Have You Told Him

On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” — John 2:1-5

Readers down through time have been intrigued by this text. Mary's boldness, assertiveness, and belief. Alongside Jesus's reaction, response, and resolution.

But I think John wants to keep this simple. This is the third day in a series of revelations about Jesus.

• DAY ONE: John the Baptist's prophetic declaration to the religious inquisition about the Spirit baptism of Jesus.
• DAY TWO: John the Baptist's declaration when he witnesses Jesus leaving the desert.
• DAY THREE: John the Baptist's disciples start following Jesus.

Today, he reveals his glory and miracle-working power. But then there is a theological complexity that naturally arises from this moment. Did Mary prompt this miracle, or was this entirely prompted by Jesus?

This is a great question that many have tried to resolve. It's an attempt to answer who the first mover is. Did Mary need to make the need known for Jesus to launch his ministry? Or was this already in the heart and mind of Jesus?

But the answer is in the story John has already been telling. Just look back over the past few days. His ministry had already launched. This was just another day in the revelation of it. And Mary chose to participate by informing and believing. She knew that he had been baptized, spent 40 days in the desert, and was calling his first disciples. Mary believed and participated in something that had already been set in motion.

And I love how Mary does this. Notice she is not asking a question but presenting a statement of reality — “They have no wine.” It is a concern for the shame of another. It assumes that her son's heart is as compassionate as hers for the present shame that will befall this young couple, their wedding, and their family. And yet, at the end of this interaction, there is an assumption that Jesus will respond with compassion to the need.

With confident faith, we can declare that Jesus sees our needs, understands our needs, cares about our needs, and responds to our needs. Our needs are always familiar to him. But he also wants to know that we know we have a need by presenting them to him. And we need to lay these things before him not so that he knows something he doesn't but so that we know we have spoken to the one who can do marvelous things so that when he responds, we will make the divine connection.

So instead of hanging onto these things today and trying to resolve them by your power, it's time to present them to Jesus, who already knows but wants to know you know.

ASK THIS: Is there something you are holding onto you need to tell Jesus?

DO THIS: Tell him right now or in the comments below.

PRAY THIS: God, I have wanted to tell you this, and I don't know why I have not said it to you. I need...

PLAY THIS: Wonderful Things.