I remember the first time I read about Jesus and Mary at the wedding of Cana, I was a bit confused. Jesus was calling Mary “Woman” and telling her his hour had not yet come. Was he dishonoring her or was something else happening? Using our modern English translations and culture we can sometimes miss the meaning. Jesus is actually honoring Mary here and we’ll discover why.
The Wedding at Cana.
John 2:1-4
1 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.2 Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding.
3 When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.”
4 [And] Jesus said to her, “Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.”
Modern English Use of Woman:
The word ‘Woman’ in modern English usage has more than one meaning. It can be positive when used in a phrase like ‘I am looking for a good woman’. It can be negative when questioning someone, such as ‘What are you doing woman?’ Here, Jesus is both asking Mary a question and telling her something, so in our modern usage we may jump to the negative conclusion.
- The Negative Causes Contradictions
If we conclude that Jesus is being disrespectful toward Mary and talking down to a woman, we run into an immediate contradiction. Right after Jesus corrects Mary, He follows her instructions. The negative interpretation does not fit the scene. It may even look like Jesus is complaining only to give in to His mother after. That does not sound right either.
This negative interpretation ends up giving us a distorted view of Jesus and Mary. It is an easy mistake to make given how our culture sometimes uses the word ‘woman’ in a negative manner.
The Positive
At the foot of the cross near death, Jesus considers care for His mother and His Church, saying to John the Apostle…
John 19:26-27
26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.”
27 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.
Jesus is using the term ‘Mother’ in a loving manner and placing her under the care of one of His Apostles.
Honor Thy Mother and Father
One Commandment that we need to consider when looking at the relationship between Jesus and Mary is the 4th Commandment, ‘Honor Thy Mother and Father’ (Exo 20:13).
We know God is perfect, without sin. Jesus is God. He does not break any commandment. Since Mary is His Mother, we know that Jesus will follow the 4th commandment perfectly and always honor His mother Mary. Any interpretation we make between Jesus and Mary needs to keep this commandment in mind.
If we conclude that Jesus is dishonoring Mary we run into a contradiction with this commandment. We can’t do that, so let’s continue, knowing Jesus honors His mother.
Original Meaning of ‘Woman’
Another key to unlocking the meaning of this event at Cana is the original usage of the word ‘woman’. Jesus uses the same term of ‘woman’ for Mary which was used for Eve in Genesis. The NT Greek is the same word gunai/γυναι for both Mary and Eve. Let’s look at the original usage of ‘woman’…
Gen 2:23
the man said:
“This one, at last, is bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
This one shall be called ‘woman,’
This is a positive use of the word ‘woman’.
But then original sin occurred. Eve chose to listen to the Devil, she sinned, and introduced sin to Adam. He chose to sin with her. Both man and woman had fallen together.
The Promise of a Savior
But that was not the end. Adam and Eve faced consequences for their sin, but they were not handed over to the Devil. Instead there is some good news. The Devil has not won, the battle is not over…
Gen 3:14-15
14 Then the LORD God said to the snake…
15 I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
They will strike at your head,
while you strike at their heel
This is called the protoevangelium, The first hint of a savior. There will be an ongoing battle between the Devil and man (both male and female). This battle will continue throughout the generations in the Bible. Its ultimate fulfillment is in the Messiah, the Christ…
Fast Forward to Jesus and Mary
When we look at the fulfillment of the promise in Gen 3:15, it mentions both a mother and her child. Mary and Jesus are the fulfillment of the passage. Paul connects this promise to Jesus…
1 Corinthians 15:21-26
21 For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead came also through a human being.
22 For just as in Adam all die, so too in Christ shall all be brought to life
25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death,
Mary is included in Jesus’ Plan
Some may dismiss Mary at this point saying Gen 3:15 is all about Jesus, but the Gospels include Mary in the blessings and the promise…
In the 1st Chapter of Luke, Elizabeth calls Mary blessed.
Luke 1
42 “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
Elizabeth also connects Marry to the promise
Luke 1
45 Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”
Mary accepts the blessing and connects it back to the Lord.
46 And Mary said:
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
47 my spirit rejoices in God my savior.
48 For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness;
behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed.
49 The Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
Jesus Himself includes Mary
Jesus could have used the word ‘Mother’ when talking to Mary at the wedding, but in choosing the word ‘woman’ He connected her to Eve. Adam was not the only one involved in original sin. Both man and woman were involved in the fall. Eve introduced sin to Adam. Mary introduces Jesus.
The passage makes sense in a Loving relationship
Jesus is not rebuking Mary but lovingly honoring His mother and listening to her. Mary notices an opportunity to save the married couple from embarrassment. Jesus sees it too. He gives Mary the opportunity to be the instrument to hand Him his public ministry in reversal of Eve handing Adam the Apple of sin. Mary returns the trust right back to her son, telling the servants to do whatever he tells them to do. Both are showing Love and respect to each other, opposite of the sin and blame of Adam and Eve.
What would you have me do?
Jesus asks the question. What would you have me do or ‘how does your concern affect me?’ He is genuinely asking her what she is requesting Him to do. She responds by telling the waiters to do whatever He tells them and He responds by fulfilling Her request. It is a selfless giving to one another, opposite of Adam and Eve who blamed one another.
My Hour Has Not Come
In John’s Gospel we hear Jesus say at the wedding of Cana and several other times, ‘My time’ or ‘My Hour’ has not yet come. (John 2:4, John 7:6, John 7:30). No one knew yet what Jesus was going to do and even though Mary is Jesus’ mother and trusts in Him, she is still human and does not know everything that is going to happen.
- Jesus is letting Mary and others know it is just the beginning, not everything will happen at once.
- The conversion of water into wine is sufficient for the moment, helping the married couple. The disciples start to believe in Him.
- The conversion of wine into His blood will happen later when it is His hour.
My Hour Has Come
Later in his ministry, after the final entry into Jerusalem, Jesus finally mentions his hour has come…
John 12:23-24
23 Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.24 Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.
At the wedding of Cana, Jesus knew His hour would be coming, but later. Mary was human and didn’t know, so Jesus is letting her know what she needs to know for that moment, and for us to see a glimpse of His Divine nature.
Marriage Benefits
Jesus performing His first miracle at a wedding was significant to support marriage.
When God created Adam and Eve the Covenant bond of marriage was created, ‘The two shall become one’.
It is no coincidence that at the beginning of His public ministry and His first miracle, that Jesus would support the marriage Covenant between man and woman, and continue His plan of Redemption hinted at way back in Gen 3:15.
Mary Does Not Detract
Mary’s love for Jesus takes nothing away from Jesus’ mission. If we follow her actions ‘Thy will Be Done’ and her instructions ‘Do whatever He tells you’, she immediately and lovingly points us to Her son.
Jesus knew that and that is why He chose her to participate.
Mary will sometimes be called ‘Mary undoer of knots’. Where Eve caused the knots of sin, Mary helps to untie them.
We do as Jesus Does
When Mary says ’All generations will call me blessed’ it is not just Mary’s doing. Elizabeth called her blessed. The angel Gabriel hailed her as full of grace (highly favored in some translations). The Church of the past two millennia has called her blessed. We can also call her blessed.
Jesus follows the commandments perfectly. He honors His mother. We want to do as Jesus does. so we can also honor Mary. (This is not worship)
So now let’s read the whole Wedding of Cana, knowing Jesus honors His mother and is treating her with respect. He asks what she would like. He is also helping her to understand His mission is not going to happen all at once.
The Wedding at Cana.
John 2:1-11
1 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.2 Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding.
3 When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.”
4 [And] Jesus said to her, “Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.”
5 His mother said to the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.”
6 Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings, each holding twenty to thirty gallons.
7 Jesus told them, “Fill the jars with water.” So they filled them to the brim.
8 Then he told them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.” So they took it.
9 And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine, without knowing where it came from (although the servers who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom
10 and said to him, “Everyone serves good wine first, and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the good wine until now.”
11 Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs in Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him.
Hope that Clarifies
- This passage of the wedding of Cana can initially be confusing in some translations and trying to interpretation from our modern culture.
- When we look deeper and take time to find the original meaning, it becomes a great event! The term ‘woman’ that Jesus used for Mary at the Wedding of Cana was a loving one.
- Jesus elevates everyone at the wedding. Fallen man through Adam is now connected to the sinless man, Jesus. Fallen woman through Eve is now connected to the Savior through Mary’s intercession. Marriage begun in Genesis is connected to Jesus with a miracle.
- The miracle of the water turning to wine at the Wedding of Cana is sufficient for the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. It prepares us later for the hour when Jesus will turn wine into His blood, the new Covenant. He will die and rise to conquer death, to save us, to complete His Glory!
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Scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.