“Do Whatever He Says” by U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris
John 2:1-11
U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris
Fort Ord Chapel, Monterey California
BIG IDEA: Mary’s last words in all of scriptures is a one liner: “Do Whatever He Says”.
REFERENCES: John 2:1-11 (The marriage at Cana – the first sign); Joshua 9:1-27 (third day); Joel 2:12-13;
I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: John 2:1-11
II. READ THE PERICOPE: John 2:1-11
III. READ THE TEXT: John 2:5 (KJV)
IV. PURPOSE: To motivate the hearers to avoid “in the flesh” embarrassment by doing “ Whatever Jesus” told them to do.
V. SERMONIC THEME: “DO WHATEVER HE SAYS”
INTRODUCTION: Good Morning. I don’t know about you and your life’s circumstances. But, as a 44 year old man, I have had my share of embarrassing moments. Can I get a witness? Is there anyone else, in here this morning, under the sound of my voice that can attest to having experience at least one embarrassing moment in their lifetime?
Well, if you haven’t had such an experience, please know it’s bound to happen. Just keep on living. It’s just a matter of time. Embarrassment is something that eventually happens to us all … especially when we are yielding to the flesh (and not the spirit) and our own understanding.
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MOVE 1: However, when we acknowledge the Lord in all of ways; He will direct our path. Can someone in the building say Amen?
a. Many years ago, I was a pretty popular high school basketball player for Englewood High in Jacksonville, Florida.
b. At the time, I was about a 89 percent Free Throw Shooter with a very strong self-esteem, and an off the chain level of confident.
c. So much so, that when I was fouled with 17 seconds left in the game, I boastfully pointed to the opponent bench and told them that they could go home; because the game was over.
d. In fact, I can see that embarrassing moment as if it was just yesterday.
e. Our basketball team was playing one of our cross-town rivals: Fletcher High.
f. We had played a hard and close game.
g. I don’t remember the exact score, but whatever it was; it was a one point difference.
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MOVE 2: Our opponent, Fletcher High, were ahead. And I had just been fouled.
a. It was a one and one.
b. If the initial basket went in, the score would be tied.
c. If both baskets went in, we win.
d. Now, my brothers and my sisters, in spite of my reassurance to my teammates, and my self-proclamation of the game being over, I missed them both.
e. That moment was by far, the worst embarrassment of my life … at that time.
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MOVE 3: But, wait, it gets better! Some years ago, about this same time of the year in 1991, upon my initial entrance on active duty at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and into the Army Chaplaincy, I was asked to be the keynote speaker at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Program.
a. Of course, I was honored to have been asked; and quite frankly, I had already become popular in the area.
b. Well, to make a long story short; I was led by God to preach, in front of nearly 800 soldiers, from a particular passage in Genesis.
c. My sermon theme was “Catch a Dream”.
d. Needless to say, the sermon was going extremely well until I decided that I would become a crowd pleaser and “whoop” a little.
e. You know, put a little of me into it.
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MOVE 4: Now, those of you that maybe from an African American tradition may appreciate that methodology.
a. But, it wasn’t something the Holy Spirit had NOT led me to do; it was simply the flesh.
b. And the results proved it.
c. My brothers and sisters, I thought my high school basketball free throw bragging moment was the most embarrassing moment that I had ever experienced.
d. I was wrong. I was so embarrassed! I wanted to crawl up under a pew and hide (with some laughter).
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MOVE 5: My brothers and sisters, it was kin only to the “Southwest Airline” commercial; where the African American lady is having a little problem with her contacts, and she walks into the restroom to quickly fix the annoying and frustrating site problem.
a. When upon fixing the problem and clearly seeing better, she finds herself being stared down by a group of men.
b. She had mistakenly walked into the men restroom.
c. How embarrassing was that moment?
d. Raise your hand if you’ve had some embarrassing moments in your lifetime! Amen!
e. It’s great to see that I’m not the only witness in the sanctuary!
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MOVE 6: Well, in our text, this morning we find Mary the mother of Jesus (and the protagonist in our text) last words in all of scripture.
a. In fact, although we find Mary at the cross during Jesus’ crucifixion, there is no other time, in scripture, that we find Mary speaking after this passage.
b. A closer look at this passage finds Mary, the mother of Jesus, trying to ensure the groom in our text did NOT face an embarrassing moments.
c. For you see, I’m not sure what Mary’s relationship was with the groom; but it was obviously pretty significant. During that day in time, it was quite embarrassing to have wedding feast and run out of wine. To do so would be years of embarrassment for the groom!
d. Now, Mary had not only been invited, but upon reading the passage it’s not difficult to see that she is in charge of things.
e. It’s also quite apparent that it’s because of Mary that Jesus and his five disciples (at that time) – Peter, Andrew, John, Phillip, and Bartholomew (Nathaniel) - are even invited to this wedding feast.
f. According to the prevailing custom, the festivities began on the “third day” of the week and lasted for seven days.
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MOVE 7: Now, as you may also recall, it was customary at that time because of the drab environment in which the people lived to have a 7 day feast.
a. Weddings didn’t happen everyday, and when they did, the entire community celebrated.
b. Not to mention is the fact that during the course of a week long celebration, the guest consumed large quantities of food and wine.
c. And in our text today, Mary informs her son – Jesus – that the wine is out.
d. And he response, with what may seem rude to you but was actually pretty respectful in Jesus’ day and time on earth, “woman what have I to do with that for my hour has not yet come”.
e. In other words, Jesus is saying, Mother it’s not my time to shine.
f. Mary says nothing in return;
g. Instead she turns to the head waiter and says, “Do Whatever He Says”.
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MOVE 8: Afterwards, Jesus instructs the waiters to fill the 6 jars with water (which is a symbol of the old law and purification).
a. But, notice that the waiters can not simply run a hose to the water jars or run to a sink.
b. During that time, they had to carry buckets out to the well; and drop maybe a 5 or 6 gallon bucket down into the well through a pulley system; then fill it, and raise the water.
c. Afterwards, they would have the carry the jars, sloshing and stumbling all the way and then repeat the process.
d. So, this was a laborious process.
e. Yet we Do Not see the waiters shirking their duty.
f. They did not just fill the jars to some invisible and unspoken “fill line”.
g. No, they filled the jars to the brim.
h. They listened to Mary. They did just what Jesus had instructed them to do.
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CELEBRATION: As a result, my brothers and sisters, the first miracle occurred and embarrassment was avoided for the groom, while faith in our Lord and Savior was developed simultaneously.
a. For don’t you remember, Jesus instructed the waiters to give the first sample to the Head Waiter to taste.
b. Afterwards, the head waiter commented, usually the host of such festivities serves the best wine first.
c. Then after the best wine has taken its toll, he then serves the lesser wine; but this groom has chosen to serve the best wine last.
