The Narrow Path

By Paul Benedict Huter

In this book, readers are presented with Scriptural references that explain what it means to follow Jesus' teachings as they apply to the narrow path that leads to His promise of eternal salvation in Heaven. Despite what the world would have us think, living according to Christ's example is not difficult, and by understanding exactly what it is He calls us to do, we can rebuff the lies of the world and obtain what He promises. In each of 15 chapters, Scripture and insight are presented in a discussion of how we are called to live, with each chapter ending with questions for reflection on how we can apply the lessons of the chapter to our lives as we seek to follow the narrow path.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Huter Enterprises, LLC
• Release date: Aug 18, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223346012

Book preview

Chapter I

His Mother said to the servers, Do whatever He tells you. - John 2:5

These five words, Do whatever He tells you, spoken by Mary at the wedding at Cana, sum up the entirety of how to live. The subsequent miracle of the water turned into wine, gives us insight into what we can expect, should we heed the words of Mary and do as Jesus tells us as we seek to live our lives. Much of the traditional teachings related to this scene (John 2:1-12) focus on Jesus’ words prior to Mary’s statement, [And] Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, how does your concern affect Me? My hour has not yet come’ - John 2:4, and His miracle of turning the water into, not ‘an inferior [wine]; but...the good wine’ - John 2:10, following the servants doing as Mary tells them and filling the jars with water at Jesus’ command. In so focusing on what happens before and after these five words, the utter simplicity of how to live one’s life is, ultimately, missed.

That is not to say that Jesus’ words to His Mother and His miracle are unimportant. In fact, as Christians, we must take note of them if we are to understand the context in which Mary speaks to us, telling us to do what her Son asks of us.

Prior to Mary’s command to the servants, Jesus calls her woman. His use of this term, rather than mother or the like, is an indication that He is separating Himself from her. She is asking Him to perform a miracle, to take care of their friends so that they may save face at their wedding. However, Jesus is saying that He did not come to this Earth to perform miracles for friends and family. With this statement, He is treating Mary like any other woman in the world, not as His Mother.

Subsequently, Jesus asks ‘Who is My mother? Who are My brothers?’ - Matthew 12:48, before stating ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the Will of My Heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother’ - Matthew 12:49-50. Here, Jesus is telling His followers that the wishes of His Mother and brothers (relatives) are of no consequence to Him. Rather, He sees those of us who do the Will of God as being His brothers and sisters. He is stating that those ‘who [do] the Will of My Father who is in Heaven [shall enter the kingdom of Heaven’ - Matthew 7:21, and these are who He considers His kin.

This use of the term woman in reference to His Mother is repeated at His crucifixion, tying back to this moment at Cana, as we shall see in Chapter XV. However, in that context, it is different, but no less meaningful. Of note is the fact that the beginning of Christ’s ministry on Earth, with the miracle at Cana, and the end of His ministry, with His death on the Cross, are tied together by how He refers to His Mother, Mary.

Looking at the miracle Jesus performs, turning plain water into good wine, we see the result of the servants’ doing what Mary commanded them, that is, doing what Jesus told them to do. We are all familiar with how the steward mentions to the host that it is uncommon for the good wine to be served later. This is a wedding feast, and anyone who has been to a wedding feast or other party at which alcohol is consumed knows that guests will want the good stuff first, and then, once the effects of the alcohol are kicking in, the quality and taste of subsequent drinks is not as important.

But by listening to and doing what Jesus commands, simply filling jars with water, the result is something better than what came before. The parallel between life before Christ, which was not bad, just as the first wine at the wedding was not considered bad when it was all that was available, and life after doing Christ’s Will, which is better than what came before, just as the wine Jesus produces is noticeably better than the other wine, is should be obvious. However, too often we are so set in our lives that we do not recognize as not being our full potential, simply because it is what we know and we consider things to be good. We are like those guests at the wedding who think that the wine they are given first is the best wine of the feast, not knowing that if we were to simply listen to what Jesus tells us, things will be better.

And what is it that Jesus tells us to do? In this particular case, He told servants to fill jars with water. Can we not draw a comparison to filling ourselves with something at His command? Where else is water used in the Gospels? Peter tells people ‘Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you shall receive the Gift of the Holy Spirit’ - Acts 2:38. John the Baptist tells his followers ‘I am baptizing you with water, but One Who is mightier than I is coming...He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire’ - Luke 3:16. It is this Spirit that Jesus promises to His followers, telling them ‘If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth, which the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows Him. But you know Him, because He remains with you, and will be in you’ - John 14:15-17.

By doing the Will of Jesus, keeping His commandments and being baptized into His Church, a baptism of water, we will receive the Holy Spirit to guide us and keep us safe. The parallel can therefore be drawn between filling the jugs with water, the water of baptism, and being filled with the Holy Spirit because we have followed Christ’s teachings and commandments, i.e., when He told the servants to fill the jugs with water. The simple act of being baptized into His Church and doing what He tells us to do, will enable us to be filled with the Holy Spirit, receive His Gifts, and ultimately receive the reward of Heaven, which will be better than even the best wine, and certainly better than any life we may think is good.

In Chapter XV, we will again see another tie back to this idea of the quality of wine, as Jesus is given wine on the Cross, after which He states that His time is finished. Before the miracle at Cana, Jesus tells Mary that His ‘hour has not yet come - John 2:4. The hour of which He speaks is the time when His mission has been completed, and He has died for our salvation. As He dies on the Cross, He is given common wine - John 19:29, like that served early at the wedding feast at Cana. This common wine of the life we