The Rabbi answered, “You can scarce go a day without meat. Think that you could fast forty days?”

James held a hand over his open mouth. Andrew gaped, unable to answer. I, like Andrew, was unable to speak. I should have placed a hand above my mouth as James had. Stunned, we sat watching the Rabbi pick apart the small fish. Then John, precocious as ever, spoke.

“The Lord sent his angels to minister your needs,” said John. Andrew, James, and I turned to him.

“Yes,” answered the Rabbi. His smile was for John alone.

James then asked, “Rabbi, what is your name?”

The Rabbi turned to James and answered, “Jesus. I am from Nazareth. My parents are Mary and Joseph. I have sisters and brothers living in Cana.”

James again asked, “Do you live with your family?”

The Rabbi answered, “I will leave in the morning. You may come and see.”

Andrew said suddenly, “We are disciples of the Baptist.”

The Rabbi turned to Andrew and asked, “But, will you be disciples of the truth?”

I said without prompting, “I would go with you, but I must return today. I must report to the merchant, Lazarus. He has great interest in the Baptist.” Jesus smiled, so I continued. “I want to tell my friend, Nathanael, that I have met you.”

The Rabbi nodded and answered, “Tell my friend Lazarus that Jesus and his cousin John send greeting. Be sure to tell Nathanael that I come from Nazareth.”

That is how it began. I would meet the Messiah again in Galilee. My thoughts weighed on me as I raced first to Magdala, and then to Bethsaida. I had met and spoken with the one of whom Moses wrote. The experience opened my eyes. The Lamb of God was a man. I watched him eat and drink. He had family in Cana. The merchant that sent me to the Baptist knew the man Jesus. The Baptist was a cousin to the Messiah. My head went around in circles so that I could scarce sleep at night.

A few days later, I found myself in a small band of men who followed Jesus. Besides myself, there was James and John, there was Andrew and his brother, Simon. I took my friend, Nathanael, to meet Jesus, and we went with him to Cana. I had been to weddings before; there was talk and laughter, dancing and wine. Jesus had been closed-mouth about the wedding. Among us who followed, our thought was that one of his brothers or sisters would marry. We thought so on the only information we had about the wedding, that Jesus' mother would manage the affair. I was surprised at the wedding for two reasons. First was the fact that it was Jesus to wed. Second was the fact that the merchant's sister Mary was the bride.

She came riding in, carried in a covered cart. She was tall and splendidly dressed. Her bridesmaids walked beside her as we sang a song I had not heard in a while. Who is this coming up from the wilderness like a column of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and incense made from all the spices of the merchant? Dressed in white and wearing a crown, Jesus took his wife's hand. There was dancing and song. There was wine and games. Through it all, Jesus seemed like an ordinary man, and our joy was full. I had to remind myself that I watched the Lamb of God.

On the one hand, I was there at his baptism, when the Rabbi, Jesus, seemed bigger than life. I had seen the dove with my own eyes, I had heard the voice of the Baptist with my own ears, and the man was very much the Lamb of God. On the other hand, I was with the Lamb of God at his wedding, and he seemed very much the man, Jesus. The man we followed seemed to race against the sun as if there was not enough time in the day. He spoke little after the wedding, as we joined Jesus and his brothers on his sojourn to Magdala. His brother-in-law, Lazarus, was ill again; he needed help to complete his move to Bethany. On the promise of his return, that is where we left him.

Nathanael and I turned home with James and John. We helped Simon and Andrew repair the boats. Nathanael got pitch on his face and complained all day. All of us lived in anticipation of the Messiah's call; our days were filled with happy conversation. We awaited his return, yet, we kept our hands busy as the autumn grew colder. Daily life and family closed in around me until my time with the messiah seemed like a dream. Months had passed. Then, one day in early spring, as I stood on a hill and looked down the road, I spied the figure of a man walking along the lake. My heart jumped, and I knew immediately that Jesus had returned. I ran to Nathanael.

I took my friend by his arm and pulled him to his feet. “Come!” I said in my excitement. “The Lord has returned.”

We ran to find John. “Quickly!” we said. “Find your brother. The Lord returns.”

At the docks, we stopped Simon and Andrew. We yelled across the waters to his boat, “The Lord returns!”

We raced down the road and met Jesus by the tall reeds. Winded, we fell to our knees before him, laughing, panting, and with happy tears in our eyes. There was a smile on the messiah's lips as he pulled Andrew to his feet. He looked among us, his eyes earnest.

“Will you be disciples of the truth?” he asked us.

I spoke my joyous reply above the voices of my friends. “Yes, Lord.”

The Lamb of God turned his eyes on this humble servant. “Follow me,” said Jesus.