Posts Tagged: John 2:1-11

“Brimful Obedience”

On November 10, 2020 by Dteb With 0 Comments - down to earth believer

DTEB, “Brimful Obedience”

I believe that the Bible’s stories are supercharged with meaning.  I believe that this is true for any good story, whether sacred or secular.    While the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, each part of the story contributes to the greatness of the whole story.

Take for example the story of Jesus turning water into wine. Here is the story from John’s Gospel:

“On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.”

(John 2:1–11 The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, https://accordance.bible/link/read/ESVS#John_2:1, italics added.)

Even if you believe that the story is fictional, it’s a nice story, brief and well-told.  If you believe, as I do, that it is a story based on a real event, it becomes even more powerful.

But back to the details!  Jesus is, of course, the main character in the story.  His mother plays a crucial role in noticing the problem and turning to Jesus for help.    The master of ceremonies who is handling the details of the wedding and bridegroom make cameo appearances.  The disciples of Jesus are the audience, and play no active role in this vignette.

The most active folks in the story are the servants who fill the pots with water, and then take it to the master of ceremonies.  They have no speaking part, but their actions speak very loudly indeed.  They obey.  They simply obey.  But note this well: Their silent obedience was brimful.  “Fill the jars with water,” says Jesus.  “And they filled them up to the brim.”

This little detail makes the story more vivid.  It also makes me think and repent and determine to do better today.  Do I give God brimful obedience?  Will I choose to do so today?  Certainly, God inundates me with blessings and goodness.  Do I merely give him a trickle of obedience?

Let’s make a deal, dear reader.  Let’s give God brimful obedience today.

Deal?

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