And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus isn't pushing his mother away; he's gently guiding her, and all of us, toward understanding that His purpose isn't dictated by human needs or timelines, but by a divine "hour" appointed by the Father. This moment, while seemingly urgent, is simply the prelude to His full public revelation as the Messiah.
And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
At a wedding in Cana, the wine runs out, a potentially embarrassing situation for the hosts. Jesus' mother, Mary, approaches him with the problem, believing he can do something. Jesus' response, though perhaps startling, indicates that his public ministry and the timing of his miraculous works are not yet fully established according to his divine plan.
Jesus' response to his mother at the wedding in Cana sounds pretty sharp. Was Mary trying to tell Jesus what to do, or was she appealing to his compassion?
A Gentle Inquiry
Mary's words, "They have no wine," are often seen as a direct request for Jesus to perform a miracle. However, the context suggests something more subtle.
This isn't about Mary overstepping her bounds, but about a compassionate mother bringing a problem to her Son, trusting His wisdom and power.
Jesus says, 'My hour has not yet come.' What does this 'hour' signify, and why was it so important for Jesus to wait for it?
Divine Timing is Everything
Jesus' famous reply, "My hour has not yet come," speaks volumes about God's perfect timing and Jesus' submission to the Father's plan.
Ask a follow-up
Jesus' response to His mother marks a significant transition. What does this shift mean for His relationship with His family and His mission?
A New Family Dynamic
Jesus' interaction with Mary at Cana signifies a profound shift in His relationships and priorities.
Understand the original words
gynai · Greek Noun
A title of respect, yet used by Jesus here to address his mother in a way that shifts the relationship from one of earthly parental authority to one defined by his divine mission and messianic identity.
hōra · Greek Noun
In Johannine theology, this refers to the critical time of Jesus' glorification through his suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension, signifying the fulfillment of his messianic mission.
Jesus' seemingly abrupt response to his mother highlights his divine mission, asserting that his actions are governed by God's timing, not human urgency, and marking a shift in his relationship with family as he embraces his public, Messianic role.
c. 27 AD
Jesus begins public ministry
After his baptism by John the Baptist and a period of testing in the wilderness, Jesus begins his public ministry, gathering disciples and teaching.
c. 27 AD— this verse
Marriage at Cana
Jesus, his mother, and his disciples are invited to a wedding feast in Cana, a town in Galilee.
c. 27 AD
Wine runs out at wedding
During the feast, the wine supply is exhausted, presenting a potential social embarrassment for the hosts.
c. 27 AD
Jesus turns water into wine
Jesus performs his first recorded miracle by miraculously turning large quantities of water into fine wine, saving the celebration.
c. 27 AD
Disciples believe in Jesus
This miraculous sign reveals Jesus' glory, leading his disciples to place their faith in him.
This passage, often called the 'protoevangelium,' speaks of a future offspring who will crush the head of the serpent. It's a foundational promise that hints at a divinely appointed 'time' for God's redemptive plan to unfold, much like Jesus's 'hour' being tied to God's timing.
Exodus 7:17Here, God tells Moses that He will strike the Nile with a plague, turning the water to blood. This is a powerful instance of God using a natural element in a miraculous way to demonstrate His power, similar to how Jesus transforms water into wine, though with vastly different purposes.
1 Samuel 16:1The Lord tells Samuel that he has already chosen a king from Jesse's sons, but the time for that revelation is not yet right, instructing Samuel to wait. This echoes Jesus's statement that His 'hour' had not yet come, emphasizing God's sovereign timing over human urgency.
Ecclesiastes 3:1This chapter famously states, 'For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.' This biblical wisdom resonates with Jesus's understanding of divinely appointed times for His actions and revelations.
John 12:23Jesus says, 'The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.' This directly contrasts with His statement in John 2:4, showing that His 'hour' was indeed a specific, divinely ordained period, which ultimately led to His crucifixion and resurrection.
calvinJohn 2:1-11: "And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:"
- Three days after, [44] there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there. 2. And Jesus also was invited, and his disciples, to the marriage 3. And when the wine fell short, the mother of Jesus saith to him, They have no wine. 4. Jesus saith to her, What have I to do with thee? my hour is not yet come. 5. His mother saith to the servants, Do whatever he shall b…
clarkeJohn 2:4: "Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come."
Woman, what have I to do with thee? - Τι εμοι και σοι, γυναι: O, woman, what is this to thee and me? This is an abrupt denial, as if he had said: "We are not employed to provide the necessaries for this feast: this matter belongs to others, who should have made a proper and sufficient provision for the persons they had invited." The words seem to convey a reproof to the virgin, for meddling with tha…
Jesus isn't pushing his mother away; he's gently guiding her, and all of us, toward understanding that His purpose isn't dictated by human needs or timelines, but by a divine "hour" appointed by the Father. This moment, while seemingly urgent, is simply the prelude to His full public revelation as the Messiah.
At a wedding in Cana, the wine runs out, a potentially embarrassing situation for the hosts. Jesus' mother, Mary, approaches him with the problem, believing he can do something. Jesus' response, though perhaps startling, indicates that his public ministry and the timing of his miraculous works are not yet fully established according to his divine plan.
At a wedding in Cana, the wine runs out, a potentially embarrassing situation for the hosts. Jesus' mother, Mary, approaches him with the problem, believing he can do something. Jesus' response, though perhaps startling, indicates that his public ministry and the timing of his miraculous works are not yet fully established according to his divine plan.
"And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.”" — Jesus isn't pushing his mother away; he's gently guiding her, and all of us, toward understanding that His purpose isn't dictated by human needs or timelines, but by a divine "hour" appointed by the…
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Last reviewed October 2026