Posted on 09/17/2025 5:06:24 PM PDT by metmom
“When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to Him, ‘They have no wine.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Whatever He says to you, do it’” (John 2:3–5).
Returning to the wedding at Cana we come across a major crisis—the wine ran out because the supply was insufficient. This potential embarrassment for the couple and their families could have stigmatized them for the rest of their lives. Mary was apparently helping to oversee the catering of the celebration and became aware of this serious problem. She anxiously said to Jesus, “They have no wine.”
Jesus’ abrupt reply, “Woman, what does that have to do with us?” signaled a major change in their relationship. It was an idiomatic expression that asks rhetorically what the two parties in question have in common, and has the effect of distancing them. By calling Mary “Woman” (a polite, but not intimate, form of address) instead of “Mother,” Jesus politely but firmly informed her that their relationship was no longer to be what it had been while He was growing up. His public ministry had begun, and earthly relationships would not direct His actions. Mary was to relate to Him no longer as her son but as her Messiah, the Son of God, her Savior.
Undeterred by the mild rebuke, and aware that He was not saying no to the request, Mary said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” Mary shows us how we should respond to the Lord.
Ask Yourself
Is your relationship with Jesus such that you can receive His rebuke without taking offense or crawling into a corner?
Can you respond to His truth—even a hard truth—by adjusting your life to His right way of thinking and then continuing to serve Him as faithfully as before?
Studying God’s Word ping
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Great post. Just read this 2 days ago . I read the Bible Cronicalogicly, so i’m doing the harmony of the Gospels.
As a Catholic, I normally don’t read, much less respond to these posts.
But when I saw my signature line used in the header, I read and appreciated it. Well thought out and reasoned. This was an edifying post.
Though at the Cross He was both her Son and her Messiah, as he presented her to St. John.
Good thing you input the Caucus label here.
Certain folks of certain religions might take issue with this Biblical lesson since Jesus isn’t groveling to Mary.
Think you just violated the caucus rules.
Yup. One can't presume to hide under the shelter of an Evangelical Caucus designation to overtly bash Catholics with the same worn-out anti-Catholic garbage. Works the other way too, by the way.
Seems some are ignoring the rules about “Caucus/Devotional”.
Shame it doesn’t go both ways...
Excellent post, taking perfect criticism from our Lord should be easy, but at the time it does not feel like it. Hindsight always proves that His direction was right and very much needed. I always thank our Lord Jesus for His unfathomable wisdom and His infinite love to keep me on the straight and narrow. I have tried to wreck my life more times than I like to think about, but that loving grace always saves me and brings me back to the right spot.
Romans 7:25
Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.
“Works the other way too, by the way”
Yes it does, same worn-out anti-GOD catholic garbage.
Glad to see this post!
Me, too. It’s important to note that no religion “owns” Mary or the right to discuss her role in the work of God.
Sorry for violating a caucus. I asked for my post to be deleted.
Mea culpa.
I agree. Scripture tells us what God wants us to know about Mary. Nobody should lie about her or go beyond what is written to force people into believing myths, legends, apparitions or dreams others have experienced and turning them into mandatory articles of faith.
Not so much a change, but a reiteration of His supreme subjection to His Father. Years before, in response to his mother saying unto him, "Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing," Jesus "said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business? And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them." (Luke 2:48-50)
That the incarnated Divine Son of God, was subject to those who who were created thru Him is what is profound.
And indeed, “Woman, what does that have to do with us? was an idiomatic expression that asks rhetorically what the two parties in question have in common."
This expression as used in Judges 11:12; 2Sam 16:10; 1Kings 17:18; 2Kings 3:13; 2Chron 35:21 challenges the party being responded to, to provide warrant, versus the responder being under obligation.
Not that Mary, the caring mother of incarnated Divine Son of God according to the flesh, (cf. Rm. 9:5) was wrong in seeking the help of her Lord, for indeed bringing this need to His attention evidences her own lack of power and her recognition that her Divine Son - who already had disciples, could provide a solution.
Note that "this beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee and manifested forth his glory" (Jn. 2:11) could mean as a public sign, not that the Lord had not evidenced supernatural power beforehand.
Robinson states:
This beginning of his signs did Jesus (tautēn epoiēsen archēn tōn sēmeiōn ho Iēsous). Rather, “this Jesus did as a beginning of his signs,” for there is no article between tautēn and archēn. “
All very good points.
👍
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