Whatsoever He Saith Unto You, Do It
Every Bible student should recognize the title of this article. These were the words of Mary to the servants at the marriage feast in Cana of Galilee in John chapter 2. Jesus and His disciples had arrived at the wedding and verse 3 tells us, “the mother of Jesus saith unto Him, They have no wine”. Notice that Mary did not ask Jesus to “make wine”, only notified Him of what was lacking on that occasion. There is a lot of misunderstanding of the miracle that was performed and often this first miracle of the Lord is used to justify the use of intoxicating beverages.
However, a quick study of the word “wine” in the Bible shall prove that wine was not always that which was fermented. Isa 65:8 says “new wine is found in the cluster”. The Hebrew word for wine here is “tiy-roshe” (tee-roshe’) and means fresh grape juice or that which is just squeezed out. Incidentally, this word is employed 38 times in the KJV Bible. Couple this with Prov 20:1 – Wine (yayin - “yah’-yin” meaning effervescent or lively) is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise., and one sees irrefutable proof that God does sanction the drinking of fermented wine. Christ also would never condone such.
Additionally, in the N.T., there are 37 uses of the word wine, 32 of which utilize the Greek word “oinos” (oy’-nos), including John 2:3. Oinos is the Greek word for what the English translators say is "wine". To be accurate, one can also translate oinos to be Juice, or fruit of the vine - Grape juice. Therefore, the context in which the word is used must be consulted to determine what it means and if it is to be used. Furthermore, 1Thess 5:22 warns the child of God, to “Abstain from all appearance of evil.”, which includes even looking like they are doing anything contrary to what the Lord said.
Now, doesn’t the sage advice from the mother of the Lord make more sense? I wonder why folks (even today) fail to do what Mary said the servants at the wedding feast were to do. Isn’t the word “whatsoever” ALL INCLUSIVE? Another way of saying “whatsoever” is what ever, meaning anything and everything “He saith unto you” is to be followed, obeyed and done. We know from Heb 1:1-2 that God Who once spoke through the prophets, began in “these last days” to speak unto us “by His Son”.
The failure of folks to do what Jesus taught began long before the “last days”. These days began after Christ died on the cross and purchased the church, when the gospel was first preached at Pentecost A.D. 33. But in John 6:60, we are told that many of the disciples of Jesus thought the sayings of the Lord were “too hard”. Then, we learn in verse 66, “From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.” This shows us two things. 1) One can refuse to do as Christ Commands. 2) One can also follow Christ for a while, and afterward no longer “do it” (2Pet 2:20).
Perhaps those in the first place above are those who haven’t been taught and do not know why Christ died and what He wants them to do. It is the duty of the church per the Great Commission, (Matt 28:18-20), to see to it they are properly informed. If we who are children of God, are not doing this, we aren’t doing as Jesus saith unto us. Those in the second illustration above are those who have obeyed the gospel and are the children of God, but through negligence or obstinance become disobedient. In both cases, the individual is not doing as Jesus saith.
This brings up the question, what does Jesus say we are to do? As stated earlier in the article, God now speaks “by His Son”. His Son (Jesus) speaks through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit brought the Word according to John 14:16-18, John 15:26-27, John 16:13, and John 16:7. Based on this, Jesus speaks to mankind today through His Word. Then the question becomes, what does Jesus Christ, through the Word tell man to do? Interestingly, Saul of Tarsus, when approached by the Lord on the road to Damascus, asked the same question as recorded in Acts 9:6. Now, that was a special situation during the babyhood of the church. But the latter part of the Lord’s answer to Paul’s query is the same even today. Paul was told to “Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.”
Today, all are to be told what they are to do. This began in Acts 2 after the apostles received “power from on high” with the outpouring of the Holy Ghost. The answer to the question “Men and brethren what shall we do?”, is provided in Acts 2:38 – Peter is recorded as saying, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. This is the same message that needs to be conveyed every time the gospel is preached. Sadly, much of the world thinks the preaching of the cross is foolishness. But according to 1Cor 1:21, we see that man’s wisdom could not acquaint man with God. Rather, God chose what some men would call “foolishness” (preaching) to send His soul saving message to man.
Why then, don’t people “do it” (obey) when men preach? Consider a major possible reason. What is preached is not God’s Word. In 2Tim 4:2, the young preacher was told what to preach, the Word. If this isn’t done, an incorrect message is preached and the soul is not properly reached. Did not Luke record Peter’s Words in Acts 11:13-14 where Cornelius reported that an angel had told him that Peter would “tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.”? These “words” are the Words of Christ, and fully in line with what Jesus’ mother said. If/when Cornelius and his house “did” as these inspired directed, they were saved from their past sins.
Don’t accept what man teaches alone. Be like the Bereans of Acts 17:10-11. Search the Scriptures daily to see “whether those things (the things preached) were so.” Then, one can be assured that they are following Mary’s advice from so long ago. Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it. Otherwise, you’ll likely be as in 2Tim 4:4 – Turning your “ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”
Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
