Why does Jesus address Mary, His mother, as ‘Woman’?
Listen: 116.3
There are two instances in the scriptures where the Lord Jesus referred to his mother as ‘woman.’ The first time is at the marriage feast in Cana. John 2:1-5 says, “And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. 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. His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.” Although the Lord corrected His mother here concerning His divine works, He certainly did not mean any disrespect towards her in calling her ‘woman.” That is clearly shown when the Lord spoke so affectionately and tenderly to His mother while He was on the cross. John 19:25-27 tells us, “Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.”
We have the Ten Commandments in Exodus, chapter 20. The fifth commandment is in Exodus 20:12. That says, “Honour thy father and thy mother…” To dishonor or disrespect His mother would have violated this commandment and would have been a sin. The Lord Jesus, our sinless savior, never disobeyed any part of the law. To use the word ‘woman’ was not disrespectful at all. It seemed to be the common language of the day.
To the woman of great faith, the Lord Jesus said in Matthew 15:28, “…O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.” To the woman he healed, the Lord Jesus said in Luke 13:12, “…Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.” To the Samaritan woman the Lord said in John 4:21, “…Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.” To Mary Magdalene who sought the Lord’s body after His crucifixion, the Lord said in John 20:15, “…Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou?…” So, the Lord Jesus addressed his mother with the same term that he addressed these ladies. As you can see, the Lord was not being disrespectful. He was merely using a word that was common to all. (116.3)