Expert: Rev C.Brian Ross - 12/30/2010

Question
Hello and thankyou for taking my question: What I would like to know is about when Jesus turns water to wine....Mary asks him to do something about the wine running out and he basically distances himself from her and says his time has not yet come but then goes on to provide wine for the guests. Why did he first deny Mary and then provide what she wanted?

Answer
Hi Pete

Thank you for your question, which I am happy to try to answer.

The first thing that must be made clear is that Mary did not specifically ask for Jesus' help.  All that we read is that "The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus' mother told Him, 'They have no more wine.'" (John 2:3; NLT).  In other words, she merely appraised Him of the situation!

It is true that, to 21st century 'western' ears, His response may sound a bit harsh.  However, it was actually the normal, polite, way in which - in that culture - He would have been expected to address His mother.  Note John 19:26 for another instance of His use of the same form of address. Perhaps that is why some of the modern translations (NIV, NLT) say "Dear woman, ..."  We must also remember that, in a written record, we do not have the tone of voice that was used made clear to us.  For example, I may speak to you with the words, "You are a fool!"  However, I may say the words in two different ways - one denoting that I think that you are inanely stupid (which, of course, I am not suggesting!); the other denoting that I think that you have been taken advantage of, and that you deserve my sympathy.  By the way, I would rather have illustrated what I am trying to say with audible speech, but ... ... ...!!!

I would also suggest that tone of voice must be allowed for in the words to which you have specifically referred.  The fact that He does, later, perform a miracle that resolves the situation (that would have brought much shame on the family of the bride), indicates that it was His intention to do so - see Titus 1:2 - but that He wanted to emphasise to Mary that He was now in command, as well as in control.  As one of my favourite commentators writes, this "... clearly indicates Christ's consciousness of the fact that He was accomplishing a task entrusted to Him by the Father, every detail of which had been definitely marked off in the eternal decree, so that for each act there was a stipulated moment." (William Hendriksen; in loc).

So, rather than interpret this incident as an occasion on which the Lord Jesus spoke harshly to His mother, and then vacillated about assisting, we should see it as a perfectly normal way of addressing her, and a desire to compose her obvious anxiety.

I trust that the above will have been of some assistance.

Blessings, and a very happy New Year.

C.Brian Ross (Rev)