Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen.
Matthew 28:5

I know of a man who, many years ago, bought a gallon jug of water. He wrote the word “miracle” on it with a sharpie. He underlined the word. Since then, the jug has remained sealed by its blue plastic top while he’s prayed countless times for the water to become wine. It’s clear that it remains water, and so his prayers continue. He awaits the miracle.

Today, Christians celebrate a different miracle. In the history of all the miracles that humans have experienced, it’s the only one that matters: Jesus rose from the dead.

Had this been the only thing that Jesus has ever done, it is enough.

In light of resurrection, there is no need for healing the sick, walking on water (that’s the one I’ve tried and failed with a rather comedic result), or turning water into wine. Merely this: an empty tomb, a risen Jesus.

That jug of water has moved with him from apartment to house to another house. Wherever he’s lived, the jug has been there. Sometimes it’s on the kitchen counter. Other times, he’s hidden it away. I believe that a few years back, he packed it in his luggage and took it on vacation to the Bahamas. On occasion, the jug has proven a source of pain and doubt: “Why? Why won’t You answer my prayer?” Sometimes it’s been a source of inspiration, a koan, a divine gift to meditate upon and become transformed. Mostly, it’s been a source of jokes from friends.  

I can relate to that. Faith often proves the focal point of humor. I’ve had more than my share of discussions about my faith. One friend loves to point out all the inconsistencies of the Bible and poke fun at my “Volcano God.” Like so many people, I think he gets stuck in the Old Testament, which, in my opinion, is a sad thing. The only use of the Old Testament is to point to Jesus. To stumble over its stories, history lessons, poems, wisdom, prophecies (all the glorious mess of the OT) is to trip and fall before getting to the main question; the only question that matters. The one thing? Did Jesus rise from the dead?

That the water isn’t wine, doesn’t resolve easily. It’s a miracle (of sorts) that the man continues to pray for conversion. There’s something beautiful about his kind of faith. It’s very certain, very trusting, very childlike. 

That water jug remains sealed by that blue plastic top. He refuses to open it until he can see that it is wine. Any fool can see that it remains crystal clear, not wine yet. This morning I was struck with a different idea about that jug. Maybe, just maybe, he could tear open the plastic tab and pop the plastic seal. Perhaps as he pours the water into a glass, then, at that moment, the transformation occurs. Maybe, like Schrodinger’s cat, it is currently both water and wine. He can merely open the jug and taste and see.

Happy Easter everyone.

Faith