it to Him. Then she instructed the serving staff to take their cue from Him:  

John 2:5 NLT His mother told the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.

Despite the unconventional nature of His instructions, they did what He said … and the outcome of their obedience was nothing short of miraculous. 

Granted, without Jesus being present – and without Mary asking Him to look into the situation – there would probably have been no miracle. But, even with Jesus present, without the obedience of the serving staff, there would also have been no miracle. 

There are many things in our lives, and in the lives of those around us, that is not working out the way they should. Jesus is never just a curious bystander when things are going wrong. He is always more than willing to engage. He is actively looking for ways to bring the power of God into a situation so that He can draw things back into alignment with His Father’s will. But, more often than not, He is looking for a partner – a follower – who is willing to do what He says so that He can bring God’s glorious problem-solving power to bear. 

We often think that all Jesus needed to feed the 5 000 was a few loaves and some fish (Mark 6). But He needed more than that: He needed partners – followers – to take what He had to offer to those in need. The multiplication of the bread and fish took place in THEIR hands, not HIS. As the serving staff at the wedding in Cana, and His disciples on the outskirts of Bethsaida discovered, whenever His followers do what He says, the impossible becomes possible.