By Stuart Powell
Mary, the mother of Jesus, makes only a few appearances in John’s Gospel. Unlike Luke’s Christmas story, which is filled with Mary’s words and questions, John recorded only two statements from Jesus’ mother, with both occurring at the birth of his ministry.
On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”
“Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”
His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you” (John 2:1-5).
Was this the first time Jesus’ mother trusted him to act in ways she did not fully understand? How many conversations had she had with her firstborn that left her amazed before that wedding day? She must have been proud of her son’s gentle strength and unwavering faith in Israel’s God. But she surely also was haunted by the words angels and prophets spoke about him. Were her words of encouragement to the servants formed from watching Jesus work? Was her testimony on behalf of Jesus based on her trust that he was upright, holy, and even divine? Was Mary the first to testify about the Christ? Had she learned to listen to her son’s instructions and live them out? Was she the first to build her life on the solid rock? After watching Jesus grow up in her house, she willingly told others to obey his command.
If Mary was at the Passover meal the night before his crucifixion, what did she think as Jesus took the bread at the end of the meal and called his disciples to eat and remember his body? Did she start to cry when Jesus lifted up the cup and mentioned his blood poured out for the sins of many?
Look through Mary’s eyes at the bread and the cup. Listen to Mary’s voice as you thank God for the love that moved him to pay the price for all our sins. This was Mary’s testimony about God’s Son: “Do whatever he tells you.”
Stuart Powell lives outside of Terre Haute, Indiana, where he serves with the North Side Christian Church.
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