Mothers Always Mother
"They've run out of wine, son.""It's not my party."
Jesus stands on a cusp. He knows the future, has known it before he made anything, but this is the moment. From now on, he will be a public figure.
His mother obviously knew what he could do. Her comment was casual, as if she were asking him to pick up a quart of milk on his way home. She expected something, and expected the servants to follow instructions. Her world included no other outcome.
Mothers are like that. No matter how old the children are, Mother Knows Best. Even if the child has proven himself to be God.
My own mother has been a living example of this behavior, and I, frustrated, thought it unusual. Some years ago I saw a friend's father treat her as my mother treated me and began to learn that it was more widespread, and not restricted to mothers. Since then I've learned that it's universal; somehow, parents never see their children as adults. Maybe it's genetic.
Jesus didn't have to get involved. He could have said "Let them drink water. It's healthier anyway." When he chose to get involved he didn't hold back but made wine that impressed everyone with its quality. As usual, it's just about as easy to do a good job as a bad one, and Jesus does nothing by halves.
So he took the step, made wine, and suddenly the invisible carpenter became the Son of God. From that point his life was on rails to an appointment in Jerusalem. He knew what was coming. I wonder if he paused a second before speaking the word that made water into wine, enjoying his last moment of peace. Well, with Mary around, I wonder how much peace he really had. Mothers never change.
Fortunately, Jesus also hasn't changed. He's still in the business of turning common water into extraordinary wine. Each of us a hard stone vessel, hollow until filled with the wine that Jesus sings for us.
posted by Larry @ 8:32 AM
3 Comments:
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I disagree, Larry, with the phrase you write “His mother obviously knew what he could do.” This was Jesus’ first miracle. Now it is true, that the words of Jesus, Mary kept in her heart and pondered them. But, I am not certain that she was aware that Jesus could even perform miracles (as we know them) – rather HE was a miracle.
But, I do agree that mothers know their children to some extent. But, Jesus was (and is) God. Who can know the mind of God?
My point of “picky-ness” is Jesus “made wine that impressed everyone with its quality”. I don’t think Jesus is out to impress people. It just happened to be the very best, because all good things come from God (see James 1:17).
Lastly, I must commend you for your insight on us being ordinary clay jars filled with extra ordinary wine (see Isaiah 64:8). This is the remarkable gift of God that we are privileged to receive.
Ray wrote "I disagree ... His mother obviously knew what he could do.”
Look at how casual her statement was. She didn't tell Jesus what to do, or even imply anything. She just pointed out that their host was out of wine. She knew that Jesus could do something about this. She had some sort of insight into his capabilities.
Ray also said "This was Jesus’ first miracle," as John writes.
I'd say it was his first public, big-time miracle. The bible is silent on what he did in the thirty years preceding this event, other than Jesus' rather spectacular actions in the temple when he was 12. They couldn't have gone through all of those years unknowing. I think this is why her comment, and the following one directing the servants to "...do whatever he says," were so casually done.
Ray: "I do agree that mothers know their children to some extent. But, Jesus was (and is) God. Who can know the mind of God?
Jesus was God in a human body, and could be known through that. True, Mary couldn't possibly have known everything, just as we know almost nothing about God. But what she knew, and what we know, is true to the extent that it matches God's character, and I think Mary knew enough about Jesus to make some assumptions.
Ray: "I don’t think Jesus is out to impress people. It just happened to be the very best..."
I didn't mean to imply that Jesus was out to impress anyone. In a short message like this I had to leave some details out. We know the wine was good wine. Jesus couldn't possibly have done anything else. He doesn't care about what people think, but he can't do anything but the best... which is why our world has the beauty that it has. If it were made by humans it would be full of ugly short-cuts.
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