The Mother of Jesus
| Appearances | "Wedding at Cana" (2:1-12)
"Crucifixion / Glorification of Jesus" (19:25-27) also mentioned in reference in 6:42 |
| Titles Given | "Woman" (by Jesus: 2:4; 19:26) |
| Gender | Female |
| Age | unknown |
| Marital Status: | Married to Joseph (6:42) |
| Place of Birth: | unknown |
| Place of Residence | unknown |
| Relatives | Jesus (son: 2:1,3,5,12; 6:42; 19:25,26),
Joseph (husband: 6:42) |
"Wedding at Cana" (2:1-12)
Narrator's Portrayal
The Mother of Jesus is not given a proper name.
Verse 4 also connotes that although she is Jesus' mother, she does not have a claim as to the time or the event of revelation. It states that the revelation is of no one person's concern.
The Mother of Jesus also appears obedient and acts as an intercessor.
Although (if she did make a request) her petition was rejected by her son,
she did not express regular reactions to rejection, but she continued to
trust his ability to act and plead to the servants to obey her son should
he give a command (2:5)
The instructions given by the Mother of Jesus to the servants in 2:5 serves as a request by the Mother to pay attention to her son. Although the actions of the servants to fill the jars was prompted by Jesus' command (2:7), it cannot be discounted that the Mother prepared the servants for any command that Jesus may request upon them.
There have been discussions regarding Jesus' addressing his mother as
"Woman" connoting disrespect and a separation of a familial relationship.
In contrast, Jesus addresses the females in the Synoptic Gospels as well
as this as "woman" and is surely is not meant as a sign of disrespect.
In addition to this, by calling the mother "woman", the author gives her
a "Second Eve" status
The Mother of Jesus makes two appearances in this Gospel and this is
her introductory scene. The audience is introduced in this narrative and
the author places her in the story by the invitation of Jesus' party in
the wedding (2:1-2). At the wedding the Mother of Jesus serves as an observer
who takes notice of a dilemma and as an intercessor (if the statement in
2:3 is a request) to her son.
The Mother of Jesus also serves as a loyal follower of Jesus by her
pleading to the servants to pay heed to the words of her son and serves
as an example of obedience. Though this, she shows that Jesus has the command
of which there is authority-that in order for there to be a remedy, it
is imperative to listen and obey Jesus.
Concerning Jesus himself, he gives the beloved disciple and his own mother a command of dual obligation. To the disciple, he presents his mother and to his mother, Jesus presents a son (19:26-27). In this dual obligation, Jesus presents that the disciple has been committed the care for his own mother and that she is in his keeping.
Keeping with the language in 2:1-12, the Mother of Jesus is once again called "woman" by Jesus.
The Mother of Jesus also serves as a loyal follower of Jesus by her pleading to the servants to pay heed to the words of her son and serves as an example of obedience. Though this, she shows that Jesus has the command of which there is authority-that in order for there to be a remedy, it is imperative to listen and obey Jesus.
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