Blake Allen, Dunbar Cave Campus Pastor LHBC
John 2:1-12
“On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; 2 and both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus *said to Him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus *said to her, “What business do you have with Me, woman? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother *said to the servants, “Whatever He tells you, do it.” 6 Now there were six stone waterpots standing there for the Jewish custom of purification, containing two or three measures each. 7 Jesus *said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” So they filled them up to the brim. 8 And He *said to them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.” And they took it to him. 9 Now when the headwaiter tasted the water which had become wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter *called the groom, 10 and *said to him, “Every man serves the good wine first, and when the guests are drunk, then he serves the poorer wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.” 11 This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and revealed His glory; and His disciples believed in Him. 12 After this He went down to Capernaum, He and His mother, and His brothers and His disciples; and they stayed there a few days.”
Do you consider yourself a bold person? To what extent would you say that you are bold? Are you bold enough to call your momma out her name or tell her to mind her business? Admittedly, I am not that bold. Even if I were, I’m not that dumb….
“What business do you have with Me, woman?” Wow. What a way to talk to your mother right?? If I had talked to my mother that way, this would be the last devo you received from me. My mom and/or dad would have sent me to meet Jesus. Reading this initially, we might walk away thinking Jesus had disrespected His own mother. However, that is not the case at all.
If your momma asked you to do something and your response was mind your own business woman, you might just cease to exist right on the spot. You might catch a frying pan to the head to knock some sense into you. But in Jesus’ time and culture, designating the term woman to someone you looked after was not considered disrespectful. In fact, we see Jesus attributing this same term to His mom as He is on the cross (John 19:26); he tells his disciples to look after her once He is gone. And, Jesus’ intention is not to disrespect Him mom. In fact, as we continue to read the story, we see that Jesus honors His mother’s request. So why did Jesus respond the way He did and why did He call His mother “woman” and not “mother”?
The answer to both of these questions are found in verse 4b. Specifically, Jesus says that His hour has not yet come. Jesus was beginning to demonstrate less attachment to this world, including His own mother. He did not come to do His mother’s bidding or follow her will. He came to please His heavenly father. His concern was not the wine or celebration; His concern was the cross.
If Jesus came to do our bidding, then He would be a genie. Unfortunately, that is how we treat Jesus sometimes. We may find ourselves praying only when we need something. We may hold conditions upon our worship, saying things like, “I promise I will do better and follow you more “IF” you wil do such and such….. But Jesus is not our personal genie, nor did He come to do our bidding. He came to honor His Father through the cross.
What Jesus is ultimately saying here is “I did not come to do man wants me to do.” As we read the Gospels, we see there is many expectations people put on Jesus. However, Jesus only sought to please His Father, not man. This is a great reminder for us that we are to perform for an audience of one. We should seek to please God, not man.
The hour refers to the time of His suffering and crucifixion. Jesus is saying His business is the cross. His business is to save sinners, including His mother Mary. By calling her woman rather than mother, Jesus is placing her on the same level as any other sinner in need of a savior. She too would need His saving grace. Faith is required of Mary as well. This is why she responded in faith by telling His disciples to do whatever He says. She demonstrated confidence and trust in Him even if it meant her possible embarrassment.
Apparently, she had a role in the wedding celebration. To run out of wine, would be humiliating for the groom and his family. Either out of compassion or responsibility, Mary informs Jesus of the problem. But Jesus sees the bigger problem. He sees the road to the cross.
I am amazed how often we miss the truth of this passage. We are so concerned about whether or not this was real wine or fruit of the vine, or whether or not this passage is intended to show that drinking is permissible. That’s not the point of the passage at all! The whole point is Jesus is headed to the cross to take care of sin and death once and for all!
He uses jars with water used for purification and replaced it with a substance having a completely different nature. It is a picture of what Jesus was going to do with us. Our old self/nature would be replaced with a new nature. This would be a nature like His–holy, righteous, new, clean. We are made a new creation in Christ, the old is gone and the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17).
But it also starts with an encounter with Christ. Have you begun that relationship with Him today? Only the blood of Jesus can cover your sins and wash you clean. He is ready to give you a new start, a new life, and better life.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord, help us not to miss the picture. You have satisfied our greatest need on the cross. Thank you for your grace and mercy. May we seek to live for you and your alone. May we follow you for the rest of our days. Amen