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Page 50
"Why did you seek for me," said Jesus. "Did you not know that I must be
in my Father's house?"
They did not understand these words; but Mary thought often about them
afterward; for she felt her son was no common child, and that his words
had a deep meaning. Though Jesus was wise beyond his years, he obeyed
Joseph and his mother in all things. He went with them to Nazareth, and
lived contented with the plain life of their country home.
As the years went on, Jesus grew from a boy to a young man. He grew,
too, in knowledge, and in wisdom, and in the favor of God. He won the
love of all who knew him, for there was something in his nature that
drew all hearts, both young and old.
Jesus learned the trade of a carpenter with Joseph; and when Joseph
died, while Jesus was still a young man, Jesus worked as a carpenter,
and helped his mother take care of the family. And so in the carpenter
shop, and the quiet life of a country village, and the worship of the
synagogue, the years passed until Jesus was thirty years of age.
THE STORY OF THE WATER THAT WAS TURNED INTO WINE
A few days after Jesus met his followers or disciples at the river
Jordan, he came with these men to a town in Galilee called Cana, to be
present at a wedding. In those lands a feast was always held at a
wedding, and often the friends of those who were married stayed several
days, eating and drinking together.
The mother of Jesus was at this wedding as a friend of the family; for
Nazareth, where she lived, was quite near to Cana. Before the wedding
feast was over, all the wine had been used, and there was no more for
the guests to drink. The mother of Jesus knew that her son had power to
do whatever he chose; and she said to him; "They have no wine."
Jesus said to her: "O woman, what have I to do with thee? My hour is not
yet come."
But his mother knew that Jesus would in some way help the people in
their need, and she said to the servants who were waiting at the table:
"Whatever he tells you to do, be sure to do it."
In the dining hall were standing six large stone jars, each about as
large as a barrel, holding twenty-five gallons. These jars held water
for washing, as the Jews washed their hands before every meal, and
washed their feet as often as they came from walking in the street,
since they wore no shoes, but only sandals. Jesus said to the servants:
"Fill the jars with water."
[Illustration: _"Fill the jars with water"_]
The servants obeyed Jesus, and filled the jars up to the brim. Then
Jesus spoke to them again, and said:
"Now draw out some of the water, and take it to the ruler of the feast."
They drew out water from the jars, and saw that it had been turned into
wine. The ruler did not know from what place the wine had come; but he
said to the young man who had just been married, the bridegroom:
"At a feast everybody gives his best wine at the beginning, and
afterward, when his guests have drunk freely, he brings on wine that is
not so good; but you have kept the good wine until now."
This was the first time that Jesus used the power that God had given
him, to do what no other man could do. Such works as these were called
"miracles"; and Jesus did them as signs of his power as the Son of God.
When the disciples saw this miracle, they believed in Jesus more fully
than before.
After this Jesus went with his mother and his younger brothers to a
place called Capernaum, on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. But they
stayed there only a few days, for the feast of the Passover was near,
and Jesus went up to Jerusalem to attend it. You remember that the feast
of the Passover was held every year, to keep in mind how God had led the
people of Israel out of Egypt long before.
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