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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: TASTE (07/01/21)
“Why are you looking so glum, Micah? A wedding is a time for joy and celebration in Cana! Aren’t you happy for Gamliel and his beautiful bride Joanna?”

“Yes, of course I am, mother. But something unthinkable has happened…it is only day five of the feast, but already the wine is nearly gone!”

“Impossible! Your father is serving as the master of the feast, and surely he wouldn’t let something so important go unnoticed!”

“But remember, mother, this is his first time to oversee such an event, and there are many guests.”

“That is true, my son. We will have to think of something so that he does not bring embarrassment to himself or Gamliel’s family.”

As Micah’s mother, Leah, withdrew to ponder the situation, she was greeted by her close friend Mary.

“My dear Leah! What could possibly make you look so anxious during such a happy occasion?”

“Oh, Mary! I know I can confide in you the cause of my distress. Micah has just told me that the wine is running out, and I don’t want Nissim, my husband, to be blamed. It is his first time being a wedding feast master. How could he live down the shame of embarrassing Gamliel’s family?”

“Let me speak to my son,” Mary consoled.

“Does Jesus have friends who are winemakers?” Leah replied, a touch of sarcasm in her voice. Then she caught herself and added, “I’m sorry, Mary. I know you mean well. Go ahead and mention it to Jesus. I just don’t want the news to spread back to the bridegroom’s family.”

Leaving her distraught friend, Mary found Jesus and whispered what Leah had shared with her.

With a mock-stern voice, Jesus replied, “Dearest woman, why are you telling me this? Is now the time for me to do such a thing?”

Saying nothing, Mary took his hand and led him past the guests to Micah, who was sitting behind several empty jars that had previously held water for purification rites. Micah’s elbows were on his knees, his head in his hands. He scrambled to his feet as Mary and Jesus approached.

“Micah, your mother told me what has happened. Gather as many servers as you can find and do whatever my son tells you.” Mary gave Jesus’s hand a small squeeze and left. Jesus looked at Micah, a slight smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

With his eyes cast down, Micah started to shake his head slightly and murmur, “But what….” As he raised his head and his eyes met those of Jesus, however, he stopped and felt an indescribable sense of peace come over him. He had no idea how Jesus could help, but something in the gaze of Mary’s son told him everything was somehow going to be okay.

Micah immediately assembled a group of wedding servers. Jesus said, “Refill these jars with water.” His voice was calm yet carried a sense of authority. The servers obeyed.

Jesus’s next words were unexpected. “Draw from the jars and take some to the master of the feast so that he may taste it.” The eyes of Micah and the servers widened with disbelief, and Micah was about to say something but then stopped himself. Mary had sounded so confident, and hadn’t he, Micah, experienced a feeling of peace in Jesus’s presence just a few moments ago? He nodded to the servers, and they again obeyed.

Nissim was laughing jovially when the servers approached him with cups in hand. Having already performed this task several times over the past few days, Nissim took one of the cups to taste for his approval with hardly a pause in his mirth-filled conversation. After an initial sip, however, Nissim suddenly put up his hand for silence. Seeing his son, he told him to fetch Gamliel. Micah obeyed nervously, trying not to think about what might happen next.

When the bridegroom arrived, Nissim’s previously unreadable face broke into a broad grin. He slapped Gamliel on the back and proclaimed, “Most hosts serve their good wine first, but Gamliel has kept the best wine for now!” Everyone cheered and began asking for their cups to be refilled.

Astonished, Micah started searching for Jesus. But Mary’s son had slipped away through the crowd and could not be found, leaving Micah and his mother with rejoicing hearts in God’s provision and a miraculous story they were sure to share with Nissim after the wedding was over.
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This article has been read 353 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Sue Botte 
07/10/21
Well done, a creative and memorable re-telling of a known parable. Keep writing.
Laura Manley
07/11/21
I liked this entry very much. I can't think of anything I would change. Well done!
Bea Edwards 
07/12/21
Wonderful retelling of Jesus's first recorded miracle.

The one thing that stood out to me was when Leah sarcastically asked Mary if Jesus knew any wine makers...haha, that was a perfect addition.

Well done.
Laura Manley
07/15/21
Congratulations on your third-place win!
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
07/16/21
I really enjoyed this retelling of the Bible story. You did a fine job of bringing it to life. I'd suggest you add some tag lines to make it easier for reader to understand who is speaking, or even better add some body language to show who is speaking. For example: "Yes, of course, Mother, but something unthinkable has happened." Micah tipped his head as he felt his cheeks growing warm. "The wine is nearly gone! What should we do? Everyone will mock Father!" Notice I tightened it up some to make it a bit shorter and more authentic. Often when someone is upset, sentences might be halting, incomplete sentence and go against everything you were taught in school. But try to make it sound a bit more authentic. I also capped Mother and Father because they are being used as proper nouns. Example of proper noun: I'm going to tell Mother. Example of common noun:I'm going to tell my mother.
You do a great job of moving the story forward, developing the characters, and covering topic while delivering a clear Christian message. Congratulations on ranking 3rd in your level and 19th overall. The highest rankings can be found on the message boards.