Seventeen

But it again drew toward evening, and John invited Thomas and Nathanael and Ezra to stay with Philip at his house there in Capernaum, so that they would not have to face the trek they had made the previous night and morning. There was only one other room for the three of them, John said, but it was large enough so that they could share it without much discomfort. "We can put some straw on the floor to make temporary beds, and it should be comfortable enough."

The others agreed, and they went off after John and James.

It turned out that Simon and Andrew had the house next door (where Jesus and his mother were staying): the one Nathanael took Thomas to, though, John said, walking by Thomas's side, they had only recently come here, in order to team up with Zebedee and his family; "They are originally from Bethsaida, and it was becoming a nuisance to come here from there or for us to go there from here, so they moved. Jesus himself, you know, is not from here, but from Nazareth, up not far from Cana."

Thomas nodded. "Tell me, I have been wondering," he said. "What was his occupation up to now? Something physical, I expect; he does not look much like my idea of a rabbi."

"Oh, he is not--that is, he was not. He was a carpenter until just last year. Had you not heard of him and his father Joseph? I thought everyone knew them."

"Joseph. Oh, yes, I seem to have heard the name. We never had much of any need for a carpenter, and so would not have sought him."

"The whole area will have to find a new one," said John. "The Master has clearly begun a different career, and Joseph, poor man, has some kind of a heart condition that prevents his working any longer."

"That is sad."

"Well, Jesus's mother says that he is not in any pain, but is exhausted most of the time, if he tries to do anything strenuous. And from what I have been able to gather, working with wood is a good deal more strenuous than fishing, unless you are plying the oars."

"I wonder that Jesus cannot do something for him." said Thomas. He was obviously wondering why Jesus had not cured him, given what he had done with John's father.

"I asked his mother that very thing," he answered, "and she said that he had his reasons--of which I have no doubt."

As they reached the house, John pointed out the little boat that Jesus had made, and they spent a short time admiring it. John then introduced the three to his parents, watching their eyes widen as they saw a black man among them, and they had their evening meal (Philip had run ahead at James's request to warn Rachel beforehand that there would be more guests) and settled themselves down to sleep--in conditions rather better than those John had slept in with Andrew and Simon.

As he lay down, curiosity about what was "rocky" about Simon pestered his thoughts for almost a quarter of an hour, until sleep intervened.

The next day, after a rather festive breakfast, they donned their wedding garments and joined the others at their customary meeting-place. John was rather amused to see Andrew moving a bit stiffly in Ezra's clothes; the tunic just barely fit him, and he seemed afraid that if he made any sudden move, he would rip it--which was a real possibility. But if he kept himself relatively still, as Ezra predicted, he looked fine--quite elegant, in fact--in it. It was fascinating to think that these were the clothes Ezra wore when he wanted extra freedom.

Thomas took himself apart with Jesus in earnest conversation, doubtless about how he was to behave with respect to the wine. John saw him stroke his side, where he suspected he kept some wine as a kind of insurance, since he always looked guilty when he did this, and so some of the conversation probably had to do with whether he was wise in keeping it and had to get rid of it, or whether it might make the transition to sobriety easier, if he had the idea that if things became unbearable, he had something to rescue himself with--and thus things never would become totally intolerable, and the rescue would never be needed. If this were what was going on, it was a dangerous tactic, but conceivably it might work. John looked on the two of them with pity for Thomas, and sorrow for Samuel, which he was coming more to resemble, now that he had some food in him.

John heard Jesus say, "And do not be worrying. There is nothing to worry about as long as you put your trust in me."

"I will try, Master. Thank you."

Jesus chuckled, as if he were anticipating something amusing, John wondered what it was. But what he said was good advice. John felt by no means confident that he could escape the dangers he might face. Suppose Ezra meant something when he said that John was "cute, with your muscles and your curly hair"? And suppose he followed up on that? Would John be able to resist? "On my own, no," he said half aloud. Well, the Master would have to keep watch on him, and doubtless would tell him--had told him--"there is nothing to worry about as long as you put your trust in me."

At any rater, nothing had happened so far. John fought the feeling of disappointment at this.

The moments that seemed hours passed, and eventually so did the hours, and John finally found himself congratulating the bride and groom, whom he thought he had met once, and after enduring desultory conversation as long as he could bear it, he wandered over by himself a bit behind Jesus, who was joined shortly by his mother. Interestingly, Ezra had spotted his mother approaching Jesus and had quietly placed himself next to John, to see what would happen between them.

Mary said to Jesus, "They have no wine."

He turned to look at her, with some consternation. "What is that to you, Madam, or to me? My moment has not come yet."

She looked back, saying nothing with her mouth, but everything with her eyes, and apparently received, if not an answer, at least a kind of permission, and then turned to the servers, who happened to be standing by. "Do whatever he tells you," she said.

Jesus stroked his beard, and looked around, pondering what he could do, and then spotted six stone water-jars standing by the wall, fully waist high. He turned to the waiters and said, "Fill the jars with water."

They looked at each other, and then shrugged in a "Well, why not?" kind of way, and three of them fetched pitchers of water--rather large ones--and went out back to the stream, filled them and after a short time, the water-jars were full to the brim.

"Draw it out now," said Jesus, "and take it to the one in charge."

Once again they shrugged, and then their eyes widened as they smelled the "water" they were now taking out of the jars. They brought it over, and when the one overseeing the feast tasted the wine, He asked where they had got it, and when they gestured toward the water-jars, he said, "And he kept it there? This?" and immediately beckoned to the groom, who had a look of humiliation on his face. When he came over, he whispered, "Everyone serves his good wine first, and then when people have begun to feel the effects, he uses the poorer quality. But you have kept the good wine until now!" The groom was completely bewildered, and the steward said, "Well, taste it," and gave him a cup of the wine that the servers had brought over. Now it was the groom's eyes that widened, and when the steward said, "How much of this do you have?" he looked helplessly at the servers, who answered, "Oh, we have enough, never fear!" and added under their breath with glee, "Enough to supply an army!"

"Well, serve it!" said the steward, and they returned to the water-jars and began filling cups and handing them around. John and Ezra looked at each other.

As the servers began serving the new wine, there arose murmurs of delight among the recipients, who evidently had not yet drunk enough not to be able to tell the difference between what they had been drinking and what they had just been served.

Thomas moved over to Ezra, who had once again drifted into an inconspicuous corner, and said, "What did they say to each other?"

A server came by, and John took a cup. The wine was superb, as he had imagined. He kept himself within earshot.

"So you saw me spying, did you?" said Ezra.

"I could see that you had the same idea I had," answered Thomas.

Ezra explained what he had seen, and then Thomas said, "I heard him tell them to draw it out and take it to Zephaniah."

"--Who was astounded that Saul would have kept the good wine until then," continued Ezra. "He had no idea what he was saying, of course, but when he got the idea that they had plenty of wine, you could see that he did not care, he was so relieved."

"You are sure that it was water?"

"No question about it. I saw where they got it. I doubt if Saul has a wine-creek behind his house."

"And it is wine now, is it?"

"Either that, or Zephaniah cannot tell the difference between wine and water."

At this point, a server passed, and Ezra took a cup from him, tasting it. "Indeed," he said, and took another taste. "You know," he said, "Bartholomew never drank anything but the finest wines, and therefore neither did I. But we never had anything like this! Incredible!" He looked compassionately at Thomas. "A pity you cannot taste it--but . . ."

"I know."

"I think it would be better for me to withdraw, so that I will no longer tempt you." He went back to John, and said, "Ah, you already have some."

"He outdid himself."

"That is certainly true. I hope if he ever plays a joke on me, it will be of this caliber!"

"But behold Thomas," John said. Just then, the groom himself came over with a couple of cups of wine, and said, "But you have nothing to drink. We cannot have that. Take this, and I will fetch another one for my--wife." And he handed it to Thomas, who took it, wondering where Jesus was. Well, he had told him that he could take it if refusing it meant being insulting. But what was he to do with it?

"He looks as if he is going to taste it! Where is Jesus?" And then they spotted him, almost at the same moment Thomas did; and he was looking straight at Thomas.

Thomas held out the cup a bit, and looked a question.

Jesus nodded, and took a sip of his own wine, which certainly seemed to be permission to drink. He looked a question at him again, and Jesus again nodded.

"He is actually telling him to drink it!" exclaimed John.

"Something strange is going on," said Ezra, and began to move in Thomas's direction.

But not before Nathanael had reached him after he had taken a sip and then looked up with the strangest expression on his face, in which surprise, profound disappointment, and relief were mingled.

Nathanael said, from behind, "Do you think that wise, Thomas, so soon?"

"Taste it." said Thomas, handing him the cup.

"Oh," said Nathanael, who blushed and left. Something strange was indeed happening.

Ezra was right behind Nathanael. He said nothing, of course, but merely made himself visible at the edge of Thomas's sight. Thomas also handed the cup to him, and he too said, "Oh," and, stifling laughter, faded into the place he had chosen next to John.

"What is it?" asked John.

"What we should have expected. That cup was nothing but water."

"Indeed? How like him!" So that was why he had that amused look on his face earlier; he was anticipating this.

"And now what?" said Ezra, as he looked over at Mary approaching Thomas. "I think you must excuse me, John, but it looks as if there is something else that I would not like to miss."

"I rather think they wish to be private, Ezra."

"They will not mind me. No one minds that a slave is standing by."

John was anything but certain of this, but what could he do? If he tried to follow them as they went outside, he would only be calling attention to them, which was clearly what Mary did not wish. She doubtless had something important to say to Thomas, and if Jesus thought that it was to be kept from Ezra, he would see to the matter. Certainly, one of the things Ezra had learned as a slave was to be discreet, so there was no chance that he would divulge anything. And who knew? If Jesus did not intervene, it might be something Ezra also needed to know.

John was by this time beginning to be completely overwhelmed by the crowd, and himself went outside, where he found a bench by himself, and sat and contemplated the sky and the very beautiful garden, with insects buzzing around the flowers. It turned into one of his magic moments, and kept him spellbound for a considerable time, until James found him.

"You are all right?" he said. "I have been looking for you, wondering what happened to you."

"Oh, I am fine--now," said John. "You know how I cannot stand these gatherings. It simply became too much for me, and I found a place where I could be myself."

"I was hoping that was what it was. But you know how you are. Either you go away and deflate, as it were, or you become more and more frantic and are apt to start a fistfight."

"I know. I did not want that to happen. Especially after everything else had worked out so favorably."

"Then all is well? I expect people will be taking their leave soon."

"I will join you shortly. I am almost back to my normal self."

"Very well." And he left.

Shortly afterward, Ezra came by, and said, "Ah, there you are."

"You have completed your spying, then."

"I have," he said a but smugly. "But I am sorry to say that I cannot tell you the results of it. I do not think they would wish that it be revealed. But I can tell you this: If you have a lofty opinion of who or what Jesus is, it is not lofty enough! Not anywhere nearly enough! It is incredible!" He went away shaking his head.

Well, perhaps he would learn what this was all about some day, John thought. He rose and joined the people taking leave of the bride and groom.

And there was Thomas, looking as if he had had a revelation even more amazing than that of the water into the wine except in his own cup. John and James persuaded him and Nathanael and Ezra to stay with them the next few nights as they prepared to go to Judea for the feast of the Passover, which was quite near.

The next day, they began forming themselves into a semi-nomadic company, with provisions for cooking their own food and tents for shelter outside. It seemed that this was to be their normal condition from now on, rather than imposing constantly on the hospitality of those in Capernaum. They would need all this, of course, on the trip to Jerusalem, which they planned to take along the valley of the Jordan river this time, rather than going directly through Samaria.

Several others had joined them also, including a number of women, who occupied themselves with the material needs of the group. Ezra became a kind of liaison between the men and the women, since he had taken care of the domestic duties with Nathanael when they had lived together in the "cottage" beside his father's mansion, a cottage which Thomas described to John as twice as large as his father's house. Thomas had apparently not been brought to see the mansion itself, for some reason John did not think it was prudent to ask. There definitely was something between Bartholomew and his father, in spite of the fact that he was now increasingly being called by the patronymic rather than Natnanael.

John, who was sensitive to his surroundings, was always depressed once they left the rock-strewn, to be sure, but relatively lush hills of Galilee and sank lower and lower in the trench called the "Arabah," which had only a little strip of green beside the Jordan, with the hills--low mountains, actually--on either side nothing but gray dirt and rocks, with nothing--nothing--alive on them. Possibly some creatures roamed there, coming down to the river to drink, but one saw nothing at all, like land that had been prepared for planting and abandoned. And, of course, it grew hotter and hotter as they went south toward the Salt Sea, that dreadful place in which there were no fish or life of any kind, where one could not even sink, the water was so thick--and the surrounding land was covered with salt where the sea had been.

John wondered where all the salt had come from, since this was not part of the Great Sea to the west and had no connection with it or any other part of the ocean, but was fed only by the Jordan. Could it be that minute amounts of salt in the silt carried by the river accumulated here, as the water evaporated with the heat? There was no outlet to this "sea," John knew--the land was the lowest in the country--and the salt on the land around it argued that the whole area had once been covered by water. Perhaps the sea would someday shrink to a pond on which one could even walk. Imagine walking on water!--but no. If Ezekiel's prophesy was correct, the mountains somewhere to the west toward Jerusalem would split in two and a new source of water would well up from beneath the Temple, coming down here to make this lake huge and fresh, full of fish, with trees with medicinal leaves all around it.

John suddenly thought that this would probably happen in the time of the Prince, which was now! Perhaps cataclysms would accompany Jesus--beneficent cataclysms where the world would be transformed. And then perhaps Isaiah's writings were not simply imaginative poetry, and lions would in fact sleep with lambs beside them, which had no fear, because there would no longer be destruction!

Nonsense!

But then, a man had had his legs restored by a simple touch, and Thomas had been freed from something which had completely overwhelmed him, and ordinary water had at not even a word become superb wine! Who could say? Even these mountains, so gray and forbidding, might turn out to be lush and green! Why not?

And perhaps John himself would not have to fight off the demons inside him. Oh, if that could but come to pass!

Did he have that much trust in the Master? But had the thunder itself not called him his Son? And had he himself not told John in confidence that the Father and he were "one and the same thing?" Why not a complete transformation of the world? Perhaps this was what he was planning! And John was to be a part of it!

But how could one's mind embrace such thoughts? Or was it the very dreariness of the landscape that encouraged them? Because there had to be something better than this.

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