True Faith Is Manifested by Mary's Advice - Whatever He says to you, do it.
John 2
1 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. 3 And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.” 4 Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” 6 Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. 7 Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” {what is Jesus telling you? to do, give, say?} And they took it. 9 When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom.
Weddings - festivals often lasted a whole week celebrating the new life or new beginnings of the new couple and could include a huge number of guess, often an entire town. Practice run for feeding the 5,000 (John 6:5-14) and the 4,000 (Mark 8:1-10).
*Faith evidences (show clearly; manifest) itself in obedience and Requires commitment.
*Love evidences (show clearly; manifest) itself in obedience and Requires commitment.
Hebrews 5
6 As He also says in another place: “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek”; 7 who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear - reverence, respect, 8 though He was a Son, yet He learned * obedience by the things which He suffered.
Jesus learned to evidence His faith through obedience. He learned to evidence (show clearly, manifest) His faith, His love, HOW? By the things He suffered.
Obedience to God's revealed will is "True Faith, manifested!" True faith is to act according to John 2:5 (Mary's Advice, command, admonishment), “Whatever He/God says to you, do it.” It applied to Jesus, Mary and all who have been born of His Spirit.
How did Mary come to have such wisdom, advice or knowledge of God's revealed will? Mary had earlier evidenced her faith and love through Obedience.
Luke 1:26 - 38
Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. Parents, train your children up in the Way they should go, according to the Word of God so that when they are older, they will not depart from Him. And if they do depart, they, like the Prodigal son, will know how to get back home. Did Mary share or teach her Son this about this encounter?
Mary's child/Son's words; John 8: 28 Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. 29 And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.”
Response: Communion
Prayer: Father, I repent for not obeying You, for not responding with True Faith to You, the Word and even others who have given me some great or good advice. I am sorry that I have not acted in faith or been pleasing You, for choosing sacrifice over obedience. I am sorry that I have not evidenced love, showing/evidencing myself as your disciple. I repent, purposefully turn from my disobedience, rejection and disregard for truth, Your Word. I purposefully commit today to make the choice to be obedient, evidencing my/our faith in You and my/our love for You. We commit, we choose to be obedient to Your revealed will and to do Use me, use us, use GGFC Father to EXPAND Your Kingdom and Advance Your righteous Reputation. Grant that we may become known as a people who evidence FAITH and LOVE, doing whatever You say! In the name of Jesus we ask and pray. Amen.
Benediction: Revelation 1:4 John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, 6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
From Pastor Harrold