Round Trip to Emmaus

By Paul Petrus

The story introduces courageous women who believed that, because the first contacts of the Messiah were with women, Jesus liberated women from brutal submissiveness in the first century. Yet, this viewpoint could still be applicable for religious women in our twenty-first century. This theory could be also acceptable to women involved in Christian communities and churches who believe they deserve to be elevated to be men's equals. "Paul Petrus is the pseudonym of the writer who retired as an Editor at Large and columnist for international media. The position and views of women during the first century and the life of Jesus enthused the writing of this novel."

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Aug 28, 2019
• ISBN: 9781645692690

Book preview

1

Cana Wedding Arrangements / Nazareth and Cana Venues

Nazareth and Cana Venues

Nazareth was the city where, about five years earlier, Cleopas, an official requisitioning agent for the Roman government, visited the town to place orders for furniture to be installed in the new state courthouse of Tiberius. Only the best material and craftsmanship were required by the government’s construction officials. Cleopas had several reliable suppliers and craftsmen whom he employed or ordered from for many years. One of his favorite contracting carpenter shops was that of Joseph, a quiet but very reliable man. He was not only master of his craft but also had an outstanding knowledge of good wood and where to find them in the mountains around Nain. Cleopas also trusted this supplier because he had two strong sons who worked for him and who, over time, became very well trained carpenters. The presence of these capable young men assured him that, should something happen to the old carpenter, or if he decided to retire, their business would have a viable contingency plan to continue as suppliers.

During this business visit to place orders with his Nazareth suppliers, Cleopas met with Ahab, who mentioned that his son would shortly be married to a very beautiful young girl from Cana, whose parents were of important social standing. Although Ahab was a wealthy carpenter who could afford a sumptuous event, he did not have the contacts to approach a capable caterer or know who were the right or influential people to invite to the wedding of his son.

Cleopas was immediately eager to advise and help Ahab. Because of this client’s reasonably priced work and products, for many years Cleopas had made generous profits from the units and furniture Ahab supplied.

I have very reliable business acquaintances in Cana who supplies wine, accommodations, and also does catering for all the important people from all over our country. Perhaps you have heard of them? They are Eliphaz and Nimfa, and I could introduce you to them if you would like me to do so, Cleopas offered.

Ahab responded with relief, That would help me out of a very tight situation, but that would not solve my embarrassment.

Embarrassment? Why? asked Cleopas in a soft tone.

I also need to contribute to the guest list. I must add the names of the important people that I would like to be invited as guests. And you should know that I work all hours of the day and night to comply with your sometimes-unreasonable delivery times, which does not leave me with much opportunity to socialize or tend to religious commitments, let alone to meet with all the fine-clothed people of our society. Ahab consciously rubbed his jagged beard.

Cleopas flashed Ahab a broad reassuring smile. Perhaps I could also help you with this embarrassment, as you call it. He promised Ahab that he would carefully draw up a guest list and ask Eliphaz and his wife to bring it along when they come over from Cana to discuss the wedding arrangements.

About a week later, Eliphaz and his wife, Nimfa, turned up to assist Ahab and his family with the wedding arrangements. Because of their experience in these matters, they gave careful attention to every minute detail that needed to be addressed to ensure a faultless wedding reception.

The group at this meeting left the guest list as the last item to be discussed. Everyone had suggestions for names to be added to the basic list that Cleopas had drawn up.

After all the names were discussed and accepted by the group, Ahab questioned one guest and his family.

One family that I would not care to see on this list is Joseph my neighbor and also a supplier to Cleopas. He and his sons are actually my competition, you know.

Eliphaz looked at Nimfa, who signaled an answer with her eyes. He looked intently at Ahab and responded carefully, Considering the very important position Cleopas holds, and also his vast influential political and business networks, that would perhaps also business-wise be beneficial for all of us, I don’t think we should let the inclusion of Joseph, Mary, and their sons bother us.

Ahab looked at his wife and son, who slowly nodded their agreement and said, For the longest time now, we thought of working closer with Joseph and his sons on certain projects or commands from Cleopas. Perhaps, by including their names, it could also bring us closer not just as neighbors but also as business associates.

And with this remark, the guest list was also finalized.

Back in Cana, Cleopas and his wife went about the catering arrangements in their usual experienced manner. They learned all about the families involved and placed them in the order of guest importance. Food preferences to satisfy religious norms, by the bridegroom like choice of wines and seating arrangements were also carefully worked out. The couple took much care and gave cautious attention to the smallest detail whenever they catered for the prominent citizens of their town and their guests from wherever they came.

Eliphaz was the youngest child of poor Jewish wine farmers. He was always a frail boy who could not put up with the intense demands required of a farm laborer. As a result, Eliphaz instead started his own venture by selling grapes in nearby towns. In this way he earned extra money and also became a member of the family that contributed to their earnings. During his wine marketing, he met the daughter of one of his clients. Nimfa was the only child of important innkeepers in the town of Emmaus. She was a petite but rather unattractive, yet kindhearted, Jewish girl. They were immediately attracted to each other, and in the absence of being held to Jewish tradition, they shortly afterward got married. Eliphaz moved in with the family, and he started helping them after hours with inn work, like serving the inn’s guests.

A couple of months after their wedding, while Eliphaz and Nimfa was making wine at their small cellar in the countryside, her parents were hosting a meeting at their inn for a political party, which was mostly attended by Pharisees. During this meeting, a group of violent opposition members staged a confrontation that somehow got out of hand. The event became physically violent and ended in chaos. In their effort to restore some harmony among the guests, several intoxicated rivals physically attacked the elderly innkeepers and totally wrecked the conference room.

Eliphaz and Nimfa got word of the incident and rushed to their aid. On arrival, her mother was already dead, and within days of this terrible incident the serious nature of Nimfa’s father’s injuries also caused his death. As a result, Nimfa inherited her parents’ inn, and the young married couple found themselves suddenly responsible for all the household and business responsibilities pertaining to the inn’s business. The unexpected turn of events paved the way for Eliphaz to have an assured outlet to market the wines he made from the grapes grown in his parents’ vineyards.

The couple worked very hard and long hours. With his natural business acumen, it also presented Eliphaz the opportunity to successfully partner with and develop his wife’s inn. With his knowledge of wine, and her most capable organizational aptitude, Eliphaz and Nimfa were able to develop a respected catering service for Jewish and Greek weddings. Over time they expanded their business and also became respected wine merchants and innkeepers who involved several of their friends in their wine business and network of inns. When they met Cleopas, Eliphaz and Nimfa had two inns, in Emmaus and in Cana.

Nimfa and Eliphaz were the most competent caterers around and assured Ahab that his son’s wedding reception was in really capable hands. The chances of anything going wrong were regarded as very remote.

One evening, after a long day of working at the wedding preparations for Ahab, and just before they retired for bed, Eliphaz asked Nimfa, Why do you really think Cleopas included Joseph the carpenter and his sons, as well as some of their friends, for that matter?

She slowly pulled her nightgown over her head and draped it around her well-shaped body. Looking a little surprised, she sat beside Eliphaz and took his hand in hers.

Perhaps it is because Cleopas knew that my parents were good friends of Mary and Joseph. And if they were still alive today, they would also be happy to see them at this wedding. I also know a little about this extraordinary family. My mother told me that Mary’s first son, Jesus, was from birth a remarkable young man. In her eyes he was somebody very special. From an early age he was more than just the usual carpenter. He always was also a devoted student of the Scriptures and had a remarkable insight into religious matters and social relationships. He also yearned to become a teacher and eventually leave the carpentry business. However, he could do this only recently because he also had to assist Joseph to train his brothers to take his place in their family business. Once his brothers were up to it, and able to help their aging father, he took to the road.

Eliphaz gently kissed Nimfa’s small hands and asked, Have you ever met this young man? And what more can you tell me about this Jesus from Nazareth?

As Nimfa got into bed and extinguished the lamp, she responded, Not much. I only met him once, fleetingly. What I know about him is what my mother told me and what I heard when the women were together and discussing just about everybody and everything under the sun.

Eliphaz was not at all sleepy and insisted to know more about this Jesus. What did the woman say about Jesus? Tell me everything that you can remember.

Nimfa hugged Eliphaz and held her mouth close to his ear and asked softly, Why are you suddenly so interested in Jesus?

Eliphaz held her lightly and whispered back, I don’t know the answer to your question. But since our meeting with Cleopas and Ahab, I somehow cannot get him out of my mind despite the fact that I have never seen or met him personally.

Nimfa thought about what Eliphaz said and replied, I will tell you as much as I can remember what my mother told me. Jesus’s mother, Mary, shared with her some stories about his birth, his childhood, and the terrible things that happened before they moved to Egypt. She also spoke of the respect that his community had for him because of the positive influence he had on not only his brothers and sisters but also on the other girls and boys of his community.

Maybe that will calm down the burning thoughts that constantly pop up in my mind about Jesus of Nazareth. Eliphaz folded his arm under his head and readied himself to listen to her every word.

Nimfa rested on her elbow and started to tell him about Jesus. She spoke louder now, and at times her voice trailed off as she thought back about she heard as a young girl.

Let me take it from the beginning. Apparently, one afternoon while Mary was working in the fields outside Nazareth with all the other young girls of their family, she was approached by a stranger who started talking to her. He told her that she would become pregnant shortly, even before she made love to her fiancé. Understandably, she was taken aback and asked the stranger who he was and where he came from. His answer turned her indignation to apprehension.

And…? Eliphaz sounded eager to hear the rest of her account about Jesus.

Nimfa decided to light the lamp again and then sat cross legged facing Eliphaz, not sure how he would respond to her statement.

The stranger said that his name was Gabriel and that he was the special angel of God and that his words are from God, who sent him. He also said that the baby she was going to have would be the Son of God.

Eliphaz jerked upright and held his face close to Nimfa’s. Surely this cannot be a true story. I know we are not very dedicated to the religion, but it is unthinkable that if God would want a child of his own, he would in the first place approach a woman, let alone an unmarried girl with no standing. Think about it, Nimfa. God would surely first approach the high priest with his plan to have a child. Like he called on Moses about his plans for our nation. Not so? Eliphaz now sat upright and looked at his wife while slowly shaking his head from side to side.

Nimfa was not at all prepared to let Eliphaz overturn her story. Do you want to hear more or what?

Eliphaz leaned back and sighed. Please, go ahead.

Nimfa looked at her small hands and continued with less enthusiasm. I can understand your argument about God’s angel not approaching the high priest but a woman instead. But because I believe Mary’s account that she passed on, in all confidentiality, to my mother and her friends, I think that perhaps God regards women on the same level as men. And that he does not see us as livestock or the property of some privileged Jewish male.

Nimfa pretended that she did not notice Eliphaz’s raised eyebrows and continued, Anyhow, later on, her fiancé was also visited by an angel to confirm Mary’s pregnancy, and with the assurance that he, Joseph, would be the stepfather of God’s son. Joseph was told to name Mary’s firstborn Jesus.

Eliphaz responded thoughtfully, I can remember vaguely, as a boy of five, how the babies of members of my family were killed by soldiers of Herod because he heard about the birth of Jesus. This must be the same person you are telling me about. Not so?

Nimfa was quiet for a while, and Eliphaz could see that she became somewhat emotional. She quickly wiped her eyes with the sleeves of her nightgown and said in a fairly steady voice, Yes, you’re right. That’s why I am an only child. I had a twin brother who also became a victim of Herod’s cruel extensive measure with which he hoped to kill Jesus. My mother never had any children again.

Eliphaz leaned forward and held her to him, My darling wife, I am sorry that I sounded so rude. All my life I have been so taken up by making a living with my wine, and now desperately trying to help you succeed with your inns, that I did not make enough time to know you better and search for the deeper things of our relationship, let alone to be a dedicated, religious member of our synagogue.

Nimfa pushed him back, smiled, and said, Perhaps we as women need to be more trusting with our emotions.

Suddenly, a new, hidden side of Nimfa’s character opened up to Eliphaz, and it filled him gradually with an increasing, sincere compassion for her.

Oh, my dear Nimfy, how on earth did your mother deal with this terrible misdeed of Herod’s, while knowing that she lost her only son due to the birth of her friend Mary’s son, this Jesus that you’re telling me about?

Nimfa closed her eyes and Eliphaz allowed her to be silent for as long as she needed to be. Then she looked at her husband and saw a new light in his eyes. She knew that she could now open up to him.

My mother firmly believed the Messiah was due to come shortly. My dad said she even thanked God for somehow knowing this. Then Jesus was born, and the news spread very fast among the women in her circle. They also heard about Herod’s threats and his looking for Jesus. However, they were happy that with all the gifts of gold and other valuables they received from the many believers in the arrival of the Messiah, it allowed Mary and Joseph to escape to Egypt with these resources.

"And what happened when the soldiers of Herod turned up, grabbed your brother, and your mother’s friends male babies and killed them before their eyes?’ Eliphaz asked, breathing intensely.

Well, they were devastated, but yet they still could not expose what they knew about Maria, Joseph, Jesus, or their whereabouts. Nimfa sighed and again wiped some tears away.

But how did these brave loyal women manage to bear up under such terrible heartache and personal sorrow? For the moment the thought of their ordeal overwhelmed Eliphaz.

Nimfa said in a teary voice, They cried a lot. But they never became bitter about the price they had to pay for the Messiah, whose arrival they so fervently believed in and his liberation they longed for. My mother told me many years later that she was proud that her baby son was one of the first martyrs for this Jesus, whom she believed was the Son of God until her death!

Nimfa’s whole body trembled while she cried softly. Eliphaz extinguished the lamp and drew her close to him. While they lay together in the pitch dark little room, he held her tightly, and after a while, Nimfa heard Eliphaz started to cry.

End of Chapter One

2

World’s Best Wine / Cana Wedding Setting

Cana Wedding Setting

Eliphaz was, as usual, somewhat uptight while he glanced over the large number of wedding guests who were gathered in the large space that he and Nimfa had prepared so carefully. Despite going over all the arrangements many times, he was just not feeling easy about this event. Perhaps he was harboring some sort of premonition about the outcome of this day.

Nimfa noticed his tenseness and pulled him aside. What’s bothering you, Eli? Since the previous evening they felt very close and started calling each other love names like Nimfy and Eli.

Eliphaz scratched his head and said, I don’t know, Nimfy. It feels as if we skipped some important thing we should have taken care of.

Nimfa gave him a hug. The only thing I can think of is that we still await the arrival of the rest of the wine that we will need to keep these classy guests happy.

Eliphaz relaxed. Yes, you are right. But I took care of that. Our farm assistant will bring the balance of the wine we need over here by noon tomorrow.

In the meantime, while the guests were having a great time enjoying an abundance of wine and exquisitely prepared foods and desserts, disaster struck Eliphaz’s arrangement to supplement the weddings wine reserve. A wheel of the cart transporting the wine to the wedding reception broke and overturned on the country road that led to the winery. The driver was knocked unconscious and also suffered a broken ankle.

For a long time the unconscious driver was pinned under the cart. In the meantime several passersby just ignored him and assumed, with the smell of wine spilling out from several of the earthen vessels, that he was drunk. When a bunch of jobless farm workers passed the scene, they grabbed the undamaged wine containers and ran off into the bushes to celebrate their fortunate find.

Around midafternoon a businessman from a nearby Samaritan town drove by and came to the rescue of Eliphaz’s wine laborer. He tore up one of his garments, bound the man’s ankle, and gave him water to bring him around. As soon as the laborer regained his consciousness, he told the trader who he was and what happened. He asked his rescuer to please send Eliphaz a message telling him of what happened and that all the wine was spilled or stolen.

I will do one better, the kind man said in a gentle way. Do you see that small inn down the road? I will take you there and arrange for a bed for you. I will ask the innkeeper to send your master an urgent message about your unfortunate accident.

The laborer answered with a painful expression, Thank you, sir, but I do not have enough money for that, or even paying for a courier to deliver an urgent message to Master Eliphaz.

The trader lifted the laborer onto his carriage and said in a friendly voice, I will take care of that, my friend. You have had enough bad luck for one day, not to mention the huge damage that your Master Eliphaz suffered here.

They traveled to the inn where the Samaritan made and paid for all the arrangements before he continued on his journey. He promised Eliphaz’s wine worker that on his way back he would stop by and make sure that he was all right.

Several hours later a messenger turned up at the wedding reception, which that was now in full swing. From far off the neighbors sat at their homes or under the trees in their gardens and listened to the laughter, music, singing, and dancing.

The messenger asked for Eliphaz and gave him the trader’s note that explained his vineyard boy’s unfortunate accident and loss of wine.

I am sorry to bring you sad news on such a happy day, sir. The messenger did not wait for a response, turned, and left immediately, leaving Eliphaz with the note in his trembling hands.

Eliphaz frantically searched for Nimfa and found her where she was listening, talking, and laughing with the group that surrounded Mary, the mother of Jesus.

He blurted out his disappointment, I told you earlier that I had a premonition that something was going to go wrong. Just come aside and hear me out.

Eliphaz showed Nimfa the note. She read it carefully and in her usual calm, composed manner said, We have enough money with us to buy some wine from the neighborhood wine traders.

Eliphaz relaxed somewhat and said, At this point in time, our wine level is very low, but it does not worry me too much because it is late in the day. I was just expecting our shipment of additional wines at any moment.

Nimfa asked, Shall I call two or three of our helpers to go out and buy some wine as soon as possible? I am sure you will know where to find some of your clients from whom you could do a buy back transaction.

Eliphaz scratched his head and said with eyes looking upward, Yes, I have a few clients, but they are not too close by. Some of them also owe me some money. We could approach them first. But time may in short supply for this exercise.

Let’s do it, my husband. While you are arranging to solve this emergency, I will make sure that we serve everybody more food and slow down on the wine portions. Nimfa turned and called the servers together.

Upon Nimfa’s return to her group of friends, Mary took her aside and showed concern. "Do you and Eliphaz have a problem? Perhaps we could help in some way.

Nimfa was thankful to share their problem with somebody. Mary listened intently to what had happened and then said, I know our people, especially the men folk. If we run out of wine now, it will be a big embarrassment for the bridegroom and would bring disruption and critique to you and Eliphaz despite all the hard work you have done.

Nimfa was close to tears, and Mary continued obligingly, I will talk to Jesus about the problem and ask him to tend to this matter.

Nimfa looked wide-eyed at Mary What could he do, and for that matter, what could any of the guests do to solve our situation?

Mary placed her arm lightly on Nimfa’s delicate shoulders and led her aside. As the mother of Jesus, I’ve got locked up in my heart many things about this very special son, most of which I have not and perhaps never will share with anybody.

Mother Mary, what do you want to share with me now? asked Nimfa while she held her hands very tightly.

Mary looked at her with a considered expression in her eyes As a child, Jesus could already do many wonderful and amazing things in our home. For instance, when the two of us were alone together, he would physically change things.

Nimfa still did not understand, Like what?

Mary said softly, Like turning stones into bread.

Nimfa audibly sucked in and held her breath with amazement burning in her eyes. What? Did he do magical things like that? If it were not you telling me this, Mary, I would find it hard to believe.

Mary continued, Much later in his life, he was once requested to do this and refused. He refused because it was Satan who approached him to do this while he was spending time in the desert. He refused to ask this from God despite the fact that at that stage he was very thin, frail, and hungry. And he did not want to give in to the temptations of this devil who bothered him ceaselessly.

Just then the master of ceremonies approached Nimfa and said, My lady, we are running short of wine. Could you please tend to this for us?

Mary turned to the master of ceremonies and said in a firm voice, Yes, we will. Mary said to Nimfa, Follow me.

Nimfa followed her, too surprised to speak a word and not yet prepared to understand what she would see happening there, right in front of her eyes.

Eliphaz saw that Nimfa and Mary were having a serious conversation and made his way through the guests to join them. However, before he reached them, they had walked toward Jesus where he was talking with a group of his friends. Mary briefly talked to Jesus, and then they made their way to the wine table. Eliphaz followed and joined them where they were looking at some large earthen jars.

Nimfa and Eliphaz would never ever forget what happened next. The young couple was not prepared for the astonishing way the shortage of wine for this wedding would be solved. Nimfa, however, understood this miracle, remembering what Mary told her earlier about Jesus and what he did as a child. So she immediately realized what exactly happened, while it took Eliphaz a long time to comprehend how the increase of the wine took place at this wedding.

At that moment Eliphaz and Nimfa could not begin to imagine what the outcome of this wedding ceremony in Cana would bring about in their lives as winemakers and innkeepers. As a result of the excellent wine Jesus gave them to serve to their influential guests, they would become much sought-after wine merchants, innkeepers, and wedding caterers.

It took Nimfa and her helpers about two days to clean up and restore order after the most successful wedding reception they had ever hosted. Eliphaz knew that as a winemaker, who knew how much care and time it took to make even a drinkable wine, he would always have difficulty to fully comprehend the way Jesus saved them from an enormous professional embarrassment by providing for them, just in time, the best wine that anybody had ever tasted.

There was still a large container of the magical wine, as Eliphaz referred to this first miracle performed by Jesus, leftover. While he was preparing to transport the rest of the tasty blend to his wine cellar, Eliphaz whispered to Nimfa, I am going to hide this wine, and we will drink it only on very, very exceptional occasions. Nimfy, this is magical wine. Just think of it! Wine made by a carpenter, without grapes! It is like if you asked me, as a winemaker, to make high-class furniture out of grapes.

Nimfa just smiled and asked, Do you find this a wonder just as difficult to believe as you doubt that Jesus is the Son of God?

Eliphaz scratched his head, looked up at the sky, and said, Nimfa, we are talking about a man who took normal drinking water and changed that into wine! How is that at all possible?

Nimfa sounded somewhat irritated, If the Son of God, who is the only one who can make water, want to transform his own creation into another liquid called wine, what stops him?

The expression on Eliphaz’s face made her turn around, and as she walked away she knew that perhaps her husband was beginning to understand something of what she also had been hiding in her heart all this time. Perhaps she was also just beginning to understand what Mary was trying to tell them all along: that her son was not just an exceptional young man but what the angel told her a: God man.

The young couple, however, did not anticipate the astonishing developments that allowed their business to expand swiftly from Cana to places such as Nazareth, Nain, Jerusalem, Bethany, Bethlehem, Ephraim, Emmaus, and other locations.

End of Chapter Two

3

An Astute Government Supplier / Appointing Contractors

Appointing Contractors

Cleopas’s parents were associated with a very socially influential Jewish group who, as supporters of the Herodian rule, also enjoyed a good standing with the supporters of the Roman government. His mother was Jewish, and although his father was from Greek descent, his family was respected as wealthy government contractors. When Cleopas joined his father’s well-established business, his parents groomed him to eventually take over the family concern and manage their wealth. Cleopas married an equally wealthy girl, Salome, whose family was from a long line of descendants of the old Syrian throne of Antiochus Epiphanes. However, her family’s affiliation with the influential Jewish socialites marked her as an appropriate extension of Cleopas’s family.

The most important clients of Cleopas’s family business were the various divisions of the Roman government operating in Phoenicia, Ituraea, Galilee, Trachonitis, Decapolis, Samaria, and Judea. Cleopas was regarded as a successful supplier of wood and textile commodities. Over time he also became one of the government’s preferred wine suppliers. Resulting from his clever and efficient business approach, he developed an extremely dependable network of people who made up his suppliers. Cleopas was not a very religious person, yet he was a disciplined person who had his own interpretations of God and what could happen to a sinner or a soul after this earthly life.

One of Cleopas’s suppliers in his hometown of Galilee was a notably respected Jewish carpentry family: Joseph, his wife, Mary, and their sons. Cleopas was very curious about one of Joseph’s sons, Jesus. This boy was regarded by some as a young activist with great future potential, but whose views did not always please the rigid religious conventions of the Jewish community. However, because of their pleasant demeanor and the high quality of their work and products, Cleopas also regarded this family as decidedly preferred members of his commodity resource network.

Salome and Cleopas did not have any children of their own, yet Salome was respected for her position and her generous support of the underprivileged members of their community. During a get-together of his suppliers, Cleopas introduced Salome to Joseph’s wife, Mary, who, without much ado, drew Salome into her circle of friends, who devoted much of their time to community support causes. Salome regularly made textile bits and pieces available to the needy. In this way Salome also came to know Jesus and was quite convinced that he was a very special kind of young man. On many occasions she gave Cleopas accounts of what she witnessed and what Mary told her about Jesus’s activities and his growing number of friends.

What really caused Cleopas to develop a more-than-casual business interest in Jesus was the report he received from Eliphaz, after the wedding in Cana. Although he knew Eliphaz as a sober and realistic person, he found it difficult to believe his explanation of how Jesus solved his wine shortage problem at the wedding. Cleopas requested him several times, even in the presence of other suppliers, to repeat his account of how Jesus changed six hundred liters of water into the finest wine ever tasted by wine connoisseurs.

However, Cleopas stopped disbelieving his friend’s explanation late one evening when they were alone after a dinner that he had hosted for his clients in Eliphaz’s inn’s top room.

Eli, about that wine Jesus made—

Halfway through his question, his clearly annoyed friend stopped him. "Listen, my dear friend. I am beginning to regret that I told you about the wine spectacle—as you sometimes refer to this amazing wedding