“Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” (John 2:4 NIV)

These words, spoken from Jesus to His mother, have perplexed me for years. For context, this conversation occurred when Jesus, His disciples, and His mother attended a wedding in Cana. During the festivities, the groom’s family ran out of wine, which would have brought disgrace on their family. 

When Mary asked Jesus to intervene, He seemed to refuse, claiming His time had not yet come. Nonplussed, His mother instructed the servants to do as Jesus instructed. In response, Jesus changed water into wine. With this miracle, the first one performed in public, Jesus began His ministry (John 2:1-11).

Body language, voice tones, and facial expressions add layers of understanding when we speak with one another. Because we can only read the words Jesus spoke, it’s hard to imagine what emotions He conveyed. For years I thought Jesus didn’t feel ready to start His ministry, but because He respected Mary, He moved up His timetable.

The creatives of the TV series The Chosen offer a different perspective in their episode, The Wedding Gift. According to their interpretation, Jesus actually felt ready to start His ministry at twelve years old, after attending the Passover Festival in Jerusalem with His extended family. But His parents, especially Mary, did not feel ready. So out of respect, Jesus returned home and remained obedient to His parents. This seems to agree with Luke’s account of the boy Jesus at the temple (Luke 2:41-52). Under this interpretation, Mary’s request at the wedding signaled her readiness for Him to start His ministry. In response, Jesus moved forward in His calling.  

I can understand why Mary would have felt reluctant. Sharing Jesus with the world would have been risky ~ His identity as the Son of God would undoubtedly bring persecution from the Jewish leaders, and opposition from the Roman rulers. Yet her risk yielded incredible rewards ~ the salvation of all who would believe (John 3:16). 

Looking at these Scriptures in this light makes me grateful for the Lord’s patience when we feel reluctant to take risks for Him. But it also makes me wonder: How can my own reluctance to step out in faith, or to take risks, impact the rewards God has for me? 

I’ve gained insight from studying The Parable of the Ten Minas. In this parable, a master asks each of his ten servants to invest one mina – a sum equivalent to about three months’ wages. Although the servants started with the same resources, they achieved very different results. Based on their willingness to assume risks, the first two servants’ investments yielded positive results. The master praised these two servants and gave them additional responsibilities in keeping with their abilities and experience (Luke 19:11-19).

But a third servant, out of fear, hid his mina in a cloth where it earned no return (Luke 19:20-21). Let’s look at the master’s response:

“‘Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’

“Then he said to those standing by, ‘Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’” (Luke 19:24-25 NIV)

I used to struggle with the master’s decision to pull the mina away from the third servant. It feels a bit harsh. But I’ve recently come to a different understanding. If the servant had at least put the money on deposit, he would have earned a minimum return. With that small step of faith he would have stayed in favor with his master. He also would have been encouraged to take greater risks in the future. But by refusing to take even the smallest and safest risk, the third servant remained stuck. Without a willingness to try, no opportunity for growth, present or future, could benefit him.

The same will be true for us. Consistently shrinking back from taking risks may make us feel safer. But we will forfeit God’s desire to help us grow to maturity and we will miss out on the blessings He wants to give us.

As I think about Mary, I imagine she took many small steps of faith as she raised Jesus to adulthood. The sum of those steps brought her to the place she needed to be ~ ready to share Him with the world.

As we continue down the road, opportunities for growth will require us to take risks and to step out of our comfort zones. I pray the sum of our faithful steps lead us to where we need to be ~ ready to fulfill His purposes for our lives.