John 2:5 His mother said to the servants, Whatever he said to you, do it. That is a remarkable claim. It is almost startling to be told that, without leaving room for our own opinion, whatever a certain voice says to us we are to do. That claim can be made for no created intelligence. But it can be made for Christ. And this is the language of one who, so far, knew Him best on earth. Never before, nor since, has mother been able to say of son that 'tis well to do whatever he requires. Nor is our personal witness wanting; it is evident that the world's miseries are due to disobedience to Him; and it acquires a more extraordinary significance when we remember that He hath something to say about everything we do or ought to do. He not only assumes to guide at crises, but at every step. I. WHAT MUST PRECEDE THIS OBEDIENCE. 1. Subjection: Ye are not your own; He has a right to me by His redemption. I cannot take my own course or follow my own will without robbing Him. 2. A listening for His voice, a training our ear to recognize Him. For though He may have something to say, and indeed may say it, it does not follow that we hear. How can we hear whenever He speaks, how be sure that it is He? It is easy to follow caprice or self-will, and think we are following Him. Whatever He says is in harmony with this Divine Book; to knew what He says we must come here, and if coming here we sincerely say, "Speak Lord, for Thy servant heareth!" He will speak. But we cannot always retire to search the Book, nor even pause to consider what is right — how can He control us then? Obey; obey and you will come instinctively to know your Lord's will, as (as one has said) "by copying perpetually a master painter's works, we can at last recognize his touch unerringly." 3. A determination to trust Him. For it demands courage to commit ourselves blindly to another. It were easy to do something that He tells us, but — "whatsoever" Ah! many a time He will say do this, go there, lay down that joy, take up that burden, when it will seem to be wrong; then it is when the text comes home to us, that we need courage to obey, and may fail through fear. Courage is wanted to take the first bold plunge into the sea, but when we find its sustaining power is trustworthy, we fear no more: so with the will of Christ. But how can we bring ourselves to that abandonment. Only by remembering that Christ cannot lead us wrong. Infinite wisdom! Infinite love! II. WHAT THIS OBEDIENCE INVOLVES. 1. It is Contrary to questioning. We may not discover it at once; for gracious purpose He may keep us waiting, but ere the time for action comes He will reveal enough. Then questioning should end. He will not debate with us. It is not unlikely that He may call us to strange things — things as strange as when He called Abram, or Moses, or Jonah, or Peter. Now, when those strange commands come, which seem to involve so much risk, and which lead into the dark — then is the time to recall this word, and to act upon it. 2. It is contrary to delay. Delay is disobedience. When we dare not reply "I will not," we sometimes reply "I will, but not now," and quiet our conscience with the idea that this is not refusal. Jesus said, "Follow Me!" and he answered, "Lord, suffer me first," etc., and the Lord said "No." So we respond to some of His commands, "Lord, suffer me first to do something else," "Seek ye first the kingdom," etc. 3. It is contrary to consideration of cost. It is well to settle with ourselves that we cannot follow Christ without soon, and often, coming to what is hard. "If any man will come after Me, let him take up his cross," etc. 4. It is contrary to inquiry about other matters. For it is one of our most dangerous temptations to neglect clear duty because of what is not clear. What is clear may be but little, a mere foothold on "a pavement of mist," but plant the foot there if so Christ bids, and He will show more, at length bringing him that obeys as far as He knows to the rock and the day. We are apt to confuse others' tasks with ours. "Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it." III. WHAT FOLLOWS THIS OBEDIENCE. 1. It prevents hardness of heart. Young men and women with whom Jesus pleads, there are old men here who would tell you that once Christ's voice was clear to them, but that now they catch but murmurs of a voice far off, and who would entreat you to respond to Him now. Hardness is the certain result of refusal. 2. It proves that we are Christ's. What is Obedience — (1) Is the mark of a Christian. "Hereby we do know that we know Him," etc. (2) The test of service: "Why call ye Me Lord, Lord, and do not what I say?"(3) The test of love: "If ye love Me," etc. 3. The way to success. You have heard it said that religious principles will not do for business. But can anything be more hopeless than to go against the God of Providence on whose side all things work. But let the text guide you in the office and the workshop, in public life and the social circle, and this will be the issue — judge if it be success or no! A peaceful conscience repose in the Divine care, unclouded fellowship with God, and at last, "Well done," etc. (C. New.) Parallel Verses KJV: His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.WEB: His mother said to the servants, "Whatever he says to you, do it." |
    |