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NASB | John 2:4 And Jesus *said to her, "Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come." |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | John 2:4 Jesus said to her, "[Dear] woman, what is that to you and to Me? My time [to act and to be revealed] has not yet come." [Eccl 3:1] |
Bible Question:
If Jesus' time to act had not yet come, why did He? How did Mary's request move Him? How can we apply this to our petitions as well? I hope I don't open a can of worms, but who is the real intercessor here? It seems to me that Jesus, intercedes on behalf of His mother's request, asking the Father's permission to act. What troubles me is the notion some folks have that Mary moves the Hand of Jesus, and that she continues to intercede on their behalf. Yet, Hebrews 7:25 declares that JESUS is the only intercessor. Comments? |
Bible Answer: Mommapbs, John 2:4 And Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. 1. Woman. Jesus did not call her "mother", but "woman," a term of courteous respect, but indicating no spirit of obedience. Says Augustine, "As much as to say thou art not the mother of that in me which worketh miracles." Moses recognized that parental duties were subordinate to divine (Deuteronomy 33:9); and Jesus emphasized the principles (Matthew 10:37). Jesus taught that relationship to him was spiritual, and not fleshly (Matthew 12:46-50), and Paul coveted such relationship (2 Corinthians 5:16,17). 2. What have I to do with thee? This expression is used frequently in the Scriptures and invariably indicates a mild rebuke (1 Kings 17:18 2 Kings 3:13; 2 Chronicles 35:21; Matthew 8:29; Mark 1:24; Mark 5:7; Luke 4:34; Luke 8:28). It means "leave me to act as I please", and Jesus uses it to assert that he is independent of all human relationships in the exercise of his Messiahship. It corrects two errors taught by the Catholic Church: (1) Catholicism says that our Lord's mother was immaculate, but if this were true she could not have incurred our Lord's rebuke. (2) Catholicism teaches that Mary's intercession is recognized by Christ. But this is the only instance on record of such intercession, and though it was addressed to Christ while in the flesh and was concerning a purely temporal matter, it was promptly rebuked. 3. Mine hour is not yet come. Our Lord's answer indicates that Mary's request had in it more than a desire for the gift if wine. What she principally wanted was to have Jesus manifest himself as Messiah. Now, Jesus gave many secondary, but only one supreme, manifestation of his glory or Messiahship. His miracles were secondary manifestations, but his Passion was the supreme manifestation (John 8:28; John 2:18,19 Matthew 12:38-40). Jesus called this supreme sign his "hour" (John 12:23,27; John 17:1; Matthew 26:45; Luke 22:53). See also John 7:30; John 8:20. His mother sought for a supreme sign, but at that time only a secondary sign could be fittingly given. The triumph at Pentecost was not to be achieved at Cana. John 2:5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. 1. His mother saith unto the servants. Though he had spoken words of rebuke, his mother was neither offended nor discouraged because of them, 2. Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. Though her words are not addressed to us, they will prove of untold profit to us if we obey them. This is the long and short of your question. As for the can of worms? :) God bless |