Water carriers are included

Water-carriers are included.

Mark 14:13-15

13 So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. 14 Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 15 He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.”

How did Jesus know there would be a man carrying a jar of water waiting to meet Peter and John (it is Luke who lets us know the names of the disciples he sent)?

Was Peter and John that well known the man knew who they were and was waiting for them?

Had Jesus met this man beforehand and told him to expect them? Had he organised beforehand with the owner of the house and it was him who sent the water-carrier to meet them?

We don’t know these answers.

What we do know is that on this special day when the Passover lamb was sacrificed a man did something that we might think is just so ordinary that we read right past it. But this man was sticking out like a sore thumb! For this was a woman’s job and this man was humiliated to do such a task!

We don’t know why. But his humiliation caused him to lead the disciples to his owners house in order to prepare the Passover meal. He is humiliated but he makes it into the Passover story.

You may wake today to a life or a work that marginalises you. People may make you feel humiliated. You do your best but it isn’t good enough.

You may wish you didn’t have to do what you do.

But you can be used by Jesus, just like this man did.

Even water-carriers who are breaking cultural norms can be part of the gospel story.