Woman, what does this have to do with me?
*Pastor Liu titled his sermon- Hero of faith: Mary.
At least for me, i might only know a verse or 2 about Mary- The highly favored one whom Amen-ed to God’s virgin birth plan and… Jesus replied her: “Woman, what does it got to do with me, my time is not yet come.”
Most Word of Faith preachers gave me the impression that God want to ensure that Mary is an ordinary girl whom God chose to use her to bring about Jesus in the flesh, then, put her in the correct place when Jesus address her as Woman, etc etc.. after that most of the sermons would pretty much touch and go about Mary.
Today, pastor gave a little bit more inside about Mary… What did Mary do after Jesus replied? Jn 2:5- His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”
- Both Mary and Jesus were guests in the marriage celebration
- Mary told the servants whom, they were not hers!
- Those servant actually listened to Mary’s ‘order’!!
In all norms, servant take orders from their master mostly and not outsiders (very unlikely, and whats more they continue with Jesus’ later.)
Pause… Bible says, this is the first miracle / beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee. So up till now, people at that time would know more about Mary than Jesus.
There is a clue here of what Mary is like:
- What did God said to Mary via angel Gabriel: “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”
At this point, Mary literally gotten the Grace message first hand effect- for she is not only favored but HIGHLY favored… and that might have an after effect of having the literal favor of God with Him and with all man (the people).
The same Mary who amen-ed to God’s plan on her life, but the mouth of Zechariah was shut till the birth of the child, because of unbelieved.
The same believing Mary likely to have her own sphere of influence, respectable enough for even the host’s servants to take note on her request.
Jesus address her as woman, the action of Mary reminded us of the woman with the issue of blood and the other woman whom Jesus address her as puppy.
Mary displayed her same believing faith yet again- said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” It is like direct respond to Jesus’s replied- Mary knew WHO Jesus was, and had faith in HIM (heard of the bull dog’s faith?);
Hebrew 11:6- But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a REWARDER of those who diligently seek Him.
Personally, i believed Jesus responded to Mary’s faith, like what he did to the other women’s, hence, when Jesus said his time have not yet come MIGHT be a testing phrase to see how Mary would react (one of my personal opinion), cos his next action was- Jesus said to them, “Fill the water pots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim.. the rest of the story was an happy ending for the married couple.
*Pastor Liu, Snr Pastor of iPlus Church