In John 2:1–4, during a wedding in Cana of Galilee, Jesus’ mother tells Him that the hosts have run out of wine. Jesus responds:
“Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” (John 2:4, NIV)
This may seem like a surprising or even harsh response. But to understand what Jesus meant, we need to look at the deeper theological significance of the phrase “My hour.”
Mary wasn’t just pointing out a practical problem—she was hoping Jesus would perform a miracle. Her request, though subtle, was rooted in her knowledge of who He truly was. She was asking for a supernatural solution.
Jesus’ reply wasn’t disrespectful. The term “Woman” was actually a respectful form of address in Jewish culture at the time. What He was doing was redirecting her expectation from a personal or social solution to God’s divine timeline.
“My hour has not yet come” indicates that Jesus operated on God’s schedule, not human prompting—even from His own mother.
In the Gospel of John, the phrase “My hour” consistently refers to the time of Jesus’ glorification, which includes:
This “hour” represents the culmination of His earthly mission—the moment when God’s redemptive plan through Christ would be fulfilled.
John 7:30 – “At this they tried to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come.” (NIV)
John 12:23 – “Jesus replied, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.’” (NIV)
John 13:1 – “Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father.” (NIV)
Thus, in John 2, Jesus is signaling that the time to fully reveal His divine mission had not yet arrived. Performing a public miracle would begin to expose His identity and accelerate the events that would lead to the cross.
After Jesus performed several miracles and His popularity grew, the long-awaited “hour” finally came. This included both the glory of public recognition and the agony of the crucifixion.
When Greeks came to seek Jesus—a sign of His influence spreading beyond Israel—He said:
“The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” (John 12:23, NIV)
But He immediately followed with this:
“Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.” (John 12:27, NIV)
Jesus understood that true glorification would come through suffering.
Just as Jesus had an appointed time, we too have divine timings in our lives. There are moments for growth, for pain, for joy, and for waiting. God’s plans unfold not on our schedule, but according to His sovereign will.
Jesus Himself likened life’s seasons to childbirth:
“A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy.” (John 16:21, NIV)
This parallels our experiences: sometimes we endure sorrow, but joy follows. Our trials are not without purpose—they often lead to greater revelation and transformation.
The author of Ecclesiastes beautifully reflects this truth:
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens… a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4, NIV)
When Jesus said “My hour has not yet come,” He was demonstrating unwavering commitment to the Father’s will. It was a reminder that His purpose would unfold at the right time—not by pressure, but by Providence.
We, too, are called to recognize and trust the seasons of our lives. Whether in joy or hardship, God is at work, shaping us for His glory.
Let us be patient in the waiting, faithful in the doing, and hopeful in the enduring—knowing that in God’s time, all things are made beautiful (Ecclesiastes 3:11).
Shalom. May the Lord help us recognize and walk in our appointed seasons.
Please feel free to share this teaching with others who may be encouraged by it
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