DOING WHATEVER JESUS SAYS
John 2:1-5
Even though I am 36 years old I still go to my father for advice when I have a major decision to make. I have found that there is much benefit in seeking out wise counsel. I have 4 children of my own and I attempt to give them good advice... they rarely listen to me but I give it to them regardless.
As I prepared for this opportunity to stand before you today I began to ponder what would be the greatest advice that I could give you. The answer to that question is found in John 2:5. Just before Jesus turned the water into wine, His mother, Mary instructed the servants at the wedding to "do whatever Jesus says". On the surface this may seem like some simple instructions, but Mary's words are actually the key to living a successful Christian life. And that would be the greatest advice that I could give you today. In every situation, just "do whatever Jesus says".
If we want true peace in our lives, we must do what Jesus says! If we want to experience sweet fellowship with Jesus, we must do what He says! If we want to live a life pleasing to God and one that would bring Him glory, we must do what Jesus says!
Our selected text covers a time when Jesus & His disciples attended a wedding in the town of Cana. Sometime after they arrived, it comes to Mary's attention that there was not enough wine for the wedding feast. Mary took this problem to Jesus. She then instructed the servants to do whatever He told them to do. The servants may have been confused by Jesus' method of solving this problem, they may have even been doubtful that He could solve this problem, but they obeyed His command and they witnessed an amazing miracle.
Like Mary, there are times when we must realize that Jesus is the only one who can solve our problem. We may not always understand His timing or His method of solving our problem, but when we take it to Him He can work a miracle in our lives.
In this story, Jesus had some simple instructions for those servants, and He has some instructions for His servants today. I want to talk to you for just a little while about "Doing Whatever Jesus Says".
I have been following the Lord for over 20 years and I can testify that it is always best to "do whatever Jesus says". I wish I could say that I always do what He tells me to do, when He tells me to do it, but that is not the case.
If you are a Christ follower, He will provide you with guidance and direction. I would like to look to the text and examine:
I. HOW JESUS SPEAKS TO US
It is amazing to think that the very Son of God speaks to us. This is a tremendous privilege that we enjoy as Children of God. The lost world may think that we are crazy when we say that we talk to God and that He talks to us, but it is true nonetheless.
- I want to look to this passage and see several truths about the fact that Jesus speaks to us today. The scriptures tell us that:
A. JESUS SPEAKS TO US AUTHORITATIVELY - Jesus is Lord. This means that He is the Supreme authority. As Lord, Jesus has every right to dictate the direction of your life. This means that when He speaks we MUST listen. When He gives us directions or commands we MUST follow!
- Not only does Jesus speak to us authoritatively:
B. JESUS SPEAKS TO US PERSONALLY - Jesus had a specific task for these servants to accomplish. He told them what to do with the expectation that they would obey His Word. If you belong to Him, Jesus has a specific task for you to accomplish. He will speak to you and make it clear what He desires from you!
It is an amazing privilege to have a personal relationship with the Saviour. We talk to Him and He talks to us. When He talks to us, He lets us know what He would have us to do. Whatever His plan is for your life, let me echo the words of Mary ..."whatever HE tells YOU, do it".
- Jesus speaks to us authoritatively, He speaks to us personally and:
C. JESUS SPEAKS TO US CLEARLY - Though He may not speak to us with an audible voice, Jesus speaks in a very clear and understandable way. There are 2 main ways that He speaks to us. First of all:
1) HE SPEAKS THROUGH HIS HOLY SCRIPTURES
Jesus speaks to us through His Holy Word... the Bible. The Apostle Paul said that "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16) The Bible teaches us how to live, furthermore the Bible teaches us how to live like Jesus! What Jesus wants you to know is found in the scriptures. And when Jesus speaks, we must "do whatever He says".
- Not only does Jesus speak clearly through His Holy Scriptures, we also see that:
2) HE SPEAKS THROUGH HIS HOLY SPIRIT
The Lord speaks to us through the Holy Spirit. There are multiple examples of the Holy Spirit leading and guiding the Apostles in the book of Acts.
One instance that comes to mind is when Paul desired to go to Asia. He had the best of intentions, he sought to go and minister to those people. He wanted to reach that region for Christ. But God had other plans. Acts 16:6 says that they were "forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia" The Holy Ghost prevented Paul and Silas from going to Asia but He also led them to go and minister in Macedonia.
In the same way, the Holy Spirit will show you where to go and He will show you where not to go! Jesus speaks to us just as clearly as He did to those servants at the marriage feast in Cana.
- One reason that Jesus speaks to us because He has a plan for us. This brings us to the second thing I would like to consider about "doing whatever Jesus says". Notice that:
II. JESUS HAS A PLAN FOR US
- If you are a Christian, Jesus has a plan for you. The scriptures show us that:
A. HIS PLAN IS ALWAYS MEANT FOR OUR GOOD
Turning water into wine was Jesus' first public miracle. These servants were privileged to witness this amazing feat. I can't help but wonder of this miracle caused one or more of the servants to put their faith in Jesus. We know that it had a great impact on those first few Disciples of the Lord. John 2:11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
When Jesus speaks to us it is always for our good. He will never lead us in the wrong direction. We may not like what He has to say, we may not like the plans that He has for our lives and we may not understand the reasoning behind the things that He tells us to do. But we will never go wrong when we obey His command.
Because the servants at the wedding were obedient to His command, everyone else benefited from His work. If we will obey His commands in our lives, others will benefit from it!
Jesus has given us the Great Commission. He said in - Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. When we obey His plan it will be for our good and for the good of others.
- Another thing I want to see about His plan is that:
B. HIS PLAN ALWAYS INVOLVES HIS GLORY
What Jesus did at that wedding was for His glory. John 2:11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
When Jesus uses us for His purposes, He will receive the glory. His call on our life is for His glory! The task He would have us to accomplish is for His glory! It is all for His glory! So when we listen to what He says and when we obey His direction, we will glorify Him.
- Jesus Speaks To Us, Jesus Has A Plan For Us and when we are faithful and obedient Jesus can use us. This leads us to the final truth I would like to consider:
III. JESUS WORKS THROUGH US - Jesus is Lord and He can do whatever he chooses. He could reach people any way He wanted to. But He chose to use us as His ambassadors. We are His servants and we have the awesome privilege to be used to reach others for Him.
- In order for Jesus to work through us:
A. We Must Listen To Him - “Whatever He says…do it!”
Notice that these servants did not delay. They did not question Him. They immediately followed His direction. Doing "WHATEVER He says" means that we obey Him without questioning Him.
- When Jesus makes it clear what He would have us to do, then:
B. We Must Labor For Him
There was work for these servants to do. v6 And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. 7 Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.
Jesus gave the servants clear instructions to obey. He told them to "fill the pots...draw out the wine and take it to the Governor of the feast." These men did not know what Jesus was going to do, they did not know how He did it after it was done and they didn't know why He did what He did. But they were obedient and they did what Jesus said do. There will be times when we are in the same situation. We will not know what He is doing, or how and why He does what He does.
His methods and motivations are His prerogative. All we are required to do is "whatever Jesus tells us to do". I hope that you are willing to do just that!
In the very next chapter Jesus says that we "must be born again" in order to see the Kingdom of God. If you have not been born again, if you have never trusted in Jesus as your Lord and Saviour I encourage you to do so right now. If you have, if you know without a doubt that you are born again, Let me encourage you to "do whatever He says".
