The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

John 2:1-5, “And on the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus

was there;

2 and Jesus also was invited, and His disciples, to the wedding.

3 And when the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.”

4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what do I have to do with you? My hour has not yet come.”

5 His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”

It was Mark Twain who said, “When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years.”

My mother was a wise woman! Oh, I didn’t think so when I was small kid. She was strict, but she was

loving with it—always a teacher at heart. Such things are the discoveries of old age.

What those attending the marriage at Cana thought about Jesus’ mother, we will never know. But, what little we do know about her is good. She surely would not want to be known as some think of her today. Really great people don’t think that way of themselves. As a boy of about 14, I clearly recall commending a preacher for what I considered an outstanding sermon! He looked surprised, smiled, and did his best to correct the level of excellence on which I had placed him.

Mary saw a problem that needed to be corrected at the marriage feast. The hosts had run out of wine.

She was not the hostess; she was only an invited guest. So, it was not required of her to correct the deficiency. But, she knew her Son was competent for what was needed. Thus, she said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” In the margin of my Bible beside that verse, I have written, “Excellent advice for every situation.” Leave everything in the Hands of Jesus! That’s not to say we ought never to work or do good things for others. Rather, it is that we should talk everything over with Him in prayer before we act on anything!

Should I go to college? Should I change jobs? Should I get married? Whom should I marry? What church should I attend? –and the list goes on. Each of these short questions fits everyone; yet the “who, what, why, when and where” may differ completely. Sometimes, it’s just best not act too quickly on anything –certainly, not without praying! “The LORD knows those who are His…” (2 Tim. 2:19); He also knows what’s best for each of us.

As we grow older, we look back with a very different perspective than when we were young. There are things we ought to have done, that we failed to do. And then, there are things we ought not to have done that we seriously regret. In most cases, our regrets come from not having laid everything before

the LORD Jesus Christ in serious prayer. We can’t change the past, but we can better the future. We can also be a spiritual model for others. Whatever He says to you, do it! That, you will never regret!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

NOTE: For those who might want to justify drinking today, based upon Jesus’ turning the water to wine, this instance

will not work! Wine in Jesus’ day was not what it is today. In that day water was mixed with wine to purify the

impure water. The Romans, known for their lavish drinking, mixed three or more parts of water with the wine.

Believers have a testimony of separation to uphold. Even Paul said, “It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine,

or to do anything by which your brother stumbles” (Rom. 14:21 NAS).

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom