Mother and Son 11/12/2021

[Photo by Karren McPherson]

As Mary is such an important figure in the Gospel record, I thought it might be helpful to study her from two other perspectives. Let's fast forward from the nativity to two separate incidents which both involve Mary and her relationship with Jesus, her son.

First of all, there is the incident recounted in Luke when Jesus was age 12 and he accompanied Mary and Joseph to the temple in Jerusalem. (Luke 2: 41-52). It is perhaps surprising that this is recounted in the Scriptures because it does not show Joseph and Mary in a very favourable light. After all, they left their 12 year old son behind in Jerusalem and travelled back home towards Nazareth for a whole day before they realised that he was not present in the company. It is clear that there were others in the travelling group but it seems remiss that they did not make sure that he had left with the rest of the travelling party. They had then to take another day to travel back to Jerusalem and they discovered him in the temple courts, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. After he returned with them to Nazareth we read this:

Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. [Luke 2:51a NIV]

It is clear that he accepted their authority as parents despite their weakness and lack of care. The next phrase of the verse which we have just looked at records Mary's reaction to the incident at the temple

But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. [Luke 2:51b NIV]

Mary would recall the words of the angel to her

He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. [Luke 1:32‭, ‬35 NIV]

So now we fast forward to an incident which is only recorded in John's Gospel - the wedding at Cana of Galilee. By this stage, Jesus is an adult and he is no longer living with his mother, Mary. Joseph has almost certainly passed away and Mary is a widow. Jesus and His disciples are invited to this wedding and Mary seems to have some connection with the wedding party. She may have been related to one of the two people getting married.

The way Jesus addresses his mother might seem strange to us. When she told him that there was no wine, Jesus reply to his mother was, "Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come." The term "woman" in this context, is not, in any way, offensive or disrespectful. It has been suggested that this is an expression of polite distance - he does not address her as mother in the John 2 wedding account. Jesus is now moving into the sphere of his public ministry - and his mother is having to learn that she is in a different relationship to Jesus - he is her Lord and Saviour and she is his disciple. He is having to make it clear that his timing is according to God's plan and not according to her perceptions of a need for his intervention. But after this statement of correction, she still informs the servants to follow his commands - clearly she is anticipating a miraculous intervention to resolve the crisis at the wedding.

Mary has clear expectations that Jesus is the Son of God who can perform miracles - although she has never seen one for herself. At the wedding at Cana of Galilee, Mary demonstrates a remarkable degree of faith in her son. She has not a shadow of doubt in his ability to perform this miracle. Even though she has not seen him at work, she is convinced that he has the power to transform this crisis into a triumph. She goes ahead and instructs the servants to carry out any instructions given to them. How did she know that Jesus would perform the miracle or sign with the assistance of the servants. He could have made wine without using them. The advice she gives to the servants is remarkable. I like the translation given in the Message - "Whatever he tells you to do, do it." She advises them to have complete faith and trust in the Son of God who was also her son. She was implying that this shortage of wine will only be resolved if we exercise complete faith in the Son of God and obey his commands fully and without hesitation. This advice applies to us all today in whatever situation we find ourselves -

Trust and obey,

For there's no other way

To be happy in Jesus,

but to trust and obey.

What crisis are we in today? What problems are we facing? What burdens are we carrying? They may seem unsurmountable but with God nothing is impossible. The mother of Jesus fully appreciated this and she gave excellent advice - not only to the servants at the wedding - but to us today in our crisis.

Prayer

Lord, give me the faith to trust in you fully and to obey you without question or murmuring. I confess that there have been so many times in my life when I have not obeyed your word to me - I have been reluctant to trust and obey. Please forgive my weakness and help me to do whatever he tells me to do.

Amen