0310 WHATEVER MEANS WHATEVER

WHATEVER MEANS WHATEVER

John 2:5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

What a great single sentence to summarize what it means to be a follower of Christ! It is just a passing instruction in the midst of a wedding celebration, when His mother was urging Jesus to find a way to get more wine for the celebrants. Sort of a strange miracle in the first place. But this open-ended direction is very fitting: If Jesus is “Lord,” then his subjects simply do “whatever He tells.”

Whatever?

Whatever means whatever.

But Jesus’ mother tells the servants to do whatever her son says. That’s a command that has tremendous implications. 

I mean, what if he tells me to sell all my goods and give the money to the poor? Whatever means whatever.

What if he tells me to go wash in the pool of Siloam? Whatever means whatever.

What if he tells me to take up my cross and follow him? Whatever means whatever.

What if he tells me to be silent, but go immediately to a priest to verify my healing? Whatever means whatever.

What if he says no to my request for a healing? What if he says my grace is sufficient for you? Will that be enough? Whatever means whatever.

What if he compelled me to walk a mile with him, carrying his bag? Would I go a second mile? Whatever means whatever.

What if he says, “Come, follow me?” Whatever means whatever.

What if he says to fill these large jars with water and then draw some out and bring it to the host of a wedding? Seems like a pretty small ask, even though it doesn’t make sense. So, the servants do as Jesus had said. They fill the jars with water, then dip out some of the water and bring it to the host of the feast and the honored guest. He drinks and finds it to be wine. And not just any wine. It is the BEST wine! Instead of being humiliated for running out of wine, the host is honored for bringing out the best well into the celebration. Funny how it works sometimes, isn’t it? But Whatever means whatever.

Ironically, the sardonic use of the word “whatever” has become a common disrespectful criticism of the younger generation toward parents. “Whatever” means “your words are not important to me, and no matter what you say I will not try to argue because it won’t do me any good. I am trapped. But know that my heart is not with you, and even if I comply on the outside, I am rebelling on the inside.” That’s a lot of meaning behind the mere tone of a voice while saying a single word. 

But such is the nature of sarcasm. It means the opposite of what it says. Can you imagine Mary saying her instructions to the servants using that tone of voice? “Whatever he tells you, do it.” And the servants all say, “Whatever” and walk away to do something else.

But no. That’s not what happened. Whatever simply means whatever.

So let me encourage all of us: whatever he tells you and me to do, let’s do it. Without question. Without pause. Without delay. Without a word.

I would not be surprised if doing the “whatever” we are told to do, we will find a surprise blessing on the other side of it.