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 instinctivelyto 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.)
Perfect obedience
To obey God in some things of religion, and not in others, shows an unsound heart; like Esau, who obeyed his father in bringing him venison, but not in a greater matter, viz., the choice of his wife. Child-like obedience moves towards every command of God, as the needle points that way which the loadstone draws. (T. Watson.)
Obedience must be cheerful
A musician is not recommended for playing long but for playing well; it is obeying God willingly that is accepted; the Lord hates that which is forced, it is rather paying a tax than an offering. Good duties must not be pressed nor beaten out of us, as the waters came out of the rock when Moses smote it with his rod; but must freely drop from us as myrrh from the tree, or honey from the comb. If a willing mind be wanting, there wants that flower which should perfume our obedience, and make it a sweet smelling savour to God. (T. Watson.)
Submission without reasoning
Payson was asked, when under great bodily affliction, if he could see any particular reason for this dispensation. “No,” replied he, “but I am as well satisfied as if I could see ten thousand; God’s will is the very perfection of all reason.”
Implicit obedience
Manton says that, “John Cassian makes mention of one, who willingly fetched water near two miles every day for a whole year together, to pour it unto a dead dry stick, at the command of his superior, when no reason else could be given for it.” And of another it is recorded, that he professed that if he were enjoined by his superior to put to sea in a ship which had neither mast, tackling, nor any other furniture, he would do it; and when he was asked how he could do this without hazard of his discretion, he answered, “The wisdom must be in him that hath power to command, not in him that hath power to obey.” These are instances of implicit obedience to a poor fallible human authority, and are by no means to be imitated. But when it is God who gives the command, we cannot carry a blind obedience too far, since there can be no room for questioning the wisdom and goodness of any of His precepts. At Christ’s command it is wise to let down the net at the very spot where we have toiled in vain all the night. If God bids us, we can sweeten water with salt, and destroy poison with meat, yea, we may walk the waves of the sea, or the flames of a furnace. Well, said the Blessed Virgin, “Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it.” My heart, I charge thee follow thy Lord’s command without a moment’s question, though He bid thee go forward into the Red Sea, or onward into a howling wilderness. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
Obedience to Christ
I. THE RIGHT THAT MARY HAD TO SPEAK. The right of
1. Experience. Without this speech the history of Christ’s life would be sadly incomplete. Omit it, and what would our position be?
(1) We should hear the voice of heaven saying, “This is My beloved Son;”
(2) The voice of the Herald, “Behold the Lamb of God!”
(3) The voice of the Church, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God;”
(4) The voice of the world, “Never man spake like this man;”
(5) The voice of friends, “The holy one of God;”
(6) The voice of Justice, “I find no fault in Him.”
But we want to hear another voice, that of home. And here we have it from her whose lips kissed Him, whose hands caressed Him, who had Him under her eye from childhood to manhood, and her testimony is, “Whatsoever He saith,” etc.
2. Modesty: What gives point and force to her words is that she is no garrulous woman, making her son the subject of constant commendation. Only this once does she testify to Him. And there was a strong call in her to speak now. Up to this time Jesus had been a private man and had belonged to herself. But henceforth He was to be the public Messiah, and her Son no longer. Mary here renounces her exclusive right to Christ, and in parting from him says, “Whatsoever,” etc.
3. The tacit approval of Christ. Mothers are partial. Was, then, Mary’s love too strong for her judgment? The best answer is that Christ, who was least open to flattery, did not chide her: but afterwards, in laying down the terms of discipleship, used His mother’s words, “Ye are My friends if ye do whatsoever I command you.”
II. THE ADVICE THAT MARY GIVES.
1. It is not enough to have Christ’s words. The Bible as a mere possession is either neglected altogether or treated as a charm.
2. It is not enough to study Christ’s words, even with the closest attention and the firmest belief; although that is a blessed privilege.
3. The whole duty and creed of man is to do whatsoever Christ commands. To this we are pledged by the pattern prayer, and in this we have a supreme example in Christ Himself.
III. HOW ARE WE TO OBEY?
1. By loving Him.
2. By aiming at the perfection that is in Him. (P. Robertson.)
Obedience to Christ
I. THIS ADVICE MEETS A FELT WANT. There are times in life when we want the responsibility of decision divided--times of utter bafflement and perplexity. A friendly recommendation is sometimes helpful, but what is wanted is supreme dictation. Christ steps in here as the commander of the people and says, “Lo,” “Come,” “Do,” “Stand.”
II. THIS ADVICE WAS GIVEN BY CHRIST’S MOTHER, who had lived with Him a whole generation, and after all that experience felt warranted in offering it--the most magnificent tribute to Christ that was ever offered: that He was worthy of perfect obedience.
III. THIS ADVICE HE ENFORCES HIMSELF.
1. His commands are imperative and final. He never prefers a request or revises a decision.
2. His commands brook no emendation, diminution, or enlargement.
3. His commands require prompt and implicit obedience.
IV. THIS COMMANDMENT IS EXCEEDING BROAD.
1. Follow Me.
2. Love one another.
3. Wash ye one another’s feet.
4. Go ye into all the world.
5. Do this in remembrance of Me. (J. Parker, D. D.)
Instant obedience
The right path into the meaning of this saying is found in an interior view of the three states of mind represented in the little group.
1. That of Mary, who speaks.
2. Of the servants to whom she speaks.
3. And of the Saviour for whose decisive word she and they are waiting.
On the part of Mary there was evidently a mixture of perplexity, impatience, reverence, and trust. The impatience was sufficiently reproved and restrained. His “woman,” etc., dispelled her rising complacency, and placed her on that level of human dependence where, with all her loveliness, beauty, and sanctity, she must ever remain. Christ’s word was a call for increased faith. For thirty years Mary had carried in her soul the memory of the strange events which signalized His birth, etc. As yet He had given no supernatural sign. Was it not almost the “hour?” Just at this point of uncertainty she stood, but when she looked at Him all her doubts fled, and all fears sank to rest in one resolution of trusting obedience. “Whatsoever,” etc.
I. Whatsoever HE saith. One voice is singled out, and that has supreme authority. Some master every human being has. There are as many masters as there are interests, tastes, passions, etc. When we come to the moral life, men are at liberty to choose as they will. “Choose now this day,” etc. Choose Christ and live for ever, choose any other master and you will die. “No man can choose two masters.”
II. As there is but one voice of supreme authority, so THERE IS BUT ONE PRINCIPLE OF CHRISTIAN DUTY--instant, active obedience.
1. How many of the failures and miseries of life creep in between the hearing of God’s command and the doing of it. Men mistake speculative for practical truth; put matters of feeling in place of action. Some problem of Providence is conjured up as if a man had a right to keep his repentance and faith waiting till he can fathom it; some obscure dogma which should be left to clear itself is set up as a stumbling-block; moods of depression and discontent; conflicting claims of family or friends, or between action and contemplation. These must be cast off and left behind, not by thinking over them, or spasmodic efforts to manufacture feeling, but by a more prompt, unremitting doing of Christ’s will. Jesus saith “fill the water-pots,” etc. Our homely opportunities are our water-pots. Fill them with such water as you have. Whether the water shall be made wine is for Him to decide, not us. Be about the Master’s business. Go to the nearest duty.
2. Another kind of difficulty is cured by prompt obedience--indecision as to beginning to serve Christ. It is not till our part is done that the firkins are filled, that the supernatural energy will change the heart into the new creature. Believe: faith is the power: but the proof and fruit of faith is not separated from it--“Arise, and wash away thy sins;” bring forth fruit meet for repentance; bear witness to the Redeemer; have charity for one another.
III. ONE OTHER WORD COMPLETES THE SCOPE OF THE LESSON. “Whatsoever.”
1. What it should be, His mother and the servants did not know. It turned out no very difficult task, although it might have been. But it was a great trial of their faith. How was the water to remedy the want of wine? How are our prayers to move the Everlasting Arm? How shall bread and wine feed the heart, etc. And then there are other trials which need this bread “whatsoever” to cover them. When you begin to calculate the consequences of your obedience, when your flesh cries out that the sacrifice hurts
1. You will want this “whatsoever.”
2. What a holy power and beauty this obedience will yield in our dwellings. Draw out and bear to every guest in the Father’s house. Christ takes these old and common water-pots of our mortal relationships, our household affairs and every day dispositions and employments, and then, if only we are ready with our obedience, fills them with that new wine to which He so often compares His gift of life. (Bp. Huntington.)
Prompt obedience
A story is told of a great captain, who, after a battle, was talking over the events of the day with his officers. He asked them who had done the best that day. Some spoke of one man who had fought very bravely, and some of another. “No,” he said, “you are all mistaken. The best man in the field today was a soldier who was just lifting up his arm to strike an enemy, but, when he heard the trumpet sound a retreat, checked himself, dropped his arm and without striking the blow. That perfect and ready obedience to the will of his general is the noblest thing that has been done to-day.” (Pulpit Treasury.)
Christ’s orders
“Sir,” said the Duke of Wellington to an officer who urged the impossibility of executing the directions he had received, “I did not ask your opinion; I gave you my orders, and I expect to have them obeyed.” Such should be the obedience of every follower of Jesus Christ. The words which He hath spoken are our law, not our judgments or fancies. Even if death were in the way, it is “Not ours to reason why, ours but to do or die.” (Pulpit Treasury.)
A word for everybody
I. The UNIVERSALITY Of the command “whatsoever”
II. Its AUTHORITY, “He saith.” Who?
1. Our Creator.
2. Our Preserver.
3. Our Redeemer.
4. Our Master.
III. Its INDIVIDUALITY. “YOU.” Masters, servants; parents, children; ministers, hearers; the aged, the young; the man of many talents, the man of one; doctors, artists, poets, labourers.
IV. Its SPIRIT, “Do it “ thoroughly, cheerfully, at all times, everywhere. (Dr. Jarbo.)
“Ye are not your own,” etc.; therefore “Whatsoever He saith,” etc.
What does He say?
I. LABOUR NOT TO BE RICH (Pro_23:4-5; Pro_28:20; 1Ti_6:9-10). Yet the sin of the age is over anxiety to be rich. He saith by St. Col_3:2).
II. BE NOT CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD (2Co_6:17; Isa_52:11). What a falling off from this command there is in dress, amusement, etc.
III. GO WORK THIS DAY IN MY VINEYARD. There are so-called Christians who are quite satisfied if there are no great blots in their lives, without caring about the blanks; indeed their life may be called one great blank. Each one, however, is expected to cultivate his talent. To this end it is not necessary to be a minister. While there are young to teach, sick to visit, poor to be relieved, institutions to be supported, Christ to witness, no special vocation is required.
IV. LOVE AS BRETHREN. “By this shall all men know,” etc. (Joh_17:20-21). And yet see how the different regiments of the Christian army, instead of fighting against the common foe, are turned against each other, and the world says deridingly, “Settle it first among yourselves, and then we will listen to your claims.” We are not likely to see eye to eye on all subjects; let us therefore be tolerant of each another’s opinions and feelings.
V. HITHERTO YE HAVE ASKED NOTHING IN MY NAME. ASK AND YE SHALL RECEIVE. How remiss we are in the duty of prayer, public, social, private, family. Php_4:8. (Dr. Jarbo.)
