John 2:4 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come."

NIV: "Woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied. "My hour has not yet come."

NASB: And Jesus *said to her, 'What business do you have with Me, woman? My hour has not yet come.'

CSB: "What does that have to do with you and me, woman?" Jesus asked. "My hour has not yet come."

NLT: Dear woman, that’s not our problem,' Jesus replied. 'My time has not yet come.'

KJV: Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee mine hour is not yet come.

NKJV: Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.”

In modern written English, Jesus' response to His mother can be misinterpreted as blunt, even rude. This is a quirk of translating from one language to another. In the original Greek, His reply was very formal and polite. The term "woman" could also be thought of as "madam" (John 19:26; 20:13). The phrase Jesus used is a common Greek expression which implies that two things are not related. Examples are Mark 1:24 and Mark 5:7. A more modern phrasing of Jesus' response would be, "Madam, what does this have to do with me?"

This is also the first of many references to "time" in the gospel of John. Jesus is constantly aware that He is on a divine schedule. Everything needs to happen at the right time. Since toasts were common at celebrations like this, it's also possible that Jesus literally meant that it was not yet His turn to offer a toast.

It's important to note that Mary does not command Jesus, nor does He defer to her immediately. Rather, he questions her timing and her purpose. And yet—also important—is that He did not say, "no."

John 2:1–12 describes Jesus' first miracle, which is turning water into wine at a wedding. This miracle was discreet and known only to a few people. Changing water meant for purification into wine, symbolic of blood, is a reference to Jesus' role as Messiah. Instead of rituals, we are purified by the miraculous blood of Christ. John specifically uses the Greek word sēmeion, or "sign," for these miracles, since they are meant to prove that Jesus is God. This is the first of seven such signs in the gospel of John.

Jesus attends a wedding where He performs His first miracle: turning water into wine. This symbolizes a transformation of human rituals into divine sacrifice. Few people are even aware that a miracle has occurred. Jesus then drives crooked businessmen out of the temple, scolding them for turning a sacred area into a crass marketplace.

Chapter 2 begins to show Jesus' "signs," or miracles, which will prove that He is the Savior. The miracles will become more spectacular over time, but they start quietly. Contrast is an important part of the gospel of John. The quiet, joyful miracle at the wedding is starkly different from the loud public spectacle of clearing the temple. Jesus' first miracle symbolizes His mission. During the temple clearing, He also predicts His death and resurrection. This sets the stage for Jesus' private discussion with Nicodemus, a respected and influential man.

The disciple John wrote the gospel of John decades after the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke were written. The author assumes that a reader is already familiar with the content of these other works. So, John presents a different perspective, with a greater emphasis on meaning. John uses seven miracles—which he calls "signs"— to prove that Jesus is, in fact, God incarnate. Some of the most well-known verses in the Bible are found here. None is more famous than the one-sentence summary of the gospel found in John 3:16.

Accessed 12/4/2024 3:34:13 AM