NOTE: THESE CHAPTERS ARE NOW AVAILABLE IN A MUCH IMPROVED, EXPANDED BOOK, "A SWORD SHALL PIERCE YOUR SOUL" from FriesenPress
In the following weeks, Jesus came and went from his Nazareth home. Mary was never quite sure what he was all up to as he often left early and came home late. He didn't always take the time to tell her what he had been doing or where he had been. Sometimes he still stayed at home and helped his brothers out with some of their work. They all appreciated this for they had really come to love Jesus as a son and sibling.
Mary did know from some of the things that Jesus said and also what occasionally drifted back to her through her neighbors that Jesus was making new friends around the Sea of Galilee. Some of them were apparently young fishermen. It seemed that he was gathering them to himself as followers and beginning to develop something of a reputation as a teacher, perhaps even a rabbi, according to some. Mary also learned that the people who heard Jesus’ teaching were very impressed with his conviction and originality.
It so happened, that about that time, Mary and her family were invited to a wedding in the nearby village of Cana. Marry was able to let Jesus know that he was also welcome to attend. He was not home when Mary decided to leave for the wedding. However, she was not surprised to find Jesus already there, along with some of his new friends (John 2:1-2). He seemed glad to have the opportunity to introduce them to his mother. She, in turn, seemed to find them good enough company for him. She took a special liking to one of them, whose name she learned was John. He seemed to be a very gentle soul, and he told her intently what a good companion Jesus was turning out to be and how she ought to be very proud of him.
The wedding proceedings were carried out and then everyone settled in for what they all enjoyed most, the feast. Suddenly, Mary noticed, that to the horror of the steward of the feast, it looked as though the wine was running out. Mary knew from some things that she had seen Jesus do around home and in their community that he cared significantly when people ran into troubles such as these, where they were not really totally to blame. She had also seen some things that indicated to her that he indeed appeared to possess powers such as she had heard about that prophets of the past had. Sometimes these powers had enabled these individuals to perform what appeared to be miracles.
Something stirred within Mary and she felt obliged to informed Jesus of the distress of the steward of the wedding feast. Jesus was enjoying feast with his friends and his rather curt apply to her plea seemed a bit out of character for him. He had simply said, “Woman, why are you saying this to me? My time has not yet come (John 2:4).” However, the last sentence of his response told her even more strongly that she was on the right track with her request of him.
She quietly withdrew but not before she said to some servants in passing, " Whatever he tells you, do it (John 2:5).” Mary retreated to her place but kept her eyes on Jesus, believing that something very much out of the ordinary was about to happen. She was not disappointed.
“There were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washing, each holding twenty or thirty gallons (John 2:6).” Mary observed, with no little pleasure, that Jesus, in spite of his remark, seemed to be following through with her request anyway.She heard Jesus tell the servants, “Fill the water jars with water.” So they filled them up to the very top. Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the head steward,” and they did (John 2:7-8). The servants were well aware that Jesus was something of a guest of honor, given that he had been welcomed with his small retinue of young followers, so they did not question what they were told to do. When the head steward, at their request, tasted what they brought him, he was amazed. He thought that the wine supply head been used up. The servants could see that there was something different about what he was tasting but he did not speak to them. Instead, he quickly turned and called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the cheaper wine when the guests are drunk. You have kept the good wine until now (John 9-10)!”
Mary was both relieved and pleased at the turn of events. She understood immediately what had happened and it did not take long for Jesus' friends to also realize what had happened and soon everyone was thanking Jesus for his amazing help. Some of the young men not knowing if Mary had kept abreast of what had happened, came to tell her what they had seen. She smiled and told them that this was just a beginning of what they could expect from their new friend, Jesus.
"You already know from your own experience," she said to them, "that Jesus is no ordinary young man. Who knows this better than his mother? I tell you, I have been told about these things since before his birth, and I am only beginning to see come to pass what has been prophesied to me by angels and people of wisdom alike. Jesus is a very special servant of The Most High, as I know you are beginning to see for yourself."
As far as Mary knew, and Jesus friends corroborated this, this was the first of his miraculous signs. In doing this he revealed in a new way what Mary and the young men with him all came to understand as his glory, and it made these young men, Jesus’ disciples, believe in him all the more.
Mary and some of Jesus’ followers were still talking about this when Jesus joined them himself.
“I think I’ve had enough of weddings for today,” he said with a laugh as he sat down beside his mother. Looking fondly into her eyes he went on, “Mother, why don’t you and the family come down to Capernaum for a few days and see where I am staying and what I am doing?”
There was nothing Mary would have liked to do more at that moment. As if reading her concern before she could voice it, Jesus added, nodding towards his friends and looking about at them as if to get agreement, “We’ll come down to your house and help you get things in order and ready to come with us.”
The young men with Jesus all voiced their agreement. So, it was arranged and off they went (John 2:12). Not without Mary noticing Jesus’ use of the phrase ‘your house’ though. She couldn’t help but reflect with some sadness, ‘My son is really growing up and moving on. He doesn’t even call our home his anymore.’
