Around A.D. 8, Jesus, as a 12-year-old boy, is reunited with Joseph and Mary, His earthly parents, in Jerusalem after missing unexpectedly for 3 days following the Passover festival (Luke 2:41-52). Joseph says, "It was incredible, Mary. You should have seen Him when I found Him in the Temple. He was teaching when I found Him! The rabbis, the scribes, the scholars: they could not believe their ears. They barely let us leave." The boy Jesus asks her, "Didn’t you know I must be in My Father’s House?" Mary looks up at the Temple, shakes her head in wonder, and replies, "It is too early for all this." Jesus places a hand on her shoulder and says earnestly, "If not now, when?" Mary says to Him with a gentle plea, "Just help us get through all this with You. Please?" He nods His head and smiles. She grasps His head gratefully with a return smile.
 |
| "If not now, when?" |
 |
| "Just help us get through all this with You. Please." |
Joseph suggests, "Maybe we should get going before they make a formal inquiry." Before they head home, he politely makes this request: "Jesus, please don't do that again, huh?" Jesus responds, "Yes, Abba." The Scriptures tell us He "went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was submissive to them. His mother treasured up all these things in her heart. Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and man" (Luke 2:51-52).
About 18 years later, when Jesus is about 30, the new scene opens in Cana near Nazareth in A.D. 26. A woman opens her door and looks with joy on the preparations taking place in her courtyard. As she walks about, she does a few jumps for joy. A woman calls out to her, calling her Dinah. Dinah responds with surprise and delight, "Mary, what are you doing here?" As they embrace, Mary quips, "I heard someone was celebrating a marriage?" "I mean why so early?" clarifies Dinah. "I came here to help," says Mary. "All the way from Nazareth? You must have been riding in the dark," observes Dinah. Mary the mother of Jesus humbly replies, "When your best friend is the mother of the groom, you'll be early for the feast too."
Rabbi Nicodemus begins officially interrogating the newly imprisoned John the Baptizer. He especially wants to know about miracles. "From who?" asks John. "From you," answers Nicodemus. John scoffs, "Are you adding those to my list of infractions? Only a Pharisee would lodge that kind of complaint. You would have labeled Moses a lunatic for talking to a shrub." Nicodemus asks, "Do you consider yourself to be like Moses?" Trying to deescalate this conversation, Nicodemus, takes off his fancy headdress, sits down on a stool by John's jail cell, and says, "Tell me about your ministry."
John answers, "Do you remember when Caesar traveled through Judea? He sent all these men to clear logs and debris for the coming king. 'Make straight the way for the king,' they'd shout. 'Prepare the way.'" Nicodemus remembers the visit. John tells him, "I had to move. Romans aren't kind to the homeless. I lost all my possessions." Nicodemus replies, "Many in Jerusalem were frightened as well." John says sarcastically, "Oh, they were lucky to have you to comfort them—for a price, of course." Ignoring the insult, Nicodemus inquires, "Should we be clearing the road for you, John?" John tells Nicodemus what's bothering him: "I don't like the cost of your frock. The cost of the vestments alone could feed 3 children in Nazareth for a month." "Do you come from Nazareth?" asks Nicodemus. John says he comes from Nazareth—and from Jericho, Bethlehem, Jaffa, Hebron, and other cities as well.
Losing patience, Nicodemus quips, "Well, you have a new home now. Whatever your mission was, I hope you completed it." He rises as if to leave, but John reminds him, "I thought you were here to ask about miracles." Nicodemus says, "Yes, but first I want to tell you of a miracle I've seen but cannot comprehend." "And then to make accusations?" states John suspiciously. Nicodemus wonders if this conversation is pointless, telling John, "Clearly you are not a frothing madman, but every bit as unreasonable." John retorts, "You imprison me and accuse me of being ill-tempered about it?" Nicodemus tells him, "I am not your captor. This is a Roman cell. I came here to speak to the warden on your behalf."
John asks, "Why are you really here, old man?" "The official reason," answers Nicodemus, "is you are a Jewish citizen. If you have broken Jewish law, it sets a dangerous precedent to allow Rome to adjudicate." John nods in understanding, but wants to know the real reason Nicodemus is there. Nicodemus sighs and returns to his seat, telling John earnestly, "The truth is I am far from home and looking in places I would never go because I am searching for an explanation for something I cannot unsee." John asks, "No one else knows you are here?" After Nicodemus shakes his head no, John's tone and manner soften. He asks Nicodemus to tell him from the beginning.
Simon's wife, Eden, is barefoot and working in a winepress when he finds her to tell her what happened when he met Jesus. Simon begins, "I worked all last night and couldn't catch even one fish." He thanks her for sending Andrew, Zebedee, James, and John to help him, but lets her know even they could not catch any fish. He continues, "This morning we gave up, but on the shore there was this teacher Andrew told me about. He told me to cast one more time, which made no sense, but I did it anyway because of the way He looked at me. Then all of the sudden there was enough fish to fill both our boats and settle our tax debt!"
Simon tells her there's more that's not easy to explain: "It's like the story of Elijah and Elisha. Elisha was plowing with 12 yoke of oxen when Elijah the prophet just walked up and threw his cloak over him. It was a calling to follow him" (2 Kings 19). Eden recalls, "Without delay, Elisha slaughtered the oxen, burned the plow, and left everything behind." "Yes!" says Simon. "About the teacher: Andrew told me, but I didn't believe him at first. He's the Messiah. I know it sounds impossible, but I saw it with my own eyes. He made fish appear out of nowhere and the words He spoke! The one John the Baptizer told Andrew about is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" And then He called me to follow Him—and also Andrew, James, and John—to go where He goes and learn from Him. And He said I wouldn't be a fisherman anymore but that instead I would catch people. I don't even know what that means, but I'm sure of what I saw. He's the one we've been waiting for all our lives so I want to leave the sea behind to go."
Eden turns away from him and covers her eyes. Simon is afraid he upset her, but she quickly clarifies, "I am not upset. Why would I be upset?" Taking his head in her hands, Eden declares, "This is the man I married." He is relieved that she believes him. Eden even says, "Of course He chose you." "I don't know why," Simon admits. "I tried to tell Him I'm a sinful man. I don't know what all this means. I don't know yet how I'm going to provide." Eden reassures him she is not worried about that and that her tears are happy one, explaining, "Someone finally sees in you what I've always seen: you're more than a fisherman."
Simon tells her, "I will travel sometimes. I don't want you to feel abandoned." Eden says, "You have to go with Him. How could I feel abandoned? I feel saved." Trying to be realistic, Simon adds, "It's not going to be easy." Eden responds, "When have we ever had anything easy? That's not our people’s way." He tells her they leave today for a wedding in Cana, but does not yet know why they are going.
Two caterers are loading a wagon with supplies for the wedding in Cana. The man asks if the lamb will be there before or after they arrive. The woman answers, "After. They don't have a good place to keep it so I didn't want it there too early." She reassures him it will arrive in plenty of time for him to roast it his way. He notices there are only 3 large amphorae of wine. She replies that is what they asked for. He says, "Ramah, I'm very concerned we won't be able to get all 3 all the way to Cana intact. I told you we needed 4 from your vineyard to be safe." Ramah replies, "I told you the wedding family cannot afford it." The man insists, "I would have paid you out of my own pocket." She states practically, "Thomas, that would almost erase your profit margin. Why would you do that?" Thomas states presumptuously, "I mean, we're a team, right?" Ramah blushes but then recovers to say, "Well, I think everything will arrive perfectly intact, especially with how carefully you drive. It will be fine."
Mary the mother of Jesus is busy helping Dinah prepare for her son's wedding feast in Cana. Even though it is obvious Dinah and her family have financial challenges, Dinah is irrepressibly happy because her son is marrying his love and they are surrounded by friends. Mary inquires about the bride. Dinah tells her, "Sarah is lovely, respectful, and just wonderful. Her parents, Helah and Abner, are not convinced." "About Asher?" asks Mary. "About Rafi and me as in-laws. The father is very successful and influential," Dinah explains, but then adds positively, "Maybe it will be good for the kids' future." Mary tells her confidently, "You don't have to grovel to anyone, Dinah. They'll come around."
Simon and Andrew are walking with lunch satchels to meet Jesus and His other disciples so they can walk together to the wedding in Cana. Andrew feels awkward because he is not used to making trips and is not sure how to carry his lunch or if the others even brought a lunch. He is worried about looking stupid. Simon, a less anxious person, quips, "Maybe it will look like we've never traveled with the Messiah before and we don't know what we're doing." Getting more serious, he adds, "Don't be nervous or I'll come on too strong." Then Simon honestly admits, "I don’t want to let Him down." Andrew responds, "I don’t want to do it wrong." Simon laughs and says they probably both will do it wrong. Like with learning to fish, he thinks they should just watch, try, make mistakes, and learn.
Simon, suddenly realizing how exciting it is to be following the Messiah, grabs his brother by the shoulders and says, "Can you believe this?" John, Thaddaeus, James, and Mary Magdalene greet them. Just then Jesus shows up, saying, "Perfect day for a wedding, huh?" He counts His disciples. When He notices one missing, a few figs drop down from John's brother, James, who comments, "Figs for the journey." Jesus responds, "Ah, thank you. Now we won't have to stop for lunch!" Simon and Andrew give each other a quick look. When it quickly becomes apparent two Jameses are present, Jesus asks, "How will we solve this dilemma?" John's brother, a head taller than the other James, suggests he goes by the name Big James. "Is that acceptable to you, young James?" asks Jesus. "I think that's fair," says the man who soon happily goes by Little James. Jesus says, "A sense of justice too, huh? Then it's settled. Now to the road, My friends. The bride and groom await."
 |
| "Perfect day for a wedding, huh?" |
Dinah and Mary stare disapprovingly at the rickety wooden frame of the wedding chuppa or canopy. Dinah disregards her first impression and says, "It's perfect." Mary, a more honest person by nature, suggests, "Let me speak with the carpenter. I know their language." (She did indeed as the widow of a respected carpenter. The last mention of Joseph in the Scriptures is when Jesus was 12 years old.) Dinah instead says to Mary, "It will be okay. Will you help me decorate it? Rafi and I got what we paid for it." Mary holds her tongue and pats Dinah's hand, saying, "Always the bright side." Dinah says to her, "Someone has to be. Will you start by gathering more flowers?"
A strikingly dressed woman approaches Dinah, who greets her, saying, "Shalom, Helah." Dinah moves to embrace her, but Helah folds her arms and bows instead. Dinah returns the bow and says, "I'm delighted to share this special day with you. Is Abner here? I'd love to tell Rafi we have time for a special prayer." Helah tells her, "Abner sent me on ahead. He'll come with friends before the ceremony. He asked me to select his table." Dinah responds, "Well, we have arrangements for everyone's seating already." Helah says, "Abner likes things his way. I'm here to see that they are." Frowning mildly, Dinah asks, "Even at our children's wedding feast?" Helah states, "Abner is set in his way. It's not personal." Raising her voice slightly, Dinah says, "Well, it should be." Helah bows her head in understanding and responds, "On certain important occasions, I have been able to prevail on him." Dinah responds, "I hope this is important enough."
Helah tries again to make peace, saying, "Sarah is unwavering in her love for your family." Dinah, moved, says, "We love Sarah and all of you very much." "Sarah knows you do," assures Helah. Then she looks up and says, "The chuppa is crooked." Dinah merely gives a sideways smile.
Simon moves to walk next to Jesus on their way to the wedding, asking Him, "Master, if this wedding is worth the journey for You, who has so much to do, perhaps it is also worth the journey to many wealthy Jews." Jesus perceptively comments, "You believe important and powerful Hebrews will be there. You are very keen, Simon. The most important and powerful person I know will be there: My mother." Andrew asks quizzically and with unintentional rudeness, "Isn't Your mother from Nazareth?" Jesus does not answer and Simon keeps talking, suggesting Jesus should announce them after the guests as an opportunity to gather more followers. Jesus informs him, "It's not My special day, Simon, but of the couple, Asher and Sarah." Andrew states, "They are blessed to have You at their wedding. Do they know what a remarkable thing it is?" Jesus humbly replies, "Considering that I was the clumsy teenager who cracked My head open at Asher's when he was a child, I don't think he finds Me remarkable. Did you think much of your childhood friends?"
Simon jokes that Andrew didn't have any childhood friends, except him, which leads to bantering back and forth. Jesus, chuckling, says to Mary Magdalene, "Did you think having brothers would be like this?" Mary smiles and says, "I always wanted to have brothers as a little girl." Jesus tells her, "Soon you'll have 12. Then tell Me how you like it." "Twelve?" asks Andrew. "You'll see," says Jesus. They are getting close to Cana.
Mary and Dinah talk as the beautify the chuppa with their flowers. Mary responds to a question from Dinah, "We had a wedding. It just wasn't like everyone else's." Dinah asks, "Why not?" Mary alludes to the virgin birth, making a pregnant-belly gesture and saying, "You know why." "I would have gone," says Dinah. "I know," says Mary. "If Joseph were here, he would be so proud of you and Rafi." Dinah asks, "Have you heard from your special guest?" "He's coming," says Mary to Dinah's obvious delight, but adds hesitantly, "He may bring several others. Is that okay?" Dinah quickly reassures her, "Jesus can bring everybody He wants. I haven't seen Him in ages. How is He?" "He's good," replies Mary, "He's always good." Dinah says she imagines He is a fine craftsman, but Mary clarifies He is not doing that work now: "He has a calling. I seldom know where it will take Him. He's bringing His students." Dinah bets that He is handsome, but Mary does not comment on Jesus's appearance.
Rafi steps into the courtyard and says, "Dinah, they're here." Dinah turns to Mary, saying, "The moment of truth: I made Rafi spend everything we had left for good wine, so wish me luck." They meet Thomas and Ramah, who have arrived with their supplies. Thomas states, "Many blessings to you on this joyous day. May I present to you the finest and most beautiful vintner in all of Galilee, Ramah bat Kafni of the Kafni Vineyards on the plains of Sharon." Ramah blushes and bows. Rafi tells her, "It is an honor to meet you at last. You will give my regards to the old scoundrel upon your return?" Ramah laughs.
Dinah says, "The wine is here on time, a good start to a joyous day." Ramah replies, "Of course. Thomas is never late. My father sends his warmest regards with this." She uncorks a beautiful wine bottle so Rafi and Dinah can inhale the exquisite aroma, explaining that this wine was pressed in the time the Emperor Augustus died (A.D. 14, 12 years earlier), cut with sea water, honey from Mount Hermon, black pepper, and pine from Tyre. When she pours the wine into a special cup Thomas is holding, Dinah takes the cup and says, "I certainly won't refuse that." They all bow and she prays, "Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings forth the fruit of the vine." Dinah drinks it and pauses. The others look at her. She breaks into a smile and says, "Oh, my. Thank heaven on Asher's day!"
Thomas looks relieved. Dinah says to Rafi, "Abner and Helah will be pleased, maybe even a little jealous." Rafi, unhappy with this reminder, mutters, "I'm now in debt because of Abner and Helah." Dinah says, "Oh, hush" and asks how much wine they brought. Ramah answers, "Of the special vintage, two amphorae and one of a lesser. Of course, we intend to serve the best wine first when the guests are fresh." Thomas adds, "Later, when everyone is stuffed and senses dulled, we'll serve the remaining jar. Do you understand?" "Yes, son," says Rafi. "It's the oldest trick in the book." To Dinah he says, "We are in good hands." Thomas seeks to clarifies, "I assume the head count is still the same, 40 or so at a time during the week?" Rafi asks, "Is it?" Thomas states, "I'm asking." Dinah says quickly, "I'm sure it's right." Thomas says, "Perfect. Where shall we set up?" Rafi gestures, "This way. The master of the banquet will walk you through it."
Just then Jesus says, "Knock, knock, may we come in?" Mary casts aside the flora in her hands and jumps into Jesus's open arms. He gives her a big hug and says, "Hi, Eema. How are you? I've missed you!" Dinah looks on with pleasure as Jesus introduces Mary to His 7 students.
John the Baptizer has a question for Nicodemus after he tells about Mary Magdalene's miraculous healing: "Multiple demons?" Nicodemus affirms, "I saw it myself. They jeered at me from inside her mouth. Nothing could be done for her short of a miracle." "And she won't say who restored her?" inquires John. Nicodemus informs him that He did not reveal His name to her at the time He healed her. John shudders with a thrill and states, "It has begun! If He is healing in secret, the public signs cannot be far off." Nicodemus says, "You know Him?" John, Jesus's cousin, merely replies, "You could say that."
Nicodemus asks him plainly to state His name, but is annoyed when John responds with Scripture instead: "'Who has ascended into heaven and come back down? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment?' Teacher of Israel, finish it! Finish the oracle of Agur, son of Jakeh" (in Proverbs 30). Losing patience, Nicodemus at first replies, "Don't quote Solomon to me, you wild mongrel!" But John is insistent, continuing the quote: "Who has established all the ends of the earth?" so Nicodemus correctly recites the next question: "What is His name, and what is the name of His Son?" John finishes the quotation: "Surely you know."
Nicodemus recoils in horror, saying sternly, "You are careless with Torah! God does not have a Son, except Israel." John shakes his head, saying, "Suit yourself." Nicodemus warns him, "They will put a man to death for blasphemy like that." "Who will? You? asks John. "It would be a terrible precedent for Rome to adjudicate." Nicodemus mutters he never should have come, but John addresses him seriously with words that penetrate: "All your life you’ve been asleep. 'Make straight the way for the King': He is here, to awaken the earth, but some will not want to be awakened. They’re in love with the dark. I wonder which one you will be." Nicodemus states soberly, "If this man is anything like you believe, or if He exists at all, you should leave this region. Your presence alone puts Him in danger." John tells him, "If you think He needs my help, then you've heard nothing." As Nicodemus leaves, John looks up in joy, anticipating what is to come.
Thomas addresses the attentive wedding servers in the kitchen: "When the song is over, bring out the olives and the cheeses. Set them on the long table between the loaves of bread and the cucumbers." They quickly obey. Thomas returns to seasoning the lamb.
The bride and groom are holding hands as they watch their guests dance and sing, "There shall be heard again in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem." Ramah completes a guest count as they sing and rushes into the kitchen in a panic, asking Thomas if 40 was the magic number. Because of her agitation, Thomas states, "Are they over? They always do this. I brought food enough for more." Ramah tells him she just counted 80! Surprised, he says she must have miscounted, but Ramah replies that if so, she is off only by a few. They realize they are in trouble, especially regarding the wine, since 3 amphorae are enough only for 60.
The song concludes with a repetition of this verse: "A voice of joy and a voice of gladness: the voice of the bridegroom, the voice of the bride." All the guests, including Jesus and His disciples, stop dancing, give a hearty cheer, and raise a cup of wine, praying with the master of the banquet, “Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings forth the fruit of the vine. Amen.” They drink appreciatively and cheer again.
In the kitchen Thomas tells the servers, "Lighten your pours to three quarters full. If they ask for more, say you'll be right back but guess what? You won't!" They dash off. The master of the banquet comes in and says to Thomas and Ramah, "The wedding guests seem to be happy so far. The servers do not. How are we doing?" Thomas smiles and says, "Nothing to worry about. You are one of the finest banquet masters we have seen. Keep up the good work." That satisfies the master, who returns to oversee the feast. Ramah tells Thomas she has an idea.
Meanwhile, back at the feast, Abner loudly greets Rafi and Dinah. Helah is silently by his side. He leaves them in a few moments of uneasy suspense before pronouncing, "This is the best party I've been to in a long while!" Dinah, appearing relieved, says, "You honor us, Abner. We are blessed to have two children so in love." "I'm happy too," says Abner. "I'll be honest: I was not always happy about this. You may not have known that." Rafi tells him, "Yes, we know." Abner goes on, "You were born in Nazareth, Dinah. Rafi, your people are travelers, and your trade hasn't brought you much success. While Asher seems like a nice young man, he has not yet—" "Yes, Abner, we get it," interrupts Rafi. "Ah," responds Abner, "I don't mean to insult. My family have been powerful traders in this region for years. I believe success has made my generation arrogant." He stares with a vacant look on his face, eventually saying, "I lost my train of thought." Changing the subject, he points to the beautifully decorated wedding chuppa and says to his wife, "I thought you said this was crooked. Looks fine to me." Dinah and Helah trade uneasy glances. Abner raises his glass towards his hosts, commends them for the wine, and walks away with Helah. Dinah and Rafi can't help laughing a bit after they do.
Ramah has led Thomas to a room containing 6 large stone vessels. "Purification water," she informs him. "There's some left in these." "Dilute the wine?" Thomas asks doubtfully. "People will notice. Whispers will spread." Ramah says thoughtfully, "If they did, I feel like this family would die of shame." Thomas says, "What about us? We'd be ruined." "It's not a great option," agrees Ramah, "so help me think." Thomas muses, "We could serve the guests extra date cakes and oversalt the food to make them thirst for water? I don't know," he sighs. "This is humiliating." Ramah turns to leave the room, saying, "Let's keep looking."
As day turns to dusk, the guests eat, drink, and are merry. We see Jesus at a table with children, playing a game of guess where to find the hidden object under upside down mini cups. His disciples watch Him with delight as He plays another game of stacked cups with the young ones. Simon observes, "They have no idea who sits before them." Thaddaeus says, "To be a child again, yes?" Mary Magdalene reflects, "I think we are the lucky ones. They have to go home with their parents. We get to stay with Him and His mother." "Where will that be?" wonders Andrew. "Who knows?" says Mary. "With Him, I have learned to stop worrying about those things." "I haven't," admits Andrew. "It's cold in this region." Little James asks, "You think He will let you freeze?" Simon explains, "My brother has many worries. I keep reminding him of when our abba taught us how to fish: we watched until we became fishermen." That gets Mary thinking, "We will watch Him, and watch and watch and watch—forever, I think."
 |
| Jesus has fun with children and their parents at the wedding. |
Simon shakes his head and says, "I don't even know why I'm here. It's usually the students who choose the rabbi, not the other way around. And I'm not even a student." "Neither was I," volunteers Little James. "Thaddaeus introduced me to Him." Mary asks Thad, "How did you meet Him?" He tells them, "On a construction job in Bethsaida. He hasn't exactly been picking the best and brightest students." Simon is surprised to hear Jesus was doing manual labor. Mary reminds him that Jesus is not a professional rabbi. Simon wonders if He was a stonemason, like Thaddaeus, who corrects him, saying, "A craftsman. He taught as well, and He asked me to follow Him. He said He was building a Kingdom, a fortress stronger than stone. I believed Him." Simon wonders what they were building in Bethsaida and is surprised to learn they were working on a humble latrine. Thad tells him, "A job is a job. I was cutting stone for the retaining wall; He was building a ramp of cedar planks so the crippled and the elderly could get to it without climbing the steep stairs." Simon asks, "Why didn't He heal them so they could mount the steps themselves?" Mary reminds Simon that Jesus has been saying His time has not yet come. Simon counters, "Calling your name, the catch of the fish: why was it His time for miracles then and not others?" "Because those were private," Little James points out. "He hasn't shown His signs to others publicly yet." Simon wonders, "What is keeping Him from making His ministry public?" Mary says, "The wind blows to the south or to the east and you cannot say why."
 |
| Jesus's disciples get to know one another better at the wedding. |
The dance of Miriam is announced as coming next for the wedding guests to enjoy. Dinah strides in the kitchen looking alarmed, Ramah and Mary the mother of Jesus following behind her. She sees Thomas on his knees, trying to scoop out the last bit of wine from the 3 amphorae lying on their sides. "Talk to me, Thomas," she insists.
Outside, Simon and Andrew meet up with Jesus, figuring He would want to join in the dance of Miriam. Jesus says, "Of course, let us show them how it is done!" Andrew says he doesn't think that's a good idea. Simon explains, "Andrew has 4 left feet." "Why 4?" asks Jesus. Simon's answer evokes a belly laugh from Jesus: "When Andrew tries to dance, he looks like a donkey walking on hot coals!"
Just then, Jesus's mother breaks in saying, "My Son, they've run out of wine!" Andrew observes, "But it's only the first day." "Yes," says Mary, "and it's all gone. Not a drop left." Jesus asks her, "Why are you telling Me this?" She tells Him, "We can't let the celebration end like this with Asher's family humiliated." Jesus tells Simon and Andrew, "Go join the others. I'll be right there." Speaking privately with His mother while Thomas and Ramah look on from a distance, Jesus tells her, "Mother, My time has not yet come." Echoing their conversation from when He was 12 years old at the beginning of this episode, Mary asks Him gently, "If not now, when? Please." He looks thoughtfully at her and smiles. She smiles in return and says to Thomas and Ramah, "Do whatever He tells you."
 |
| Mary says please. |
They lead Jesus to the room containing the 6 stone jars partly filled with purification water. Jesus tells them to fill those jars with water. Thomas replies, "I'm not sure You heard her clearly, but we've run out of wine, not water." Jesus asks, "These are similar in size to your amphorae?" "Yes," answers Thomas. "Equal if filled all the way to the brim." Jesus looks at Thomas's furrowed brow and observes, "You're a very responsible person, aren't you?" Thomas, in no mood for such talk, responds, "We are in a crisis and I was led to understand You have a solution?" Jesus asks Thomas another question: "Do you know why jars for purification rites are made of stone?" "What?" says Thomas, venturing into rudeness. "You heard Me," says Jesus. Thomas looks over at Ramah, who nods at him to cooperate. He answers, "Because the stone is pure, less likely to stain or break." "Yes," says Jesus. "Fill these jars all the way to the brim."
Thomas asks why, but Ramah orders the servants standing by, "You heard Him. Start drawing water, quickly! Tell anyone you find to stop what they're doing and help." Ramah goes with them to draw water after giving Thomas an encouraging nod to listen. Thomas sighs and tells Jesus, "From the directions you have provided, I see no logical solution to the problem." Jesus tells him frankly, "It's going to be like that sometimes, Thomas." Thomas is surprised He knows his name. Jesus continues, "I do not rebuke you. It is good to ask questions and seek understanding." Thomas, losing patience, says, "There's no time for this." Jesus says, "I know of a man like you in Capernaum: always counting, always measuring" (obviously thinking of Matthew). Thomas replies, "That's my job, one people will think I have not done well tonight. Jesus says, "Join Me and I will show you a new way to count and measure; a different way of seeing time." "Go with You where? I don't understand," Thomas says. "Keep watching" says Jesus.
At the feast the master of the banquet tells Dinah, "It is far past time for another round of wine. The last one was nearly an hour ago." Abner, the overbearing in-law, comments, "Surely there is more coming, Dinah?" The master bows to him and apologizes, saying this will be taken care of immediately. Just then Mary the mother of Jesus runs up and announces, "Next round of wine right away. Thank you for reminding us." Dinah hurries away with Mary.
Mary Magdalene, talking with Thaddaeus, asks him, "Was your father a stonemason as well?" Thad tells her he was a blacksmith, adding, "I think it broke his heart, but I apprenticed under a stonecutter when I was 9. Every man must leave his father." Mary says, "Masonry seems like harder work." Thad tells her, "It isn't harder, it's just more final. If the smith wants to change the horseshoe, plowshare, or pot hook, he has only to put the iron back into the fire and reshape it to fit his designs. But once you make that first cut into the stone, it cannot be undone. It sets in motion a series of choices. What used to be a shapeless block of limestone or granite begins its long journey of transformation, and it will never be the same."
As Thaddaeus explains, we see the last of the stone purification jars filled to the brim. Jesus asks everyone to please step outside for a moment. He sees His reflection in the water of that last jar, looks up, and says, "I'm ready, Father." Slowly He dips His hand into the jar. Wine flows through His fingertips! The Gospel of John (John 2:1-12) tells us this was the first of His public signs. Jesus's life would never be the same after taking this monumental step.
Jesus steps out of the room and tells Ramah, "Go draw some out and serve it to the master of the banquet." Ramah does so with two of the servants following her. Thomas watches them go in and then locks eyes with Jesus. In a moment they hear the men whooping for joy. Jesus smiles and walks away. Thomas looks dumbfounded.
At the feast, the mood is subdued. Some are showing signs of impatience. When Abner sees Ramah coming in with the wine sample, he mutters, "It's about time." Ramah pours it for the banquet master, describing it as the latter vintage. As he tastes it, Dinah and Mary watch him closely. Suddenly he bursts out loudly, "Stop the music! Everyone, listen! I would like to address the bridegroom's and bride's families. At every wedding I've overseen, they serve the best wine first. And then, when the people have drunk freely, much later in the feast, they serve the poorer wine—the cheap stuff!—because by then, who is going to notice, am I right?" That elicits several laughs. He continues, "But you, you've chosen now to serve the best wine I have ever tasted. Let us thank them for this unnecessary but honorable gesture!" Amid the applause are surprised looks, especially from Rafi, but he recovers when Abner points at him with an approving gesture, acting as if this new wine was his idea.
Jesus is quietly applauding with the rest of the guests. Dinah, who knows the truth, hugs Mary. As the wine is passed out, the master of the banquet proposes a toast: "May the wedding of Asher, son of Rafi and Dinah, to Sarah, daughter of Abner and Helah, be as pure and fruitful as this wine. Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings forth the fruit of the vine. To Asher and Sarah!" The taste of the wine shows up in the delight on the guests' faces. One exception is Abner, who stares at his wine with a sad look. Helah asks him, "Is something wrong?" "Yes," says Abner humbly. "I was." Helah smiles at him approvingly.
Mary begins scanning the crowd for her Son's face. She sees Jesus looking her way, smiling. She mouths, "Thank You." He nods discretely. Thomas is by himself, staring at the wine in the stone jars.
Simon smiles at Jesus and says to Him, "Fish. Wine. What will be next?" "Any suggestions?" asks Jesus. "Anything and everything. Let's do this. I'll go with You to the ends of the earth," replies Simon. "I hope so, Simon," says Jesus, "but I seem to remember there was a problem with Andrew's feet?" They encourage Andrew to participate in the next dance, and indeed he does look like a donkey walking on hot coals! In the midst of their lively fun, Simon asks Jesus, "So will You help him?" Jesus jokes, "Some things even I cannot do!"
Thomas is outside, watching Jesus and His disciples as they prepare to leave for the evening. Ramah comes out and says, "That should be it for the night." Following Thomas's gaze she asks, "Who is He? I can't pretend I didn't see a miracle. He gave us even more than we need." Thomas tells her, "He invited me to join Him. He wants us to meet Him in Samaria in 12 days. I don't know what to think." Ramah encourages him not to overthink, but to think and then believe.
Illustrated Summaries of All The Chosen TV Series Episodes (Quotes, Links, and Photos)
Related posts emphasizing that Christianity is Jewish:
#TheChosen #BingeJesus #SeeHimAsTheyDid #QuotesfromTheChosen
No comments:
Post a Comment