Cana was full of excitement the next day as guests gathered for the big wedding. Jesus, John, and Andrew were meeting and chatting with the men, while Mary was with the women, lending a helping hand in doing little chores here and there.
“More wine! The guests want more wine!” announced a boy to the serving ladies. The ladies looked at each other in panic. One of them went over to Rebecca and whispered,
“There is no more wine.”
Rebecca was startled. “No wine?!” A wedding where wine runs out is a disgrace to the host. Rebecca became upset.
Mary sensed something was worrying her, for Rebecca’s face revealed her anxiety.
“Rebecca, what is wrong?” asked Mary, concerned.
Rebecca held Mary’s arm. “We have run out of wine. O
Mary, if people hear of it, they will make fun of us. My poor son! They will insult him on his wedding day. He might even hate me for my negligence!” Rebecca said in tears.
Mary consoled her. “Don’t cry Rebecca, we’ll find a solution. Jesus is here. I shall go speak to him.”
Mary went to the wedding banquet and searched for Jesus in the crowd. Music and dancing filled the air with celebration and people were talking in loud voices over the noise.
Mary scanned the crowd. She spotted Jesus in the distance, talking with John and Andrew. Mary began walking towards Jesus. She observed there was an extraordinary radiance on Jesus’ face. There always was that shine when he spoke about God the Father and the eternal Home of Heaven.
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She remembered how years ago, when Jesus was a twelve-year-old child, he got lost in the Temple of Jerusalem. Joseph and Mary had frantically searched three whole days before they found him with the Teachers of the Law, discussing the Scriptures like a wise young man. That was the day she first saw the extraordinary shine on his face.
As she walked on toward Jesus, the words some village women spoke to her a few weeks ago after his baptism at the Jordan resonated in her mind.
“There is something extraordinary about your Son, Mary!” one lady had said to Mary after the strange happening at the Jordan River.
“He is a chosen one of God, a prophet!” exclaimed another.
Mary listened to these statements. She kept them in her heart but never spoke a word back.
Now, as she walked towards Jesus, these words were again echoing in her mind, but she couldn’t understand why.
Suddenly, within the deep depths of her heart, a gentle voice affirmed, “Mary, it is time.”
Mary stood still for a moment. She sensed the voice within. She knew it was God the Father. He was saying it was time to let go….
Mary’s steps slowly reached Jesus. He was engrossed in a discussion with John and Andrew, but the moment he saw his mother, he stopped, for he noticed her disturbed countenance.
“Yes, Mother?” Jesus asked.
“Jesus, they have run out of wine,” she informed.
Jesus stared at her, a bit confused, for her eyes were telling him something even deeper.
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“Don’t worry, Mother.” John assured, “We could hurry downtown and get wine before anyone figures it’s reached the bottom.”
“I know a friend who can help us. Shall we go?” asked Andrew.
Mary didn’t reply but just gazed on at Jesus.
Jesus’ mind raced back to memories of his childhood. The day he had been in the Temple of Jerusalem, at age twelve.
He had been staying close to Joseph and Mary like a good, obedient child. As he was passing by the hall where the Teachers had assembled to discuss the Scriptures, the statements made, captured his interest. They were talking about ‘God of Justice’ and ‘God of Mercy’- which is the true face of God? The comments made by some of them were not true, as they believed more in ‘Justice’ than ‘Mercy’ and were painting God’s image as that of a harsh, severe lawmaker who breaks those who break His law.
Zeal for God’s truth took hold of him and, forgetting that he was just a twelve-year-old boy who ought to be with his parents at the moment, Jesus stepped in and joined the discussion, much to the amazement and amusement of the Teachers. But once Jesus spoke, the Teachers were convinced that Jesus was well-versed with the Scriptures and welcomed him to share his views.
He did later think of his parents but thought they would understand - God the Father desires this of him now. After all, they knew he was the Son of God and this was his Mission.
Three days later, when Joseph and Mary, after a long, frantic search, finally found him in the Temple and informed him how worried they had been about him- only then did he realize how anxious they had been about his disappearance.
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At that moment, on an impulse, he replied, “Why did you have to be so worried? Didn’t you know I have to be about my Father’s work?” Jesus did not know that statement would hurt them so much.
It was when he observed the sad faces of his parents after this remark that he realized he shouldn’t have said it, for it seemed rude. He felt sorry he had hurt his parents by straying away from them and now, by saying something in a blunt way.
Jesus’ eyes welled with tears as his parents looked at each other and silently left the room.
One Teacher said, “Boy, would you like to stay on with us for the discussions? We could ask your parents for permission.”
Jesus shook his head. “No, I am going back home with them.”
He followed his parents to the Temple gate. His heart was beating hard. In his heart, he prayed, “Abba Father, I surrender myself to the Mission You have entrusted me with, for You are my Father and I am Your Son. But kindly consider my obligation to these parents in whose care You have placed me, Joseph and Mary….Abba direct me through them. Put Your words in their hearts and let them speak Your will to me. From now on, reveal Your will to me through them.” Jesus then clutched onto Joseph’s and Mary’s hands firmly, smiled at them warmly, and walked home to Nazareth with them.
Now, as Jesus gazed into Mary’s eyes - he could see her heart had been moved by God the Father, and her words had been inspired by His Word. She wasn’t asking him to go buy wine, but to make wine, do a miracle!
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John interrupted Jesus’ thoughts as he asked, “Shall we go, Jesus?”
Jesus wanted to speak with his mother, but he couldn’t openly say what he wanted to say because John and Andrew were there.
Instead, Jesus said to her, “What does it mean to you and me? It is not my time yet.” He gazed into her eyes for an affirmation. Did she mean what he thought she meant?
Just then, Rebecca arrived with her servants. “Jesus, will you be able to help us?” she asked.
Mary pulled her gaze away from Jesus and said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
The servants nodded in submission and looked at Jesus for instructions.
Jesus’ gaze was still fixed on his mother. He knew her heart was bleeding. If he did a miracle here now, it would reveal his power to the crowd. It would mark the beginning of his Mission. He would have to leave Nazareth- his home, and his mother, and begin a new journey to the ends of the earth. Mary would from now be alone in her little home of Nazareth –alone with sweet memories of Joseph and Jesus to cherish.
Jesus closed his eyes for a moment and prayed in his heart,
“Abba Father, please take care of her. Give her strength.”
He then turned to the servants and directed, “Fill those stone jars with water.”
The servants hurried to fill water in the six stone jars placed near the entrance for the ceremonial cleansing. When they were all filled to the brim, Jesus walked towards the jars.
He said a silent prayer over each jar and touched them. Then he turned to the servants and said, “Serve it to the guests.”
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The servants looked at each other curiously. One of them went towards the first jar and dipped a cup into it. He sipped the liquid, and his eyes bulged out, bewildered.
“The water has turned into wine!” he exclaimed excitedly.
One by one, the servants eagerly tasted it and were amazed.
Joyfully, they served the ‘miracle wine’ to the guests.
“You have kept the best for last!” commented one guest as he sipped at his second helping.
Andrew and John were overjoyed.
“Truly Jesus is ‘The One’!” exclaimed John jubilantly.
Andrew and John lifted Jesus on their shoulders and danced their way into the merry crowd, absorbed in music and celebration.
Jesus looked one last time at his mother. She lifted her hand in a gesture of blessing and managed a faint smile. Her eyes trailed Jesus as John and Andrew disappeared with him in the crowd.
Then, she went to a lonely corner and burst out into loud sobs. She knew that from this moment on, a new chapter begins in her life with her Son…of separation and agony, that would end on the Hill of Calvary.
Today he had turned water into wine …the day would come when he would transform wine into His Blood!
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The JC Team
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