Obedience to Jesus at the Communion Table
Doug Redford reflects on the obedience shown in Jesus’ life, ministry, death, and resurrection. From Mary’s words at Cana to Jesus’ command at the Last Supper, this Communion meditation calls believers to remember him by doing what he has told us to do.
- Luke’s Gospel shows Jesus both obeying his earthly parents and pointing to his Father’s house.
- Mary’s instruction at Cana—“Do whatever he tells you”—becomes a fitting call for every disciple.
- Communion remembers Jesus’ obedience to death and his victory over death through resurrection.
By Doug Redford
Two Journeys in Luke’s Gospel
The second chapter of Luke’s Gospel is “bookended” by two journeys of Joseph and Mary: the first to Bethlehem for Jesus’ birth and the second to Jerusalem for their annual observance of the Passover. With the first journey, Joseph and Mary found themselves looking for a place for Jesus to be born; with the second, they found themselves looking for Jesus. Following what must have been a frantic search, they found the twelve-year-old in the temple, impressing all the teachers with his knowledge. “Why were you searching for me? Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” he asked (Luke 2:49, New International Version). After Jesus returned to Nazareth with Joseph and Mary, Luke’s account says, “Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them” (v. 51).
Do Whatever He Tells You
John’s Gospel records the first of Jesus’ miracles: turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana. When Mary called her son’s attention to the dilemma of no more wine, he appeared to question her much as he did at age twelve: “Woman, why do you involve me? My hour has not yet come” (John 2:4). Mary directed her response, not to Jesus but to the servants at the wedding: “Do whatever he tells you” (v. 5). It was now time for others to be obedient to Jesus.
That obedience to Jesus continued as his ministry gained momentum, especially through his many miracles. Following the casting out of an evil spirit from a man, the onlookers observed with amazement, “He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him” (Mark 1:27). When Jesus calmed a fierce storm in the presence of the disciples, they asked in wonder, “What manner of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” (Matthew 8:27).
Obedient to Death, Triumphant Over Death
But at the cross something different happened. Paul says that Jesus “humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:8). Three days later, the roles were reversed; death obeyed Jesus, and he arose triumphant.
Do This in Remembrance of Me
Here at Communion, we gather to remember both Jesus’ obedience to death and his eventual conquest of that enemy. For us he has turned, not water into wine, but bread and juice into simple, yet powerful memorials of his love for us. Recall Mary’s words at Cana: “Do whatever he tells you.” And he has told us, “Do this in remembrance of me” (1 Corinthians 11:24).
Author: Doug Redford
Doug Redford has served in the preaching ministry, as an editor of adult Sunday school curriculum, and as a Bible college professor. Now retired, he continues to write and speak as opportunities arise.
