The Greatness of God

The Glory Begins To Be Revealed

There is mention of Jesus’ teaching, but apart from private discourses, John does not relate the public teaching until, the significance of this early activity is made clear by Jesus’ statement that “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working”.

In the transitional section that follows, John is given to one who betrays Jesus, bringing to a climax this opening series of stories and initiating the conflict that follows. As God’s scandalous John is offered not just the correct but the incorrect, the glory is revealed with increasing intensity until it offend a reaction. At this point Jesus delivers His keynote address, provides a list of witnesses to the truth of what He is saying and adds His own blame against his opponents.

The glory is revealed in a correct way. This story begins the revelation of the glory and continues the presentation of examples of discipline.

Jesus’ mother, who is never named in this Gospel, has the same essential characteristics as found in the other disciples. Indeed, the very fact that she, like the Beloved disciple, is not named maybe in keeping with her humility, a key aspect of discipline in this Gospel.

There are significant similarities between her statement and the way the first disciples took the initiative in following Jesus, and now his mother takes the initiative in speaking to him. The response of the first two disciples allowed Jesus to set the agenda, and so also his mothers’ statement does not dictate what he is to do about the problem that has arisen.

The request that Jesus do something about the wine shortage is clear, but implicit. The implication is that she believes He is able to do something about it, but whether He will do something, and what will be, her statement leaves open for him to decide.