When Jesus Wept - By Bodie Page 0,68
finished the tale. “And so the master made a bargain with the Roman to take me home and never to set me free again! I am a happy slave in the House of Lazarus!”
This evoked cheers from all.
“Blessed be our master.”
“. good master of the vines.”
“Lazarus!”
“The Lord bless the House of Lazarus forever!”
“Our master went out in search of one lost sheep.”
Carta yelped, “And he brought home the goat!”
I asked, “Adrianna, tell us. What are your thoughts of your betrothed coming home so soon?”
The girl blushed and tucked herself under the arm of Patrick. She gazed up at him with doe-eyes. He bent and wiped her tears with his thumb.
She tried to speak. “I think … I think that … I shall only be happier when it is my wedding day!”
Samson stepped up to me and bowed slightly. He whispered, “The cottage is all finished. We kept working even after he was away. We believed you would bring him back. Sir, if you don’t mind me saying, by faith, our preparations for a wedding are well under way. A bath and fresh clothes are what Patrick needs, and then … we’ve got the guests. Everyone who loves us is here. And the food. There’s plenty of wine. Here’s the bride, my daughter … all blushing and filled with joy! And now the bridegroom has come to us. Can we not celebrate his return with a wedding feast?”
“Someone call the rabbi!” I commanded. “Tonight will be the wedding feast of Patrick and Adrianna!”
There was a cheer from all at the news. Adrianna burst into fresh tears.
Patrick beamed. “If I had known, I would have galloped all the way without stopping!”
Old Delilah embraced her blushing daughter. “My darling girl, my beautiful baby girl, come!” She commanded the children, “Hurry now. There are flowers on the hillside. Go pick flowers for the bride to carry!”
Samson shrugged. “Why wait? Why wait? You never know what tomorrow will bring.”
I ordered that the finest wedding clothes be provided for Patrick. I longed only for sleep after my journey, but who could deny the momentum of joy? Giving my little white mare into the care of the stable boy, I hurried into the house.
As I bathed, the tempo of the music increased outside. Laughter spilled over the walls and splashed through my window. I glanced at the western sky. In the distance, Jerusalem crowned the mountain. I remembered my own wedding day. No day ever like it before or since. I imagined what it would be like when Messiah, the true heavenly Bridegroom, set his foot upon the Mount of Olives as the prophets foretold. The lion would lay down with the lamb. The Lord would teach our children in the streets of Jerusalem. Our oppressors would be cast out from us. Surely I would live to see that day.
I emerged into the twilight. The wedding preparations were complete. Children adorned the wedding canopy with flowers, and petals were strewn around the grounds. In the distance I saw Samson bringing the rabbi to our celebration.
I remembered Jesus at the wedding in Cana, blessing wine he had created from water.
“Blessed are you, O Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine …”
It was Jesus who created the fruit of the vine that night. My thoughts leapt at the meaning of the miracle and the significance of the words of the prayer of thanks. “Blessed are you, O Lord … Creator!”
Wine from water? Impossible for mere man. But the light had shown upon Jesus when he recited the blessing and passed the chalice.
Without Jesus, water was just water. When I tasted the wine Jesus made, I knew his vineyard, like his kingdom, could not be of this earth.
As Patrick and I had returned home, in joy, I fully believed in the meaning of Jesus’ miracles. No doubt remained in my mind.
Jesus was the True Vine. Jesus was the heavenly wine. Jesus was Messiah, the true Bridegroom of Israel, come down from heaven to redeem his people.
Martha was the commanding general, organizing all parts of the wedding with military precision. Never mind that Patrick and Adrianna were Gentiles by heritage. Martha ordered that the nuptials be executed like any Jewish wedding. There would be no mistakes. No dish underdone. No lamp unlit. No musician faltering in his song. It was understood by all that the festivities would be perfect and filled with joy … or else.
Patrick asked me to stand for him as groomsman