Untitled Sermon (4)

John 2:1-5 (NLT)

New Living Translation Chapter 2

The next day there was a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration.

New Living Translation Chapter 2

3 The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus’ mother told him, “They have no more wine.”

New Living Translation Chapter 2

4 “Dear woman, that’s not our problem,” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.”

New Living Translation Chapter 2

5 But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

The groom and his family, as hosts of this week-long wedding celebration, were responsible for providing enough food and drink for all the guests during the whole week.

It was considered a public embarrassment to not be able to. People could ask for refunds on their wedding gifts, or even sue for damages!

The fact that Jesus & his mother were there may imply that the marriage involved a close family member: one of Jesus’ half-brothers (4 of them) or half-sisters (at least 2 of them), or maybe even one of his first cousins (disciples James & John - there mother was Mary’s sister).

Jesus, as the oldest son, would be considered to be the head of His family (Joseph was probably dead by this time). Mary was asking Jesus to help save their family from public scandal.

She probably did not expect Jesus to perform a miracle, as v11 tells us that He hadn’t done any up to this point. She was simply asking Him to use His resources (as a working carpenter?) to help fix the problem.

New Living Translation Chapter 2

4 “Dear woman, that’s not our problem,” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.”

The New King James Version Chapter 2

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

Jesus’ response in v4 includes a Semitic idiom that is hard to translate into English.

It’s used various times in Scripture to express different levels of denial or annoyance.

What has that got to do with me?

What do we have in common?

Your concern & mine are not the same

It refers to a difference in realm, priorities, or dimensions

What does your concern have to do with Me?

In ancient Jewish culture, men’s “world” was seen as the public arena outside the home, & women’s “world” was that of the private arena inside the home.

Tension, conflict, & misunderstandings happen when we aren’t operating & communicating with the same priorities.

this is more than just not being on the “same page”; this is being guided by 2 different “worlds” / realms / kingdoms, sets of goals, realities, priorities.

2Co6:14 - not being unequally yoked.

Jesus seems annoyed that His mom wants to drag Him into concerns & matters that He has no interest in.

Mary seems annoyed that Jesus isn’t annoyed with what is annoying her

She is seeking to use her position as “mom” to force/pressure Him to do what needs to be done, although He did not want to allow family relationships to determine His actions/priorities/choices.

How can we overcome or resolve these misunderstandings?

Allow our priority in the Kingdom realm to submit to God enough to honor & serve others in this realm.

2Co8:5b-c : gave themselves 1st to the Lord, then to us...

John 19:25-27 (NLT)

New Living Translation Chapter 19

Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” 27 And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home.