Oh, the vows[1] were exchanged with great joy and applause. It would appear that just about everyone in town has come for the celebration, and are joined by folks from all around. They honor this house. They are also eating and drinking more than I could have imagined. Separate conversations are going on all over the room, at the same time, as if they are in small groups of old friends. Laughter abounds, but no snide retorts. These people are enjoying each other’s company!
The love of this couple seems to glow as the stars in the night. And the guests genuinely seem to have warm feelings for this couple. Ah yes, I have seen other banquets where that was not the case.
“Would you like some more wine sir?”
“Certainly! Thank you!”He replies.
Well, I better get this pitcher filled. My supply is getting low.
That jar is empty. And so is this one! And this one! Oh my! The wine is all gone! The banquet attendees continue to eat, yet there is nothing else that they can drink!
This is notacceptable on my watch! But what can we possibly do to save face? I must tell the mistress, though I cannot imagine what she could do to change this. This will bring disgrace on this house, and on this blessed couple…
“Mistress, I cannot begin to guess how this has happened, but it appears that we are out of wine.”
Rather than reply to me, she could only turn to her good friend, with a bit of a gasp and some tears, and tell her what I just said. Now that friend comforts her and walks a short distance away with clear intent in her steps.
Oh, I see, she went to speak to a man, telling him what has happened, no doubt. He looks familiar, but I can’t place him. Could he possibly be a wine merchant?
“Woman, why do you involve me?” that man says, though the tone of his voice shows no offense.
“My hour has not yet come” he continues.
What hour is that? Is he an entertainer, or perhaps he scheduled a delivery, or a meeting with someone important?
Now she walks toward me.
“Do whatever he tells you”she says.
But he didn’t sound like he is going to do anything at all and, after all, what could he possibly do to make any significant difference right now, this very hour? Now he walks towards me also.
“Fill the jars with water”he says.
Does he not know that those jars he pointed to are for ceremonial washing, not for celebratory consumption? These people cannot drink water from these jars. That would not be appropriate, or healthy, or pleasant. Perhaps he intends for us to clean up now, though how we would send these people on their way at this point I do not know.
I had better gather some of the other servants. This will not be easy. These are mighty large jars.
“You all, help me fill these jars.”
Moses did a miracle in Egypt, turning water into blood[2]. Is this man’s mind clear enough to know the difference between water, blood and wine?
“Keep bringing in more water to pour into the jars. Be sure to fill them right up to the brim.”
Who will have the strength to draw enough water from the well to finish this task?
It appears that this is being completed faster than I expected. They are almost all full. The man is watching, but he makes no announcement, gathers no crowd.
Hmm. What is this? Now that they are filled, the fluid kind of looks like wine. It even smells like wine! But I know where it came from.
“Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” He says.
How can I do such a thing? My days are surely numbered. No one can make good wine so quickly, even if they use grapes, which we surely did not do. But that woman told me to do whatever he said…
There is the Master of the Banquet over there. It looks like he has become aware of our shortage. How can I explain any of this? Will this come back upon my own head as if I were Haman[3]? This was just a mistake after all, not an attempt to deceive or to shame. I am just doing what that man told me to do, though I do not even know who he is or what he has to do with all this…
“Sir, will you sample this?”
I was unable to hide the quiver in my voice when I said that. Surely, he noticed. This could go badly, and very quickly…
Now he is calling aside the bridegroom. What could that possibly mean?
“Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”
The bridegroom looks confused, but he willingly accepts the accolade. He just looked at me with a smile!
What a relief! The Master of the Banquet thinks it is choice wine! Could he be right? This is impossible, yet I saw it happen. I had better figure out how I can try some myself!
And I suppose we need to start serving this to the guests as well.
This miracle worker must think very highly of this household to use one of his miracles on this celebration, yet he made no announcement – took no credit…
They called him Yeshua[4]. He certainly saved me today, and this wonderful couple!
He could he have provided wine to drink without money? Or was it, in fact, without cost? Will someone have to pay later[5]?
Given the size of these jars, we now have far more wine than we will be able to use at this banquet. Hmm, rather like Elijah and the jar of oil that just kept delivering, it would seem.
If I knew anyone who was truly thirsty[6], I would send them to him!
Who is this man they called Yeshua? I do not believe that he is married yet, but he clearly thinks highly of wedding celebrations[7]. What will his wedding be like? He can make his own wine, and indeed it tastes really good. I wonder what he could turn into bread. Providing the lamb for so many people seems like a harder proposition, but I expect he could come up with something. It seems likely that he could host as many guests as are willing to come, without concern for the price.
I can’t quite imagine what kind of bride he would have. Weak or strong? Pure, or with a history? Ready to serve, or to be served?
Whenever that day may be, I hope I am invited. What a blessing that would be! Anyone who knows what he is capable of doing would be a fool to refuse that invitation!
Seeing the way he relates to these guests, I expect he is an upright man. He is kind, and does not defend or aggrandize himself, whatever others say of him, and it appears that their comments display quite a variety of opinions. They don’t even know what he did today, and he seems fine with that. On my best days I can only hope to be like him.
(c) 2018 Chuck Curtiss
To read other similar stories in this series see The Witness List.
Based on John 2:2-10
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[1]Genesis 2:24, Ecclesiastes 9:9
[2]Exodus 7:20
[3]Esther 9:25
[4]Literally means “God saves”. This is the same Hebrew name s Joshua, who brought his people into the promised land as Moses’ (Moishe) successor.
[6]Isaiah 55
[7]Isaiah 62:5, Hosea 2:19-20
Percipient Witnesses 