John 2:3-5
When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
I have heard more than a few people over the years comment that they were a bit taken aback by how Jesus talks to his mother in this verse. “Woman…” he says, and then proceeds to – dare I say it? – scold her. Few of us, I suspect, would be comfortable addressing our moms in such a fashion!
She doesn’t seem to mind, however, and that’s probably worth noting. Despite what feels like a bit of a rebuke, she carries on, as if he’d agreed with her! (Perhaps, like many moms, she knows her son better than he knows himself. 🙂 )
But I think there’s something else going on at this moment as well. John, perhaps, at this particular moment, doesn’t present Mary to us as Jesus’ mother but rather as representative of all women – “Woman…” – and indeed of all men; of all, that is, who sense great need and turn to God in trust for help.
The scene they play out, John suggests, has cosmic significance, as the Son of God and Son of Man named Jesus comes to respond to our need with grace upon grace, and blessing upon blessing, and Mary stands at that moment for all of us, perhaps misinterpreting God’s timing and yet whose tenacious faith prompts a response of blessing and joy.
Prayer: Dear God, let us, like Mary, approach you in boldness in trust with whenever we are in need or see the need of others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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