Filled to the Brim
Reflective Reading: John 2:1-11
I’ll never forget David McPherson (not his real name). We grew up together and lived just a few houses away from each other. David was a year older than me. Around the ages of 10 and 11, a bunch of us kids started playing sports in town—football, basketball, and baseball. During the summer and every Saturday when school started, you would see no less than fifty kids playing ball.
Everyone knew when David showed up for one of our games. He was different! When all of us kids would play in jeans and t-shirts, David would show up decked out in shoulder pads, football helmet, and a new uniform. Where we all played tackle and enjoyed the competition, David’s parents told us that we couldn’t tackle David. We had to two-hand-touch him when he had the ball. If you are guessing that I had an attitude toward David, you’re right. He just didn’t fit in. It would have been fine if he was just weaker and needed some protection, but David was a whiner and complainer. He was so spoiled by his parents.
But what made me not like David very much was the way he treated his mom. It always bothered me to hear the disrespectful way he talked to her. If I had talked like that to my mom, she would have washed my mouth out with soap!
Maybe that is why John 2:4 has always had a bothersome effect on me over the years. This is a verse where Jesus seems to be talking disrespectfully to his mom. I realize Jesus is God and can say whatever he wants, but when He says something that seems out of character, it leaves this uneasy feeling inside me. However, I think there is more to the text than meets the eye. In John chapter 2 we read,
On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples.
I can imagine that there might have been a little bit of a strain on the wedding party when they invited Jesus. They knew that if they invited Jesus, He would come with 12 others. Not only is there a little strain in numbers but they also run out of wine early in the week. Keep in mind that wedding feasts lasted around 7-14 days. We don’t know how, but Mary is privy to the news that they ran out of wine. As soon as she learns it, she takes action:
And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, “They have no wine.” Jesus saith unto her, “Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.” John 2:3, 4 KJV
Obviously something isn’t lining up. Is the translation wrong? Am I misinterpreting the meaning? To make matters more confusing, The ESV translates this passage as:
When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” John 2:3, 4 ESV
Do you see the difference in translations? Which is correct? The KJV places the emphasis on His mother—“Woman, what have I to do with thee?” The ESV places the emphasis upon Jesus—“Woman, what does this have to do with me?
Why the discrepancy? Is the focus supposed to be on Mary or Jesus? One rule I learned in seminar was that when the Scripture seemed to be ambiguous, the general rule to follow is “both.” Since we can’t be sure which is the correct translation, it does make sense that the emphasis would be on both Mary and Jesus. Why, you ask? Before I answer that, first we must recognize that the term “woman” was not derogatory. Culturally, the word “woman” was an endearing term. This term also serves as a framing device as Jesus calls his mother “woman” here in the beginning of John and again at the end of John—“Woman, behold thy son.”
Now let’s go a little deeper into this passage. Regardless of the meaning of the word “woman,” this doesn’t seem to be a respectful way to talk to your mom. However, since we know that Jesus is God and God is love and light, there must be an explanation. I would like to propose one.
Since Jesus is referring to both of them and inserts that this isn’t the right time for such a miracle, then Jesus may be saying that this isn’t the best time for a miracle. Why? Because if Jesus performs this miracle at Mary’s request, then all eyes will be upon them. They will upstage the wedding. The bride and the groom would no longer be the center of attention; and Jesus wants to protect the sacredness of this couple’s new start in life.
Another clue that Jesus wasn’t speaking disrespectfully is found in his mother’s response:
His mother saith unto the servants, “Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.” ~John 2:5
It seems obvious that Mary understood Jesus’ response as positive. She took immediate action and expected him to do something. She also understood that the miracle was to take place privately, thus the reason she speaks to the servants and not the bride, groom, or governor of the feast.
Now for the miracle itself,
And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now. This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him. ~John 2:6-11
Do you see the parenthetical section? No one knew about the miracle except for the servants! We learn later that the Apostles also knew about the miracle. Once again we see Jesus protecting the wedding party. He does not want to draw attention to himself or his mother. Mary understood this as she speaks only to the servants.
There’s yet another powerful truth that we can see in this behind-the-scenes miracle. Those who are willing to serve and obey God, even though others will not know, will be able to experience miracles! And by the way, this was no easy task for the servants. The six waterpots of stone contained on average 20-30 gallons a piece. For the sake of my imagination, let’s say that each was 30 gallons. Since the guests would use this water to wash their pots, pans, hands, and feet, there may not have been much water left after 3 days! This means that the servants would have to draw around 180 gallons of water in order for the miracle to be performed! That’s a lot of water! It would take two servants carrying two 4-gallon buckets about 25 trips, give or take a few gallons after splashing.
Can you imagine being one of the servants? They could have responded, “Fill the waterpots?! Are you serious?! We are exhausted!” Yet we read that they obeyed and not only filled the pots but filled them to the brim! Perhaps they had heard of Jesus. They definitely seemed to obey Mary without question.
“Whatever he says to do, do it!” Their obedience to this command enabled them to see the first miracle of Jesus’ ministry. Can you imagine the stories they told their children? Can you imagine how this influenced the rest of their lives?! If I was one of those servants I would, from that day forward, always want to give 100% in everything I did. I would want to make sure that whatever assignment God was giving me, I would anticipate a miracle behind-the-scenes, one that only I knew about.
It is always when we face difficult assignments that God performs the greatest miracles behind the scenes on our behalf, or on the behalf of others as we have here in the wedding feast. Not only will these “unseen” miracles influence us for the rest of our lives, but they will give us stories to tell of the Lord’s faithfulness for years to come. May we always be ready to answer the command, “Whatever he says to do, do it!”
Mark Hamby
M.S., M. Div., Th. M., D. Min.
President
Recommended Reading:
White Dove (Ages 6+)
Unforgettable Summer (Ages 6+)
The Captive Audio Drama (Ages 9+)
Courage of Nikolai book/audiobook (Ages 9+)
Palace of Deceit (Ages 12+)
Charles Ogilvie (Ages 12+)
