Rick Smith/Columnist
Isaiah, a renowned counter culturist, spoke of a young girl, but never mentioned her name. He also gave voice to the miraculous conception and birth of this teenaged girl’s son, yet never recorded the child’s given name.
Fast forward 700 years. Matthew, known to some as Levi, was a tax collector in a town on the Sea of Galilee. Matthew was handpicked, possibly because of his attention to detail, with the task of authoring the longest of the four gospels, the gospel that chronicled the history of Jesus’ life. He wrote, “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise…”
But it was Luke the physician, one of Matthew’s homeboys, who tells of the immaculate conception. Luke wrote that Mary, Isaiah’s young girl, was visited by an angel who told her she was “highly favored,” adding, “The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women.”
This how-do-you-do was very troubling to Mary. Sensing her uneasiness, the angel told her to not be afraid because she had found favor with God. He went on to say that she would conceive of the Holy Spirit and bring forth a son. He attested to her son’s greatness – of his reign and his kingdom to which there would be no end.
Mary’s final words to the angel were, “I am the Lord’s servant. I am willing to do whatever he wants. I am ready to serve. May everything you said come true.”
Then the angel departed from Mary – and Mary believed that what the angel had said to her would be accomplished. Period. Settled.
Fast forward again about thirty years. A sandy road leads southwest of the Sea of Galilee to Cana. It is there that Jesus, his disciples, Mary, and a multitude of other guests attended a magnificent wedding.
John recorded this social event.
Mary noticed that the wedding party had no wine. She said to her son, “They have no wine.”
Jesus responded to his mom, “What have I to do with you?” The look he gave her said, “Is that any of our business, Mother?”
Mary turned to the servants who observed this tete-a-tete and said, “Whatever he tells you, do it.”
John records the miracle that happened that evening. At the request of Jesus, six waterpots, each with a capacity to hold 18-27 gallons of liquid, were filled to the brim with water. Then Jesus said the most nonsensical thing to the servants – “Fill your pitchers from the waterpots and serve the guests.” The words of Mary resounded in their minds, “Whatever he tells you, do it.”
The water had been turned to wine. And not the cheap stuff that was often served toward the end of the evening, but the good stuff, full-bodied, the perfect balance.
This Christmas season as we approach 2025, I reflect on the first recorded words of Mary, “I am willing to do whatever he wants” and her last recorded words, “Whatever he tells you, do it.”
To be willing to do whatever He tells you to do – it’s a wonderful life, a perfect place to dwell.
Rick Smith is a Jeffersonian and can be reached at theriquemeister@gmail.com.