HERO | A Children's Book Connecting Jesus' Ministry To ElishaSample

The next morning we hurry and dress in our finest linen and head into the lower part of Cana in Galilee where the wedding is to be held at a simple and poor-looking house called a Kefr-Kenna (a little house near the edge of our village). They pass around the wine and drink in celebration of the new marriage. Off in the corner, the bridegroom—the host of the party—smiles from ear to ear with red wine dripping down his black beard. He calls for more wine. 

My smile stretches just as far as my ears are apart, and I look up at my Saba to see his reaction, but I find no reflection of joy on his face. Saba is not smiling. He even looks a bit concerned. 

“Saba” I ask, “What’s the matter?” 

 Saba explains that the wine had run out, which is a horrible thing to happen at a party. While Saba speaks, a commotion arises from the back of the room, and I pull away from Saba. I move through the crowd until I stand by a man who stands with his mother. At the same time that the bridegroom had run out of wine, this man calls for six empty jars to be brought to him—jars we use in our worship. 

 The man, raising his hand over the jars ever so slightly as if also to quiet our voices, allows the tip of his finger to hover over the water, being careful not to touch it. The water begins to stir; the water churns. I cannot believe my eyes as I step in even closer to watch the clear liquid bubble into a brilliant red. It is as if this man’s finger is a vine and out from it flows new wine.

 The people dip a cup into the jars and bring it to the host, and as he drinks, he jumps to his feet and spits out the wine as he exclaims in absolute surprise. “What is this ... ” he says, “the best wine? 

 Still stunned, and meaning to ask a question in my head, I mutter aloud, “is this E ... li .... sh ... a ... I mean the ...” I gulp, “the Messiah, our King?”