“Three days later, there was a wedding in the village of Cana in Galilee.  Jesus’ mother was there.  Jesus and his disciples were guests also.  When they started running low on wine at the wedding banquet, Jesus’ mother told Him, they’re just about out of wine.  Jesus said, is that any of our business, mother—yours or mine? This isn’t my time. Don’t push me. She went ahead anyway, telling servants, whatever he tells you, do it.” – John 2:1-4 (in the Message)

One of the first lessons that all Christians must learn is “surrender!” Mary, the mother of our Lord Jesus, was no different. Even though she was His mother, there came a time when she was forced to submit to Him as her “Savior!”

You and I can never know how difficult this must have been for Mary. She was the “Vision-Keeper!” She was given the task of conceiving the Son of the Living God and then giving birth to Him to the world. She was also given the task of raising Him to adulthood. But, there came a time when she had to let go. Many of you parents with grown children probably know about the principle of letting go. One of the worst things you can do as a parent is to continually interfere in the lives of your adult children. Most of the time they will resent you for doing it.

This story is also a reminder that Mary was just like the rest of us. She is not on a level with God! She is not Deity! She is not to be prayed to nor worshiped nor venerated above her own humanity! She’s important because she was His mother and one day we will all thank her in heaven for her sacrifice but this story reminds us that she, also, had to surrender and submit.

Why is it that we Christians always feel like we must help God? Mary thought Jesus needed to be reminded about the wine dilemma at the wedding as if He didn’t already know. But, I believe she was also proud of her Son and wanted to show off His miraculous abilities. The problem was, she didn’t realize that Jesus never performed any miracle just to be a “show-off.” All of His miraculous manifestations had purpose and meaning that was usually apart from the miracles themselves.

When you come to Jesus, you too will be brought to the place that Mary faced. Before Jesus you ran your own life and most of you messed it up pretty good, didn’t you? You were used to doing what you wanted to do and when you wanted to do it. But, now that you have Jesus in your heart, you must face the fact that you have to take yourself off of the throne and willingly place Him upon it. It is good that you have made Him Savior of your life but have you also made Him “Lord?” Will you surrender and trust Him? Will you realize that His ways are not your ways and His ways are better than your ways? I love you!