O waste of lost, in the hot mazes, lost, among bright stars on this weary, unbright cinder, lost! Remembering speechlessly we seek the great forgotten language, the lost lane-end into heaven, a stone, a leaf, an unfound door. Where? When?
O lost, and by the wind grieved, ghost, come back again.” – ― Thomas Wolfe, Look Homeward, Angel
Jesus’ mother said, “They have no more wine.” Jesus replied, “Dear woman, why do you involve me? My time has not yet come.” “This was the first miracle of Jesus and it was performed to reveal his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.” (John 2:3-5) and (John 2:11)
I have a rule for books that purport to be based upon historical events and places. Teach me something new, something I didn’t know and yet will be fascinated enough to research on my own. If this sort of book doesn’t have me highlighting on nearly every page, I get bored. The Cana Mystery delivered.
Based upon the Christian story of The Lost Jars of Cana, the story is a rollicking adventure tale, steeped in Middle Eastern and Christian Church beliefs, carried out across a landscape both understood, such as Harvard and Boston, to the city of Tabgha, the city where the story of Jesus and the multiplication of loaves and fishes supposedly occurred. The jars themselves, the items that sit at the centre of this whirlwind, thrilling story are supposed to be the jars Jesus requested to be filled with water, which he then changed to wine for a wedding party. Saving the jars from an evil man and transporting them across a hostile and brutal land is the largest part of the story, and the descriptive power of the story does not disappoint.
As a non-Christian, I was hesitant to start this book, fearing the science and politics of the lands and the history would be unbelievable. Surprisingly, I found the book realistically portrayed – it is a ‘Christian’ book, but not overwhelmingly superstitious, something I found pleasant.
Overall, a good thriller with a strong thread of history and some good information on areas and happenings I enjoyed learning about.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a realistic review. All thoughts are my own.
