John 2:5 “His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’”
It was the third day (third days in Scripture seem prone to miracles). The wine at the wedding feast was depleted but the party wasn’t over. Mary recognized what was happening, but had neither the power nor the resources to fill the need. She had an inkling, however, that her son did….
When she informed Jesus about the social faux pas that was occurring, it appeared he might not intervene. Bad timing for the Son of God to be revealed. Yet, Mary instructed the servants in charge of the wine, “Do whatever he tells you.” As a result, the first faith-evoking miracle of Jesus’ ministry made its way to the lips of the feast master and the hearts of his disciples. Mary’s instruction proved to be—
Great. Advice.
Do whatever he tells you continues to hold the number one position of Best Advise Ever Given. Whether our wine has run out or our bank account emptied, whether our patience has run dry or our forgiveness drained, when the need demands more than we have to offer—be assured that Jesus has an answer.
In fact, it’s the exact advice Jesus himself lived by. “…the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does” (John 5:19). The results could not be more breathtaking. From choosing his disciples to feeding the 5,000 to raising Lazarus from the dead—every decision, every crisis, every impossibility was met as he did whatever the Father told him.
Only if we take Mary’s advice for ourselves can we offer it to others. And offer it with full confidence. We are not called to fix everyone’s problems, but we are commissioned to lead others to the one who can. Do whatever he tells you surpasses any other counsel we could possibly take or give.
So the next time you find yourself wrestling with a dilemma, or someone comes to you with a problem, as they say, above your pay grade, don’t sweat it. You are connected to the smartest problem-solver who has ever lived. The Lord does not expect you to have every answer, but he does expect you to seek him…then do…whatever he tells you.
And that’s the best advice. Ever.