Obedience To Parents In The Bible: Lessons From Jesus’ Story

I remember my teenage days well, I often found it impossible to understand my mother’s reasoning.

That stage where we want to be independent, but we’re not yet ready to be independent.

Then we have to put up with our parents telling us what to do, even if it doesn’t seem fair or right.

Why obey our parents?

At that time, it often didn’t seem to make sense to obey them.

Looking back, I wish I could have been blessed to have a more functional family in such a way that it would be easier for me to trust them and submit to their counsel.

Surely I wouldn’t have made so many mistakes.

Now, I think of Jesus and his relationship with his parents.

For example, it is interesting how Jesus respected his mother and obeyed her.

One occasion that strikes me a lot is the wedding at Cana.

We all know the story, but read with me these short verses:

When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”

“Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied.

“My hour has not yet come.”

His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

| John 2:3-5

Mary was clear that Jesus was not interested in doing public miracles at that point in his ministry.

However, feeling compassion for the wedding organizers, who were probably his friends, he goes to Jesus to ask for help.

I would like to have been there to notice the nonverbal communication between Jesus and his mom.

The event is a bit enigmatic because Jesus’ response to the request was not affirmative, i.e., he did not tell his mother that he would solve the problem.

On the contrary, he told her that he preferred not to.

In the story, she seems to have paid no attention to Jesus’ response.

Or perhaps their nonverbal communication asserted to her that he was willing.

She tells those in charge to follow Jesus’ instructions.

Perhaps Jesus had one of those moments when the looks speak more than the words, and through the eyes, his mother understood that he would help.

What we can understand is that Mary knew her son.

She knew and trusted that her son would not dishonor her and would lovingly obey her through his help.

By that time, Jesus was in his thirties.

Surely they had a very close relationship, and although she couldn’t demand anything from the creator of the universe, she knew her son loved her.

It is therefore obvious that Mary was accustomed to Jesus’ obedience.

Who despite being an adult honored, obeyed, and respected his mother.

Now, if Jesus as an adult, and being nothing less than God, having to go against his preferences, obeyed his mother.

Do you think that shouldn’t communicate something to you and me?

Our parents may not always be right, in fact, no one prepared them to be parents, they don’t teach that in college.

They often have psychological problems and very high levels of stress as well.

However, God has promised that he will bless us and help us to do well if we obey them.

Right now in your life, I think you’re pretty young, it can be hard to understand and obey them.

But believe me, you’re better off doing it.

God is not wrong, and if he asks you to do it is because it is the best thing for you.

Remember that Jesus also had a mother and an earthly father figure.

Jesus lovingly obeyed both of us to set an example for you and me.


What do you think? Are you having trouble obeying your parents? What is your experience? Share in the comments.

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