One of the most fascinating miracles of Jesus is his turning the water into wine. Only the Son of God could transform 120 gallons of water into wine.

The point I wish to discuss does not concern so much the miracle as it does the confidence of Mary in her first-born, Jesus. When the wedding guests wanted wine, Mary turned to Jesus for the answer. Mary did not instruct Jesus "how" to or where to get the wine, she simply told him the problem (Jn. 4:3). Further, what she said to the servants indicates her trust and faith in the ability of Jesus: "Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it" (Jn. 4:5). O how the religious world needs to abide by this principle!

Why should men do whatsoever he saith? We should do whatsoever Jesus saith because he has "all power." In Matthew 28:18, Jesus says that ". . . All power is given me in heaven and in earth." This "power" is authority. God has given Jesus authority over all things to the church. Jesus, therefore, has the right to tell men what to do.

Not only did God give to Christ this power, it was God's plan from the beginning. From eternity past, God planned that Jesus would die for man's sins and be given dominion over all things (Eph. 1:9,10;3:9-12).

Christ's power over Satan is foretold in Genesis 3:15: "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel."

Moses foretold the coming authority of Jesus in Deuteronomy 18:18,19: "1 will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and I will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him."

Peter, the Apostle, tells us plainly who this prophet is in Acts 3:18-23. Peter tells us this prophet is Jesus Christ. When the time was right, God sent Jesus to suffer, to die, to be resurrected, and to tell men what to do. To reject his words is to bring destruction to the soul!

On the holy mount, God taught Peter, James, and John who it is they need to "hear." Moses and Elijah appeared in the presence of the three. Jesus was transfigured before them. Peter thought it would be a good idea to build a tabernacle for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. Peter seemed to think Moses, Elijah, and Jesus were equal in greatness and authority. However, God corrected this leaping conclusion saying "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. " It is not Moses, who represented the Old Testament Law, or Elijah, who represented the Old Testament prophets, we are to hear: but Jesus, the giver of the New Testament (Matt. 17:5).

The Hebrew writer tells us who it is who speaks to us in these last days (the Christian dispensation): "God . . . hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son" (Heb. 1: 1,2).

Paul tells us, "And whatsoever ye do in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him." Whatsoever we do in word is what we say or teach in serving God. Whatsoever we do in deed is what we practice in service to God. To do in the name of the Lord Jesus is to do by his authority. Authority comes from his word (Jn. 12:48; 1 Pet. 4:11).

Today, men need to be like Mary who proclaimed: "Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it." Don't question it. Don't doubt it. Just trust and obey what Jesus says. In the judgment, only those who have obeyed his word will be saved (Heb. 5:8, 9).

Guardian of Truth XXXV: 15, p. 485
August 15, 1991