Do what Jesus will say

Monday January 23, 2023

Do what Jesus will say

As the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him : They have no more wine... His mother said to the servants : Do whatever he tells you... Jesus said to them : Fill these jars. And they filled them to the brim. Draw up now, he told them, and take it to the organizer of the meal. And they brought it to him. John 2:3,5,7,8

Mary gives the servants in charge of the wedding feast at Cana advice formulated in terms similar to that of the Pharaoh to the Egyptians asking for bread. Bread, the symbol of food, was lacking in Egypt ; in Cana, wine, symbol of what causes joy, is lacking. In Egypt, one had to speak to Joseph, a figure of Christ, and then obey his directives ; at Cana, it is Jesus himself who must be obeyed.

What is more legitimate than joy during a wedding ? Isn't this a particularly happy time in a man's life ? The Bible itself compares joy to the feeling of a groom and a bride on a wedding day (Isaiah 62:5). However at Cana, the joy is spoiled, the wine is lacking.

When even the most legitimate earthly joy has dried up, we must go to Jesus and do as he tells us. We must go to him, ready to be filled with water like those stone basins which were used to wash the feet of guests on their arrival and their hands before the meal ; ready to be filled with the Word of God that continually cleanses from the pollution of sin (Ephesians 5:26 ; John 17:17). Only then can the miracle be accomplished: the water is transformed into wine. Judging yourself in the light of the Word of God brings true joy ! And this joy, fruit of the Holy Spirit, is far superior to the fleeting joys of this world, just as the wine provided second by the Lord is better than the first.

Let us therefore remain attached to Jesus who promises : No one takes away your joy (John 16:22). Let us understand his plans, his thinking, the future he has in store for us; let us obey his Word ; let us enjoy his work on the cross and its results, his soon return and we will then savor this ineffable and glorious joy evoked by the apostle Peter (1 Peter 1:8).

Source (Pleasing the Lord)