I imagine Jesus and Mary in this passage as a loving son teasing his mother, just a little. And Mary indulging her son’s sense of humor, but knowing that he will do something to help out the wedding party. More importantly, Mary knew Jesus was capable of miracles, such as this at the wedding feast. And, I imagine, the relationship between mother and son was such that after years of pondering Mary had realized the true nature of her son.

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.” John 2:3-5

Many times there is a subtle shift in mother-son relationships when a boy grows into manhood. The wise matriarch allows this change to happen. In some cases this change can take place so gradually that it is hard to notice. In other cultures and in other eras this change allows a boy to become a man and become the head of the household, taking the reins of leadership.

It is my belief that the story in this passage is not just about water turned into wine, and the foreshadowing of Jesus’ ministry, but it is also the shift from Jesus being Mary’s son to Jesus being Mary’s savior. How that shift happens has always interested me. And I think this passage holds some clues to the transition.

In this story it seems that Mary is familiar with this household and the servants there. And the servants seem to be familiar with Mary and recognize her as someone with authority in the household. This fact is supported by the servants doing as Jesus told them to. Mary recognized this authority as due to her, and passes it on to her son when she tells them, in essence, to obey Jesus as they would obey her.  

During an important occasion such as a wedding feast, it would not be just anyone who gives direction. By Mary taking control, telling the servants to do whatever Jesus said, Mary passed this privileged authority to Jesus. Jesus, being a part of this culture and understanding the significance of the wedding feast would not take this authority and privilege lightly. 

Jesus using the water jugs that were reserved for purification is also a significant aspect of the story, both in the fact that it was purified jugs and that the servants allowed Jesus to do with the jugs what he wanted. That a miracle happened confirms the wisdom of Mary in passing on authority to Jesus.

So I am left with the question, how did Mary know? How did Mary know it was time for Jesus to start asserting his authority, and how did Mary know what he was capable of? I have often commented on Mary’s pondering over the years. I imagine that this pondering was accompanied by astute observation. 

While not canon and not reliable, anecdotal stories about Jesus in apocryphal literature point to a childhood that must have been unusual. Perhaps there were signs that Jesus was not an ordinary male Hebrew child. It is possible that Jesus confided to his parents his desire to serve his Divine Father beyond the incident in the temple. If the gospel stories are merely the more “mundane” incidents in Jesus’ youth, it is possible that there were other indications. 

So Mary most probably knew that Jesus was divine and capable of some sort of miracle at the wedding feast. And knowing this, Mary felt safe in both giving Jesus authority to act and leaving it up to Jesus to do the correct thing. But this still leaves the question of how Mary knew it was a good time for Jesus to reveal something of himself. Or perhaps Mary thought it was time.

John is the only gospel that has this story. The gospel of John puts special emphasis on the divinity of Jesus, ascribing foreknowledge of his identity as the Messiah, and the role he would play during his life. Jesus started his ministry at the age of 30, according to Christological understanding. In most any culture this is rather old to still be at home. Jesus says, "It is not my time yet." But Mary seems to feel that it is time for Jesus to reveal something of himself.

Shortly before the wedding in Cana, Jesus had been baptized by John and had called his first disciples. In the gospel of John the event following the wedding in Cana is of Jesus clearing the temple and declaring “destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” With this bold declaration in the hearing of his new disciples and the temple authorities, Jesus begins his ministry. 

Did Jesus’ mother push him into beginning his ministry? Or did Jesus know it was time, and took the opportunity his mother gave him? Wise mothers know when it is time for their sons (and daughters) to start lives of their own. I can well imagine a significant look passing between mother and son, and Mary giving to Jesus this sign of authority, much the way the dove proclaimed Jesus' relationship to God. Mothers know when it is time, and with a mixture of joy and sadness, release their children to the world. Mary was, in many ways, a very good mother. She did have, after all, God’s seal of approval.

Shalom,
Carole