Gospel Stories - the Wedding at Cana and the Prodigal Son - Essay Example

Still hopeful, Mary asked the servants in the house to do what Jesus tells them to. Jesus asked the servants to fill the empty containers of wine with water. After doing so, the water was turned into wine. The head waiter tasted the wine; he remarked to the groom that they have saved the best wine for last. John commented that the “water was there for the Jewish rite of purification.”

The miracle of Cana happened before Jesus started His ministry. It can be recalled that in the story, Jesus told Mary that it was not yet time for Him to perform miracles. This strongly supports the fact that the time for Jesus’ ministry was not yet come. Another important fact to consider in understanding the wedding of Cana is the situation that precedes it. John 1:50 states Jesus’ remark to Nathaniel: “You shall see greater things than that.”

After the wedding at Cana, Jesus, and his disciples went to Capernaum. However, they also opted to go to Jerusalem since the Feast of Passover is nearing. The wedding at Cana was followed by the story of how Jesus made a whip out of cords and drove the people who sold oxen, sheep, doves, as well as moneychangers in the temple.
The Prodigal Son
The prodigal son is the story of a father who has two sons. The father in the story owns a lot of property and is a very rich man. One day, the younger son went to his father and asked for his inheritance. The father, being a good man, gave his younger son the wealth that was due to him. Upon receiving his money, the younger son went to the city and spent all that his father gave him on worldly amusements.

One day, the younger son found out that he no longer has any penny left. He has already spent all of his money. Having nothing to eat, he chose to be employed as a swineherd. It should be noted that among the Jews, swine is a dirty animal and a symbol of abomination and gluttony. However, the younger son didn’t have any choice. In his hunger, he even thought of eating the food for the swine. Yet in this situation, he remembered the house of his father. He remembered how their servants were well fed and provided for. Thus, he decided to go back to his father’s home and ask him to become one of his servants.

While he is still distant, his father recognized him. Longing for his son, he ran toward his long-awaited son. The father took notice of how his son has changed. He put on a new robe on him, gave him new shoes, and put a ring on his finger. He even asked his servants to prepare a feast to celebrate his return. The fatted calf was also killed for the special occasion. Upon hearing this, the older brother became furious. He told his father how he had been honest and industrious to him but he never gave him a kid to celebrate with his friends. However, his father told him that everything he has is already the possession of the older child.

The story of the Prodigal Son is one of the best-known parables of Jesus Christ. This is told when He went into the house of the chief Pharisee on Sabbath day. The parable is considered the last sequel to the trilogy of The Lost Sheep and The Lost Coin. The parable of the Prodigal Son is also regarded as the story of The Lost Son. After this parable, Jesus tells another parable known as The Unjust Steward.

Lazarus and the Rich Man
Jesus tells what happens after death in the parable of Lazarus and the rich man. There once was a rich man and a beggar named Lazarus. Being very poor, Lazarus didn’t have anything to eat but the leftovers of the rich man. One day, the rich man and Lazarus died. While Lazarus was carried to the bosom of Abraham, the rich man suffered in hell. Feeling hot and thirsty, the rich man asked Abraham to command Lazarus to dip his finger in water to give him a little convenience. However, Abraham refused to say that he had been accustomed to comfort and luxury in his earthly life. Besides, no one from heaven can cross to hell because of a “great gulf.” The rich man again pleaded with Abraham to send Lazarus to earth to warn his family. Abraham told him that Moses and the prophets were already there to warn them. However, the rich man again said that his family would not believe what they say unless someone from death will go to them. Father Abraham replied that if they do not believe Moses and the prophets, there is no way they will ever believe even if a man rose from the dead.

This story can be found in Luke 16. Before this story, another parable about God and mammon can be read. Following the story is Jesus’ sermon on forgiveness. Read More