His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” (John 2:5–8)
John 2 tells us the story of Jesus’s first miracle—turning water into wine. The story is profound on several levels, the first being the process that unfolded for the miracle to transpire. My definition of a miracle is “something only God can do,” but it is also something that God often chooses to do through our obedience and cooperation with His leading. Let’s face it, turning water into wine is something only Jesus could have done. But he used people in this miracle of transformation.
The servants in this story were told to do three things after Mary said to them something deeply profound, “Do whatever he tells you.” That single instruction alone could serve as the identifying statement of our obligation to obey Jesus as His disciple. We are responsible for “doing whatever He tells us.”
- No matter how hard it is, we are to “do whatever he tells us.”
- No matter if it makes sense to our natural minds or causes our flesh to rise up within us, we are to “do whatever he tells us.”
- No matter if we gain the respect of others or invite criticism into our lives, we are to “do whatever he tells us.”
Though these five words summarize our commitment to Jesus as our Lord, they carry profound implications when we find ourselves in seasons when we really need some form of transformation in our lives or leadership. Our part is to always “do whatever he tells us.” His part? Doing only what He can do. In this first miracle, the servants are told to do three things:
- Fill the jars with water (and they filled them to the brim)
- Draw the water out
- And then take it to Jesus.
1) First, fill the jars with water.
These jars were not the light, masonry-type jars served at Cracker Barrel restaurants. These were large, heavy jars. There were six of them, each weighing 20-30 gallons, yet I love how the Scripture tells us that the servants “filled them to the brim.” Again, what a statement of the kind of obedience we are to have as believers. Let’s call it “filled to the brim obedience.” It isn’t partial obedience. Obedience leaves no room for disobedience. It’s obedience that reflects our very lives as living sacrifices before God.
I know that in life and in leadership, we often use the phrase “doing the heavy lifting.” It essentially carries the idea that there are seasons when we carry a heavy load in our current season, ultimately lightening the load in future seasons. There are seasons where we grind through establishing a new culture in our lives, churches, and families for the sake of greater health and fruitfulness in the future. The servants in this story had to do some heavy lifting for the miracle of transformation to take place. We also find ourselves in similar seasons—doing the “heavy” right now for the greater wholeness that is to come. I know that in my current season of leadership, I feel the weight of the water jars, which is why I am grateful for the second thing the servants were told to do.
2) Second, draw the water out.
The jars were full and heavy, but they drew the water out one scoop at a time! Okay, maybe the tool they used wasn’t a “scoop,” but you get the point. They drew some of the water out of the nearly 180 gallons that filled the jars. One draw at a time.
This reminds me that in seasons of heavy lifting, it doesn’t mean we try to do everything; it means we simply discern “the next thing” and do that faithfully until it is time to draw something else out of the jar. The key to not feeling overwhelmed is a heart that says, “God, I will do whatever you say, just show me the next thing to do. I give you permission to order my steps.” A focus on the next thing helps lessen the weight of everything you are currently feeling in life and leadership.
3) Third, take the water to Jesus.
They recognized that Jesus was the only one who could bring about the kind of transformation they were seeking. I like to think of the water in this story as either something I am surrendering to the Lord, or, as mentioned above, the next step I am committing to do as unto Him. Our steps are critical to the story, but Jesus is the ultimate source of transformation. Only He can take what I offer Him and transform it into an opportunity for greater fruitfulness in my life and ministry. Our small part intersects with His big part, and before we know it, a true transformation takes place in our lives. Remember that when we bring our water to the Living Water, we find a yoke that is easy, a burden that is light, and rest for our souls.
If you are in a season of filling the water jars, let me encourage you to fill them to the brim.
Ask the Holy Spirit what your “next thing” is and commit in your heart to “do whatever He tells you to do.” Let me remind you that you are bringing your water to the Living Water. Keep your life and leadership before Jesus. May you find the rest you need in Him during this season of heavy lifting.
When the servants did what Jesus told them to do, they concluded that Jesus had “saved the best till now.” I believe you will eventually echo the same sentiment after this season.
Fill some jars today, draw out the next thing, and stay before Jesus.
