Generosity runs deep in Mary’s veins. She is generous with her life as she sacrifices what life would hold, in order to be a mother to the Son of God. She is generous as she shares Jesus with others, even to the point of death. Generosity runs deep and scarcity is nowhere to be found.
Her generosity is what we see at a wedding party when the wine has run dry and the party is still going. She knows her son can fix this social faux pas, and she moves quickly to request he do something about it. She tells the servants, “Do whatever he tells you” (John 2:5). Jesus honors his mom’s request and goes above and beyond, providing the best wine of the party. This is the first of his signs to the world—proof that he is more than Mary’s son; he is the Son of God.
holding god to his word... again
When Mary says “Do whatever he tells you,” one cannot help but hear an echo of Luke 1:38 when she told the angel, “Let it be to me according to your word.” Mary knows God, and Mary now knows the Son of God. The power of God’s Word shows up again in Mary’s life, and now it is for the sake of others. Trust him and do whatever he says. Mary knows Jesus can be trusted and his words have power. Mary exhorts the servants to trust whatever words come from the Son of God.
step in and speak up
No one else knew Jesus like Mary did. No one else had to trust God like Mary did. The gift of knowing Jesus gave Mary the confidence to intercede and speak up for others, asking Jesus to meet their need. Knowing the power of God’s Word, and God’s faithfulness to it, gave her the boldness to instruct others to follow Jesus. Knowing God’s faithfulness personally, she trusted God’s faithfulness publicly.
When we know Jesus personally, we trust publicly and for the sake of others. And the more we know him, the more we trust him. In this knowledge and trust, we then step in for others, their needs, their longings, their healing, and their hope. We, along with the Holy Spirit, intercede for others.
big enough
And God is big enough. He is big enough to hold each person, each struggle, each pain, each disappointment. God is big enough to meet each of those people and places with his love, goodness, grace, and mercy. God is not scarce. God is a God of abundance. And just as he provided an abundance of wine at a wedding party, he provides an abundance of redemption, turning death to life.
This is what God does: he turns things. He moves in the lives of people; he transforms our hearts and minds; and he heals our bodies and souls. It is to God that we pray and ask for the redemption and renewal of all things for all people. In his time, he will do it (Revelation 21:5).
He is a God of love. Everything He does is because of his deep, profound, unconditional love for each of us. We see this in the life and death of Jesus. Knowing this keeps me going, keeps me focused on the big picture – that Jesus is soon returning for those who are faithful to Him.