Why would Yeshua respond to his mother this way? In ancient Middle Eastern terms, this expression was not as harsh as it sounds to us today. In our culture, to begin a response to one's mother with 'Woman,' is extremely disrespectful. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, 'They have no wine.' And Jesus said to her, 'Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.' (John 2:3-4)
