Strong Drink!

Something was happening in Jerusalem! A group of previously insignificant and uneducated men had suddenly gained prominence, starting what looked like a movement of sorts and making some astounding claims – claims that could get them it serious trouble. They did not seem afraid of arousing the anger of the religious elite or to care what the consequences could be. Why, just a few days ago at a gathering on the day of Pentecost about 3000 people from all over the Roman empire came under the influence of these men as they listened to them proclaim their strange message. With nothing more than their words they were having an impact on the city that had the religious leaders worried enough to have them arrested.

The whole thing started one day while some of these people with strange beliefs were hiding and praying to their spiritual leader. It was reported that something remarkable happened in that room that completely transformed these men into fearless and outspoken proponents of their cause. The man who was now the leader of the bunch was a common fisherman. He had the reputation, before the transformation, of a coward. One day under pressure he had denied knowledge of the man who was their leader and friend – the man he had sworn to follow to the death. Yet here he was now, completely unafraid and daring anyone to stop him. He was not the only one displaying this radical departure from the normal. The whole group had been fearful of persecution since their leader was crucified and, though they claimed he had arisen – a pretty wild claim by all standards – they still remained in hiding. Not so after that fateful day. It was almost as if they were intoxicated – under the influence of some strong drug. In fact those who witnessed the immediate effect of their transformation concluded they were drunk with wine when they started to speak in a variety of languages they had not spoken before. In the ensuing days it seemed that whatever had a hold of this small group of people was contagious. Similar instances of transformation accompanied them wherever they went. Unremarkable people suddenly became unrecognizable to those who knew them: An activist lawyer gave up his zealous persecution of a small sect of Jews and actually joined them, becoming their most ardent proponent; a Roman soldier and his family become followers of a Jewish carpenter the Romans crucified; people gave up their possessions or shared them with total strangers; renounced long held beliefs and practices, and claimed allegiance to a teacher and master they could not see but who was said to have died and then risen again. Most remarkable of all, this transformation occurred regardless of a person’s nationality, prior beliefs, gender or anything else.

All these events had one thing in common – Joshua. Joshua is the one who had taken a motley group of a dozen men and taught them that they could each be something more than ordinary. He taught them that an ordinary fisherman could be a partner with God in bringing in a human catch; that God was going to build a new temple for himself with humans as the very bricks; that each one of them had a place in the scheme of the Father’s plan. He gave them hope, taught them about a well whose water would fill them like never before. As they walked with him and heard a lot about this amazing water from this amazing well, there were times when they thought they got a sip of this water. It was not until that day at Pentecost that they truly drank their fill: and what a drink! Who knew that water could go to a man’s head the way this water did. Joshua had been known to turn water to wine and maybe this was one of those times. Yet if they had drunk the strongest wine in the land its effect would not come anywhere close to what this drink of pure water did. The sheer exhilaration of being completely free of every care and fear, the sublime peace from knowing they were cared for in an unimaginable way, the strength and boldness to do things that may have been unthinkable before and the assurance of hope – the confidence that the sum of all things would always be good! No drink on earth could do this. This was heavenly water coming from none other than the keeper of the wellspring of life, Joshua. So they had no choice but to spread the word. As they did they marveled over and over again at the intoxicating effect of this strongest of drinks.

All this happened thousands of years ago and there are some who say that these stories are merely legends. There are also those who say the well has run dry or that the water it gives only refreshes but does not intoxicate, that for that extra kick you need something more, or that there are other sources of water. There are some however who believe that the keeper of the well still lives and that the well still gives its water; that the water of life is still as potent as it has ever been. There are still reports today of ordinary people being transformed into unlikely heroes, unrecognizable to their peers. Some defying long established norms, renouncing previous practices and beliefs, giving up their worldly possessions or sharing them with total strangers and fearful cowards becoming brave warriors. These people have drank from Joshua’s well and the change is undeniable. Could the stories be true after all? Could the God of the universe really have a use for mere men or care for the ordinary? Could a drink of water really turn your head? There is one way to find out. Have a drink but brace yourself, this is one strong drink!