The idea
Mary appears only twice in John — at Cana and at the cross — and both times Jesus calls her 'Woman' and speaks of his 'hour.' At Cana the hour 'has not yet come'; at the cross it has. This inclusio frames his whole ministry and marks Mary as the New Eve from the first sign to the finished work.
Key verses
- John 2:4 — Cana: 'Woman… my hour has not yet come.'
- John 19:26 — the cross: 'Woman, behold your son.'
The connection
| Old Testament root | New Testament fulfilment | |
|---|---|---|
| 'Woman' at Cana — the hour not yet | → | 'Woman' at the cross — the hour fulfilled |
Mary appears only twice in John — Cana and the cross — each time as 'Woman' and each tied to Jesus' 'hour.' Pitre reads the two scenes as bookends that frame the whole Gospel and mark Mary as the New Eve from first sign to final breath.