John 2:4

And Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.

Woman ... This word addressed to his mother seems a little harsh in English; but, as Richardson noted, "It would not in the original. There is no precise English equivalent of this usage; perhaps `Madam' comes nearest, but is too cold and distant."[1] Nevertheless, a mild and respectful reproof of his mother cannot be separated from this. The Saviour's work of worldwide redemption was beginning; and the magnificent dimensions of such a work were not to be prescribed and directed by his earthly mother. Jesus' words here leave no doubt that Mary's suggestion was premature and unnecessary; and yet Jesus' rejection of her words did not violate any of the veneration and respect the beloved Mary was entitled to receive.

These words bring into sharp focus the true status of the earthly mother of our Lord; and, in the sacred text, she never appears as a semi-deity commanding and directing her son to do this or that, but as herself subject to error. At no other point has the Medieval religion erred any more dramatically than here. As Gaebelein noted:

She was not without error and sin, and was not meant to be prayed to and adored. If our Lord would not allow his mother even to suggest to him the working of a miracle, we may well suppose that all prayers to the Virgin Mary, and especially prayers entreating her to "command her Son" are most offensive and blasphemous in his eyes.[2]

Mine hour is not yet come ... has been variously understood as meaning: "they are not yet completely out of wine," or "it is not time for me to step in yet," or "it is not yet time for me to show my glory," etc. It was Barnes' opinion that it means, "the proper time for his interposing THERE had not arrived,"[3] and not that it was an improper time for him to work a miracle. Of course, the expression "my hour" was also used to mean the hour of the Lord's crucifixion and resurrection (John 7:30; 8:20; 12:33; 13:1; 17:1, etc.).

[1] Alan Richardson, The Gospel according to St. John (London: SCM Press, 1959), p. 60.

[2] Arno C. Gaebelein, The Gospel of John (Neptune, New Jersey: Loizeaux Brothers, 1965), p. 47.

[3] Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1954), Volumes of Luke and John, p. 192.