THE KING’ S BUSINESS
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conception o f the Virgin Mary that is given us in the inspired, record here and that which teaches that even Jesus is to be approached through the Virgin Mary and that she has a certain amount o f authority over Him still, and that He will do as she directs. Evidently Mary was not at all put but by our Lord’s answer. In any event she showed a persistency o f faith that is well wprthy o f imitation by us all. Doubtless there was much in the tone with which our Lord spoke to her that encour aged her heart. Her faith was absolutely unshaken, possibly it was increased. She had absolute confidence in Him that He would command just the right thing at just the right moment. The whole secret o f a life o f blessing and power' are found in her words “Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it.” Every word o f this utterance should be deeply pondered, the “whatso ever,” the “He saith,” the “ do,” and the “ it.” What a grand motto for our lives these words o f Mary would make. Thursday, April 13 . J John 2 : 6 - 11 . Note just what the servants did, “they filled them up to the brim." “ Up to the brim,” that is the kind o f obedience Jesus likes, but o f which He gets little. How heartless we are in doing what He bids us do, always wondering how little He will accept and stopping there. Oh, that we had more o f this ,“up to the brim” obedi ence : then there would be more “up to the brim” blessing. Our blessings will be just as brimful as our obedience. I f these ser vants had filled those jars half full that is all the wine they would have got (2 Kings 4 :6 ; 13:18, 19). They went in for a brim ful blessing and they got it (Matt. 9:29). They said to themselves, if He is going to turn water into wine we will get all we can hold. Jesus liked that (cf. Ps. 81:10). Then came another test o f faith, “ Draw out now and bear unto the governor.” , Had they not just put water into those jars, and what did thé governor o f the feast want with water? But the words o f Mary had sunk into their souls, “ Whatsoever He
was simply bringing out clearly to her their true relations one to another. IVe do not always get immediate satisfaction when we make our needs known to Him. There may be some mistake in our way o f approach that He wbuld have us learn and lay to heart, or there may be some other loving reason why it is not wise for Him to grant our request at once. This does not prove that it is not His will to grant the thing asked. There was none*of the harshness in our Lord’s words to Mary that there seems to be in our English rendering o f them. According to Greek usage there is not the slightest hint o f severity in the use o f the word “Woman.” This mode o f address was one o f courteous respect, it was used in addressing females o f the highest rank, queens were thus addressed, and there is not only courteous respect in the use o f this word, but also tenderness. Our Lord used this same term in speaking to His mother in one o f the tenderest moments o f His life, when on the cross He was committing her to the care and tender ministry o f the beloved disciple (ch. 19:26, 27). He used it also when addressing Mary Magdalene (ch. 20:15). But while there was no discourtesy, and while there was the utmost tenderness in the way in which Jesus spoke these swords, He did bring clearly into view the fact that the hour o f Mary’s authority over Him had come to an end. At a much earlier date He had suggested to her that His obligation was to His Heavenly Father rather than to His earthly mother (Luke 2*49). At that time, after making this passing sugges tion (Luke 2:51), He went back to Naz areth and was subject to her, but now must know it) when He must receive all His .orders directly from God and from no'human source, not even from her who He knew the time had come (and Mary bore Him. Mary had not yet clearly learned her exact relation to her Divine Son, but she must, learn it now. Our Lord, by His words here disengaged Himself from every human relation (cf. Mark 3:31-35). There is a wide gulf between the
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