Mary, Did You Know?Sýnishorn

Mary’s position

“When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to Him, ‘They have no wine.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever He tells you.’” (John 2:3-5)

The Gospel of John records Jesus’ first miracle. This happened when Jesus had grown up. His public ministry had begun and He was baptized with the Holy Spirit. This also implied that He was no longer “submissive” to Joseph and Mary, but only to His Father in heaven.

At a wedding, the wine ran out. When Mary noticed this, she informed Jesus of this problem. Apparently, she was convinced that He could solve it. But Jesus told her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come” (John 2:4). Mary was not in the position to tell Jesus what to do, and when to do it.

However, Mary was not insulted by His answer. Instead, she told the servants: “Do whatever He tells you”. She believed that Jesus could provide in a situation of shortage, echoing the words from Genesis 41:55 where Pharaoh told the people to go to Joseph and do whatever he told them, in order to get the food they needed.

Mary’s position had changed. She could no longer tell Jesus what to do, but she could point others towards Him and wait for Him to intervene. That is the role of a true and faithful disciple!