"They have no wine!"
I was serving that day at the wedding feast when Mary approached her son Yeshua with that unexpected statement. Everyone including myself turned to look at Yeshua in surprise and puzzlement. The questions in my mind were... "Why Him?! What can He do about it!"...He was only an invited guest! But apparently Mary, being somewhat in charge expected something to be done.
I saw Jesus cease from His conversation with His friends and turn to look at His mother in patient amusement. Smiling affectionately He spoke.
"Why are you telling me this? What does this have to do with me now! It's not yet time"
I observed a perplexed, searching look on Mary's face at this response as she looked at her Son with an apologetic smile. Then she suddenly turned to us as I stood there with my fellow servants and ordered, "Whatever He tells you to do, just do it! No questions. Just do it!"
"Yes Ma'am!"
With that cryptic command Mary stalked away to attend to other business.
All eyes turned to Yeshua in puzzlement and expectation. I recognized the serious potential for embarrassment to the wedding party and sincerely hoped that Yeshua had something up His sleeve…a winery maybe?!
His next words took us by surprise. Pointing to the six waterpots of stone lined up against the wall, He turned to us and said'
"Fill those waterpots with water!"
"Huh?! Water…!?"
Well I can do that! I know…it was not a hard thing that He asked. It was not hard to do from a physical viewpoint! Well within our ability to do!...but…Water?!
Bursting with curiosity we hastened to do His bidding. It seemed as though all present were agog with excitement and curiosity so we had eager and willing assistance. The waterpots were filled in record time!
There was subdued excitement as everyone awaited Yeshua's next move…and He looked directly at me and said "Pour out some and take it to the ruler of the feast!
There was absolute silence in the area. It seemed as if everyone had stopped breathing! Then a subdued swell of voices mingled in disbelief, amusement and shock rose in volume as everyone reacted to the command.
My first thought was, "You've got to be kidding me right?!!"
Then... "Impossible!!!"
Could you imagine it? Me taking water to the ruler of the feast when they wanted wine? A big No! I agree it was again not a hard thing that He had commanded me to do, but it was a ridiculous impossibility!
Mental!
My mind raced in a flurry of incoherent thoughts. I can take the water to the ruler…but I can't give the ruler water!...I am not crazy…I know it is water in that pot. I filled it with water. I saw them all filled with water!
WATER!!!.
I also knew what would come out of that jar!
Water!
My thoughts and attention were suddenly arrested as my eyes caught Yeshua's.
He was looking at me expectantly, patiently, and…can you believe it? There was even a glimmer of amusement! He understood my dilemma! Of course He did…and of all that I had heard of Him so far did, there was no indication that He was given to playing cruel practical jokes!
Against all commonsense…and doubt, I decided. To heck with it! I could only be fired once.
But Mary expected Jesus to do something and she did say "Whatever He said to you, do it!"
I can always say I simply obeyed Him, like Mary commanded!
I approached the nearest jar and gingerly poured out water into a cup. Everyone saw water filling the cup - plain ordinary water!
The crowd snickered
Did I expect anything else?!
I guess so for I felt foolish!
With a final searching look at Yeshua's face I proceeded with the cup in the direction of the governor.
That was the longest walk of my life. My feet seemed leaden, and the water - very ordinary water - continued to mock me with its plain ordinariness…sloshing around with glee at my stupidity!
But Yeshua said to do it and what He said I was to do! Thus Mary had commanded!
The crowd followed!
I had nearly reached the governor's table. I looked down into the cup! It was still water!
Taking a deep breath I thought, "Here goes nothing…and everything!" Then I offered the cup of still plain water to the governor.
The crowed stared!
With downcast eyes I awaited the furious sputtering and angry words to follow.
The crowd waited…silently!
I heard a pleased sigh and an exclamation of amazement. I glanced at the governor. He was wiping his mouth with his hands and I saw the red liquid before he wiped it away! Then I caught the smell of rich sweet wine!
I was astounded!
The crowd gasped! …and gaped…stupidly!
I probably had the same expression of stupefied amazement on my face.
I had handed over water in a cup in obedience to Yeshua's command!
Up to the last moment of handing over it had been just water!
But now - very obvious in the cup that the governor placed on the table - it was sweet red wine whose aroma filled the whole room.
I stared..and stared… unbelievingly as I caught the last words of the governor's sentence.
"…you have saved the best wine for the last!"
I heard no more…for I was looking back at the gentle and pleased face of Yeshua as the words of His mother re-echoed in my mind.
"Whatsoever He tells you to do, JUST DO IT!!!"
©2009
