The Gospel of John: John 2.1-12

Read and meditate on John 2.3, 4.
This passage is sometimes misunderstood, as though Mary had overstepped her bounds, and Jesus had to rebuke her. But we get a better sense of the true nature and importance of this exchange if we keep John’s larger purpose – the glory of the only-begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth – in mind.

          ³And when the wine ran out, before
the feast was ended, Jesus’ mother turned
to Him and said, “They have no wine.”
⁴He answered, “What concern is this of Mine?
Or why should you consider this to be
a matter that might interest or move Me
to act? Good woman, listen carefully:
the hour which is appointed unto Me,
the glory that awaits Me, is not yet
arrived.”

- John 2.3, 4

Reflect
1.  I find something terribly symbolic in the fact that the wine ran out prematurely. Cana was a small village, and a wedding would have provided a time of joyous celebrating, forgetting daily struggles and trials, for people who lived simple but probably hard lives. They came to the wedding, no doubt at least in part, for the wine. And now the wine – the refreshment, the social glue, the fleeting joy – was gone. Can you see that, in some ways, this situation spoke of the state of Israel under Roman occupation? Does it speak to the situation of people today? Complete this prayer: Lord, for how many people in my Personal Mission Field does the wine run out all too soon? O Lord, send me like Jesus to them, to…

2.  Mary doesn’t ask anything of Jesus. She simply apprised Him of the troubling fact that the wine had run out. Do you think she had more in mind than just to inform Him? Such as? Sometimes, Lord, I don’t know what to ask of You, all I can do is…

3.  Calvin explained that Jesus’ addressing Mary as “Woman” was not reproachful, but respectful – like saying, “Ma’am.” I think he’s right (though Maximus of Turin and others disagree). Jesus’ response to His mother is not to rebuke her, but to get her thinking. What is He trying to get her thinking about? How does this relate to John’s overarching purpose in writing this gospel? What is John, in recalling this exchange, trying to get us to think about? Lord, every day I’m involved in situations where Your glory might break through. Today, for instance…

4.  To what does the phrase “My hour” point? Even though this situation was not that one, nevertheless, this situation would manifest the glory of Jesus (cf. v. 11). If this is not the glory of Jesus’ “hour,” it at least points forward to it (since it is glory). What does this glory suggest about the glory that will be revealed in Jesus’ “hour”? All glory is Your glory, Lord, and all glory reminds us that…

5.  John had written, “we have seen His glory…” But he was pointing far beyond the event in Cana of Galilee. He doesn’t want us to think of glory primarily in ways such as we see manifested here. But he does want us to see this as showing the glory of Jesus. Not this glory, John seems to be saying, but…? Bring together into one prayer the prayers you wrote from questions 1-4.

Summary
“With [Jesus], nothing is incomplete or done at the wrong time, just as with the Father there is nothing haphazard. The Lord checked Mary’s untimely haste when she was urging him to perform the wonderful miracle of the wine and wanting him to partake of the cup, which would have so much emblematic significance later on. This is why he said, ‘Woman, what have I to do with you? My hour is not yet come’ – waiting for the hour that was foreknown by the Father.” Irenaeus (ca 153-202 AD)

John wants to show the glory of Christ in this miracle, but he also wants to downplay this manifestation of his glory, so that we don’t get confused about the glory we should be seeking, and miss it, much later on, when he spreads it out gloriously before us. When you think of the glory of Jesus, what comes to mind?

Closing Prayer
You are fairer than the sons of men;
Grace is poured upon Your lips;
Therefore God has blessed You forever.
Gird Your sword upon Your thigh, O Mighty One,
With Your glory and Your majesty.
And in Your majesty ride prosperously because of truth, humility, and righteousness;
And Your right hand shall teach You awesome things.
Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the King's enemies;
The peoples fall under You.
Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;
A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
You love righteousness and hate wickedness;
Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You
With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.

Psalm 45.2-7

Psalm 45.2-5 (Manoah: When All Your Mercies, O My God)
You of all men are the fairest, Lord, and Your lips are flush with grace;
Thus God has blessed You evermore before His holy face.

Your sword gird on Your thigh, O Lord, in splendid majesty;
Ride out, resplendent in Your Word, to glorious victory.

For meekness and for righteousness Your right hand shall prevail.
Your foes shall come to deep distress when You their souls assail.

T. M. Moore

Visit The Ailbe Seminary, where our course, One in Twelve: Introduction to Christian Worldview, can show you how Jesus is central to all aspects of life in the world – and beyond! Our course is free, and you can study at your own pace, watching videos and using the free materials provided.

We are happy to offer each week’s Scriptorium studies in a free weekly PDF, suitable for personal or group use. You can download all the studies in our series on the Gospel of John by clicking here. Please prayerfully consider sharing with The Fellowship of Ailbe through your giving. You can contribute to The Fellowship by clicking the Contribute button at the website or by sending your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 19 Tyler Drive, Essex Junction, VT 05452.

Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series IV a and b: John, edited by Joel C. Elowsky, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006. Verse translation of John by T. M. Moore.