What can we learn about obedience from the servants filling the jars? Setting the Scene at Cana “Jesus told the servants, ‘Fill the jars with water.’ So they filled them to the brim.” (John 2:7) The Simple Yet Costly Command • Draw water from a well, carry it, and pour it until each of six thirty-gallon jars is full • No explanation, no preview of a miracle, just straightforward instruction • Physical effort, time, and public visibility involved—obedience here was anything but casual What the Servants Teach Us about Obedience • Immediate response – No arguing, stalling, or presenting alternatives • Complete compliance – “To the brim” shows nothing half-done; thoroughness matters • Action before understanding – They did not need to see wine first; they obeyed while the jars still looked ordinary • Quiet faithfulness – No recorded words from them, only recorded deeds • Cooperation with one another – Six large jars required teamwork; obedience is often communal Brim-Full Obedience and Its Outcomes • Provides the material God will transform – Water became wine only after the jars were filled • Sets the stage for greater revelation of Christ – “He thus revealed His glory” (John 2:11); obedience precedes revelation • Blesses others abundantly – The wedding feast received more than enough; our obedience overflows to many • Strengthens personal faith – Those servants witnessed firsthand that Jesus can be trusted with the results Scripture Echoes of the Same Principle • Luke 5:5–6—Peter lets down his nets “at Your word” and a catch overflows the boats • Joshua 3:13—the priests step into the Jordan before it parts • 2 Kings 3:16–20—ditches are dug in desert ground before water miraculously fills them • John 14:15—“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” • Romans 6:17—believers are praised for becoming “obedient from the heart” to the teaching received Personal Takeaways to Live Brim-Full Obedience • Act on Scripture promptly, even when logic or timing feels inconvenient • Finish the task completely, aiming for “to the brim” faithfulness • Trust God to handle results that remain unseen • Engage with fellow believers; shared obedience amplifies impact • Expect Christ’s glory to shine most brightly on the far side of wholehearted obedience |
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