Is this true that Jesus drank alcoholic wine as the lyrics, “Cause I heard Jesus, He drank wine”? Some question this. What kind of wine did Jesus drink? Did Jesus drink intoxicating amounts of wine?
The Definition of Biblical Wine
The word “wine” in the Bible is not always alcoholic or equivalent to modern wine. The Bible uses one Greek word for “wine” and “grape juice” which could mean alcoholic wine of varying amounts or non-alcoholic grape juice (1 Tim 3:8; Titus 2:3). The Hebrew word for “wine” is yayin and the Greek is oinos (MT; LXX). Biblical “wine” is grape juice that may or may not have fermented. However, the wine of today has considerably more alcohol than wine in the first century because of modified yeast. The Bible includes a number of examples of unfermented “wine”:
- “Wine” is the blood of the grape (Gen 49:11–12, Heb. yayin, Gr. oinos LXX; Deut 32:14, Heb. chemer; Gr. oinos LXX).
- The vineyard is the place of “red wine” (Isa 27:2, Heb. chemer).
- “Wine” refers to the grape juice from the grapes of the field (Deut 11:14; 2 Chr 31:5, Heb. tirosh; Gr. oinos LXX; Jer 40:10, 12, Heb. yayin; Gr. oinos LXX).
- Scripture describes “wine” that is in the grape (Isa 65:8, Heb. tirosh).
- The grape juice of the wine-press is “wine” (Prov 3:10, Heb. tirosh; Gr. oinos LXX; Isa 16:10; Jer 48:33, Heb. yayin; Gr. oinos LXX).
These references reveal that the word “wine” in Hebrew and Greek often refers to non-alcoholic grape juice in the Bible. Linguistics requires that one begin with the generic meaning and then determine other specific meanings of a word by its context and, or use.
In reading the Old Testament, Bible translations represent six different Hebrew words “wine” for which one word excludes alcohol. This word is asis meaning “sweet grape juice” or “new grape juice.” The word has no reference to alcohol, yet translators have interpreted it as “wine” to avoid interpreting the contexts with nuances and ambiguity. Therefore, the word “wine” does not necessarily mean alcoholic wine in the Bible.
The Bible does not appear to contain one positive statement about intoxicating wine or any such drink. The Bible does include positive words about generic “wine” that is grape juice (Gen 14:18; Num 15:5–10; Deut 14:26; Ps 104:15; Isa 55:1; Amos 9:14; John 2:1–11; 1 Tim 5:23). References to “strong drink” or “liquor” in the Bible refer to cider in biblical translations of sikera, σικερα, according to Danker and Gingrich’s Greek lexicon (cf. Deut 14:26; Luke 1:15; Wycliffe’s Bible).
Ancient Wine and Today’s Wine
In the Bible, alcoholic wine is not like wine today. The sugar of grape juice can only ferment to 3 or 4% alcohol with wild yeast — airborne yeast. For grape juice to exceed 4% alcohol, then the winemaker must add yeast. The yeast added to ancient wines produced between 4–11% alcohol. Alcohol kills these yeast cells and prevents levels of alcohol from exceeding ~10%. Today, wines average 12–20% alcohol due to modern fermentation by adding sulfur dioxide and Saccharomyces (a cultured GMO yeast) to a late harvest of ripened grapes with higher fructose (Winemaker Magazine, Wines & Vines, UC Davis, International Biblical Encyclopedia, “Alcohol in the Church,” Bible Wine). Today’s wine is not like biblical wine in regards to alcoholic content. Due to the later invention of distilling, strong drinks like liquor exceed 20% alcohol for which today’s wine is coming close to matching.
When reading the word “wine” in the Bible, the word may simply refer to grape juice or intoxicating wine not exceeding ~10% alcohol. The reader must interpret the word “wine” within its context to determine if it is alcoholic. However, biblical wine is certainly not like wine today.
Because of the use of the word “wine” in English Bibles, many presume that Jesus drank alcoholic wine. Jesus did not drink modern wine. The methods for fermenting highly-alcoholic wine had not yet been invented. Jesus’s opponents did accuse Him of being a “wine-drinker” from the Greek oinopoteis, because He came freely eating and also drinking grape juice unlike John the Baptist who restricted his eating and drinking (Matt 11:18–19; Luke 7:33–34). These antagonists appear to accuse Jesus of drinking alcoholic wine. However, when the reader considers the wedding that Jesus attended in Cana and Jesus’s institution of the Lord’s Supper, then His drinking of wine is not what many have presumed.
Water to Wine
What about Jesus turning water into wine? Upon reading John 2:1–11 in most English translations, many took the text as stating that Jesus turned water into intoxicating wine at the wedding in Cana, a small town in Galilee (John 2). These scriptures infer that the wedding guests “have well drunk” a large amount of oinos wine. The Greek word translated as “well drunk” is methuo meaning literally to fill or make full, and many times the word means “drunk” depending on the context. Translators correctly render methuo as “drunk” in contexts referring to drunkenness by drinking intoxicating wine or filling oneself with wine (Gingrich and Danker’s lexicon). John’s reference to the guests having “drunk well” and becoming full also implies that the wedding feast was relatively short especially if one takes this word in John 2:10 to mean that the guests were “drunk.”
In this case, Jesus either made more alcoholic wine for those who were drunk or He made more grape juice for those who would have their fill. Which is plausible: that Jesus created intoxicating wine for those who were drunk or that He made fresh “new wine,” grape juice, for those who had drunk well of the previous supply? If one interprets this passage as Jesus making alcoholic wine, then Jesus created more intoxicating wine for those who were already drunk or filled. If one perceives that the wedding guests were simply full of non-alcoholic wine, then Jesus made “new wine” with minimal to no alcohol.
Furthermore, “good wine” was limited late in winter and just before Passover when the wine had aged throughout the year (John 2:13). Jesus providing more aged and intoxicating wine would not have been an apparent miraculous sign. Jesus provided them with “good wine.” Was it “good wine” as though received from the grape press? The making of new wine would magnify Jesus’s sign because this was just before the Passover and before the first harvest of grapes. Therefore, Jesus’s production of fresh grape juice would have been an evident miraculous wonder of God.
The master of the feast depicted the situation that which the guests had filled themselves with wine from the meaning of “filled” of the Greek word methuo in John 2:9–10. A wedding feast may last a day and sometimes more (Alfred Edersheim, The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah). John depicted that many would have drunk well of the wine so the guests were full as implied by the Greek word methuo. Being filled with wine tells that this drinking of the wedding feast occurred in a short amount of time within a few hours. The guests would immediately drink the wine that Jesus made. If Jesus made alcoholic wine, Jesus would have made more intoxicating wine amounting to between 120 to 180 gallons of additional alcoholic wine. What would happen if three hundred guests “have well drunk” and then drank an additional 150 gallons of alcoholic wine? Jesus would have given each guest an additional 64 ounces of alcoholic wine. The average person would have drunk another 6–12 drinks of alcoholic wine if there were 300 guests. However, the abundance was part of the miracle like the 12 baskets of bread left over from feeding the 5,000. Maybe the wine was not meant to be consumed immediately.
Even considering a wedding party of a thousand guests who have well drunk, each person would have consumed about 19 ounces of wine. Presuming that this wine contained 10% alcohol because the scenario includes fermented wine and the guests drank it all in one day, Jesus would have aided a thousand people in binge drinking having intoxicated the guests with three additional drinks who were already intoxicated as indicated by the Greek methuo for having “well drunk.” For each guest to have had simply two more drinks, then the wedding would have had at least 1,600 attendees. Despite the number in attendance, Jesus would have presumably contributed a considerable amount of alcohol to those who were already filled with wine. For those proposing that Jesus made highly intoxicating wine like today’s wine, 16–24 ounces would intoxicate anyone at an alcoholic level of 12–15% according to the CDC. Either today’s intoxicating wine or first-century fermented wine appears to be an absurdity at this wedding.
To assume that Jesus made alcoholic wine is to assume that after everyone had drunk all the other wine, then Jesus made more intoxicating wine for all of those who had their fill. The scenario of Jesus producing alcoholic wine appears implausible and uncharacteristic of biblical commands to refrain from drunkenness. If Jesus did make a great amount of fermented wine, He would have aided the sin of drunkenness and excessive drinking and would have participated in a drinking party, which are all condemned by His disciple and apostle Peter in the Scriptures (1 Pet 4:3).
Wine and the Lord’s Supper
Did Jesus use alcoholic wine in the Lord’s Supper? What kind of wine would someone drink at a feast where yeast was thrown out? Many have assumed that Jesus drank wine because many churches have made alcoholic wine a part of the “Eucharist,” the Lord’s Supper. Did Jesus use highly alcoholic wine when He instituted the Lord’s Supper? First, the Scriptures never use the word “wine” in any of the four accounts of Jesus instituting the Lord’s Supper. Jesus mentioned the specific content of the cup containing “the fruit of the grapevine.” The passages about the Lord’s Supper make no reference to alcoholic wine. The Greek word for “wine” is never used in Scripture to describe any part of the Lord’s Supper.
Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper during the Passover Feast. What kind of wine did the Jews use during Passover? Jesus used unleavened bread in the Passover because this is also the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Israel threw out all leaven by God’s command including the leavened bread (Exod 13:6–7). The throwing out of the yeast implies that Israel removed the grape juice fermented by the leavening of yeast. Fermented wine was not likely a part of the Passover taught by Moses. Furthermore, Jesus referred to the contents of the cup as “fruit of the grapevine” in the Lord’s Supper indicating minimal to no fermentation even from wild yeast. The intent of the cup of the Lord was not to intoxicate.
What about those who got drunk by drinking the Lord’s Supper? Getting drunk by bringing intoxicating wine to the Lord’s Supper does not mean that Jesus gave the disciples alcoholic wine in the Lord’s Supper. First Corinthians 11:21–22 depicts, “Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper. For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk [methuo]” (ESV). This passage also uses the Greek word methuo, which can mean drunk or filled (cf. John 2:10). Some ate the Lord’s Supper as a meal so that they were filled and those who drank were also filled not necessarily drunk. However, Paul could have been correcting such intoxication as well. If one assumes that these Christians became drunk in the assembly using the grape juice for the Lord’s Supper, then they must also presume that those drinking brought enough intoxicating wine to get drunk and intended to use such for the Lord’s Supper. The use of alcoholic wine implies that some of these Christians brought intoxicating wine for the church to drink together for the Lord’s Supper. They would also have decided to drink and get drunk from that wine in assembly rather than wait for others. Whether the wine was alcoholic or not, 1 Corinthians 11 neither condones alcoholic wine for the Lord’s Supper nor suggests that Jesus used alcoholic wine for His disciples to commune with Christ in remembrance of His sacrificial blood.
Warnings about Wine
Jesus warned against drunkenness and filling oneself with intoxicating drinks that trap people in this life (Luke 21:34). The Bible warns those who do drink, linger, and look at the cup (Prov 23:29–35; Rom 14:17–22). Christians can and should warn others about alcohol.
The apostle Paul revealed that those who continue in drunkenness will not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Cor 6:9–11; Gal 5:19–21). The Greek word translated “drunkenness” literally means “filling oneself” in Scripture (Eph 5:18–19; cf. Rom 13:13). Christ’s Spirit in Galatians 5:19–21 teaches that such “drunkenness” is a “work of the flesh” and “those who are doing such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5 also condemned “wild parties” or “revelries” where any of the lists of sins like drunkenness would constitute a party as sinful and carnal. Paul also revealed in 1 Corinthians 6:10 that drunkards “will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Drunkenness and filling one’s body with intoxicants is a sin.
Filling oneself with alcohol is evil and compromises the sobriety of the Christian conscience and one’s heart (cf. Rom 2:14–15; 1 John 3:19–21). Christ’s words and those of His apostles and prophets urge all to avoid drunkenness, and so Christians should do likewise and warn others of drunkenness. Peter warned, “For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Nations want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness [lit. excessive drinking], orgies, drinking parties [lit. drinkings], and lawless idolatry” (1 Pet 4:3). The word for “drunkenness” in 1 Peter 4:3 is not the usual word for drunkenness, but the Greek word is oinophlugia made of two words oinos meaning “wine” and phlugia is “to do something in excess.” Excessive drinking is a sin. Furthermore, “drinking parties” is translated from the Greek word potos, which literally denotes occasions that people gather for the purpose of drinking.
The apostle Paul commanded Christians to remain sober and make no provision to become drunk on any level (1 Thess 5:8). Christ had no part with drunkenness and drinking parties, so His followers must not. According to Romans 14, Christians should not condemn their brother over a drink; although, every Christian has the scriptural example and the foresight to warn against its use and against looking at the cup (Prov 23:29–35; Rom 14:17–22). Solomon warned by the wisdom of God.
Do not look on the wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it swirls around smoothly; At the last it bites like a serpent, And stings like a viper. Your eyes will see strange things, And your heart will utter perverse things. (Prov 23:31–33)
Therefore, “Wine is a mocker, Strong drink is a brawler, And whoever is led astray by it is not wise” (Prov 20:1). The assertions of positive statements about drinking alcohol in the Bible are private interpretations.
Conclusion
The wine that Jesus drank was not intoxicating. Alcoholic wine is not characteristic of Jesus or any godly behavior in the Bible. Jesus neither encouraged drunkenness nor drank intoxicating wine. No one can rightly reference Jesus to justify excessive drinking, drunkenness, and drinking events. The Bible neither promotes nor supports the drinking of intoxicants. God’s grace compels Christians no longer to continue in any excessive drinking of alcohol because they have been forgiven.
Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. (Rom 13:13–14)
Bibliography
- Jeff Chorniak. “Wild Yeast: The Pros and Cons of Spontaneous Fermentation.” Winemakers Magazine. 2005. <http://winemakermag.com/758-wild-yeast-the-pros-and-cons-of-spontaneous-fermentation>.
- Jean L. Jacobson. “Upsides of Wild Fermentation.” Wine & Vines, 2012. <http://www.winesandvines.com/template.cfm?section=features&content=98687>.
- “Marking Red Table Wine.” University of California Davis, 2016. <http://wineserver.ucdavis.edu/pdf/HWM3.pdf>.
- James Orr, M.A., D.D. “Wine; Wine Press.” International Bible Encyclopedia, 1915. <http://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/isb/view.cgi?n=9116>.
- “Alcohol in the Church.” 2016. <http://www.abidingplace.org/features/alcohol-in-the-church.html>.
- Kyle Pope. “Bible Wine.” Olsen Park church of Christ, 2013. <http://www.olsenpark.com/Sermons13/BibleWine.html>.
- Alfred Edersheim. The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah. Christian Classics Ethereal Library, 1883. <https://www.ccel.org/ccel/edersheim/lifetimes>.
Related posts:
“Reconsider the Biblical Concept of Drunkenness“
The Breath of God 
Read Luke 7:31-35
Dunamis,
why is disagreeing with someone and stating why intelligently called “attacking?”
I have studied this issue inside out and backwards and I can honestly say it seems clear the wine was alcoholic. Drinking of wine in the bible is never condemned, but drunkenness is, just in like manner that sex is never forbidden, only when outside the parameters God has set, as in adultery. One cogent example in the NT concerning wine is when Paul tells Timothy to take some for his stomach. There is no reason to believe grape juice was what he was referring to. If you study you will find it has no medicinal effects for a sour stomach, in fact it might even make one worse, HOWEVER, it is widely known historically that alcoholic wine was considered to have had medicinal effects in ancient times, like during the time of the apostles. What reasonable conclusion can we derive then? It seems obvious. Again, Paul didn’t say elders should not drink, he said they should not be “given to too much wine.” If this was such a clear case that you and the teetotalers advocate we could expect Paul to have said, “No drinking.” but he didn’t.
What is clear to me is that people are basing their understanding based upon the bias of tradition, of this county, their denomination or otherwise. Let’s let scripture decide the truth rather than what we have been taught by those with traditions at stake. Study the issue honestly and see what the word has to say.
I very much agree with your conclusion, and I can accept fellowship with despite minor disagreements in the body of your comment.
The questions to be faced are: Is all biblical wine alcoholic? If not, how can we tell the difference?
Well, first we have to look at the original language and then the context. The word used here, “oinos” was the normal word Greeks would have used to mean alcoholic wine. In this context it was a wedding feast. and at a normal Jewish wedding, the custom of the time would have consisted of using fermented wine. And the text gives us no reason to believe otherwise, in fact, it gives us other clues that support it being alcoholic, “you saved the best for last.” They saved the best grape juice for last at a 7 day wedding feast? The people of those times were grape juice conissuers? no, that makes no sense logically, historically or otherwise.
Here’s a link that further explains it: http://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-water-wine.html
Remember Jesus is Holy, His mother is pure, the wine He made was amazingly good. This wine was different from ordinary man made wine. Jesus’s wine was a miracle. Do you think Jesus would make wine that would get the guest ugly drunk? Drunks would have ruined the reception. The wine probably gave the guest joy (being a gift from Jesus), but did not let them get drunk. That is what I think.
No offense, but it doesn’t really matter what you think. the bible is not about what we think and then can inject into the text. Jesus fed 5000 people with fish and loaves so much that there was food left over, yet gluttony is a sin. How is that any different? Or when Jesus told Peter to get a sword then admonished him for using it exactly as it was designed to be used? We live in a world where we are free to make choices. People could drink the wine and get drunk, or enjoy it responsibly. That’s how God’s creation operates.
Free Will. Right?
We are all good Christians who believe and love JESUS!!! Amen.
Let us not argue about wine or grape juice. All Christians around the World must join together in prayer, know truth, obey the Ten Commandments and HOLY LOVE! Christians are being killed and persecuted by ISIS in other countries. Our government laws are against God’s commandments. Our leaders are weak, without God. We must vote for life in the next election or lose our freedoms. The HOLY ROSARY is our greatest weapon against evil! The miracles from praying the HOLY ROSARY are true. We are in a great spiritual battle between good and evil. Lets fight the GOOD fight, together!
Dear Anita, Did you read the title of this article? The topic for discussion is wine, not ISIS! Please be appropriate with your remarks concerning this issue for the sake of all of us. We as Americans are fortunate to be able to voice our opinions, ideas, experiences, quote references, etc. because of our Constitutional Right of Freedom of Speech. I’m certainly glad that our Creator has created us with a desire to search for and understand truth concerning any issue we face as our Creator cares for us and wants the best for us. (see Matthew 10:31) and has allowed this forum for an open discussion concerning the issue of wine and how in moderation it is beneficial (I Timothy 5:23). Fortunately we scientific evidence to shed light on this timely issue as published in the Prevention Magazine, October 2012 issue article entitled, “Health Benefits of Red Wine”, so that we are not bound by darkness and superstitions so prevalent in our past history during “The Dark Ages” when religion often sought to answer most of life’s questions. Let’s be clear to make the distinction between religion (man-made rules of moral conduct) and living a spiritual life according to the Creator’s design as revealed in scripture (The Holy Bible – singular irrefutable source of God’s Wisdom).
http://www.prevention.com/health/healthy-living/health-benefits-red-wine
Dark Ages? Reconsider using “religion” as a bad word. Read James 1:26-27. Look up the Greek threskeia.
Remember the warning against red wine as it swirls in the cup (Prov 23:29-35). Consider this health advice, “When it comes to drinking alcohol, the key is doing so only in moderation. Certainly, you don’t have to drink any alcohol, and if you currently don’t drink, don’t start drinking for the possible health benefits. In some cases, it’s safest to avoid alcohol entirely — the possible benefits don’t outweigh the risks”, Mayo Clinic (http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/alcohol/art-20044551).
Wine is wine. All wine is alcoholic. If it isn’t alcoholic then it isn’t wine. In New Testament times there was no grape juice because they had no way to prevent the grape from fermenting. Grapes are already fermenting on the vine. That’s because there are two ingredients necessary for the fermentation process…yeast and sugar. Both of these are
self contained elements of the grape. Albumen (yeast) is found in the skin and seeds and sugar within the grape. Grapes are already becoming wine as they are removed from the vine.
I find it sad to see so many ‘Christians’ attacking you for this truth that you have shared. It looks like many do not want to give up their alcohol, even for God.
I thank you greatly, for revealing the truth of the meaning of the words found in the bible concerning this topic. Let the bible translate the bible, not man!
I plan to add this link onto the main deliverance page on my blog. (It is not up yet, but will soon be.) People need to know the truth about this topic, to help them be set free from “the demon in the bottle!” (They don’t call alcohol ‘spirits’ for nothing…)
Much peace and blessings be upon you dear brother,
C. Dunamis
Dunamis:
I think it is sad that you are distorting scripture to teach that Jesus turned water into grape juice because your theology demands that conclusion. It is obvious from the original Greek language and the context of the passage that Jesus turned water into real wine, not just grape juice. To accuse saints who want to translate the scriptures accurately of “not wanting to give up their alcohol for God” is ridiculous and a mean spirited comment. Wisdom from above is peaceable and full of mercy, the scripture says. By your accusatory tone, it is clear to me that your “wisdom” about this issue came from some other source than from above.
Whatever Jesus did at the wedding, it was good. It might have been a wine with little alcohol in it. Maybe he said a special prayer that the guest would be happy, but not get drunk. It was the beginning of His ministry, by the request of His Holy Mother, Mary. JESUS loved His Mother and did not refuse Her, kind request. Just another mystery. Everyone must PRAY for ALL Christians around the whole world, especially the Martyrs in Iraq, Egypt, Chinese and even Americans, being persecuted for their faith in JESUS. Please PRAY for their protection against evil, and pass this message of PRAYER on to others. PRAYER is very powerful! ALL Christians have one thing in common, they all love and believe in JESUS CHRIST. Let us all pray together for HOLY LOVE, freedom, hope and peace, to change the world for the Glory of God. Thanks!
I disagree. What kind of wine did Noah drink?
Alcoholic. There was alcoholic and nonalcoholic wine, and only the nonalcoholic is spoken of positively. The alcoholic wine was not as potent as wine is today.
The bread and wine that really changes my heart and life IS Mass; when the Priest turns bread and wine into JESUS’s Divine body and blood (transubstantiation) for us to consume. Jesus becomes part of me. Jesus said “He will always be with us”. Praise the Lord for He is good!!!
In Tim: 5:23 which states “drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities”. How can I prove to people that this is not the “ferminted alcoholic grape juice, but the pure grape juice like the wine that Jesus made at the wedding party.? I have asked two pastors and they said that it was wine like we drink today with some alcohol. How can I convince them otherwise so that they don’t teach that is okay to drink the wine of today (10% alcohol). They try to justify that minimum drinks of wine is okay as long as you don’t over-do and it can be healthy with only one or two drinks with dinner. I have known people who became alcoholic by thinking it is okay. The devil will get his way eventually I believe. I want to set these pastors straight on what the meaning of wine is in relation to fresh grape juice or alcoholic grape juice. Thanks for your help. Praise the Lord!!!
Reblogged this on nakacwawinnie.
You have heard it was said eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth. I tell you love those who persecute you”……………..”……….. When I was going to be crucified one of my disciples cut the ear off the roman soldier that arrested me to be crucified. I told him do not do that, so that you can become perfect like your father in heaven. LOVE. Your friend.XOXOXOXOXOXO
Jesus say’s way to go brother you hit the nail on the head. Very few make it. Since you know my father’s name your in. We love you. Thanks for loving us !
When we interpret scripture, context is king. In the John 2 passage about Jesus turning the water into wine it says in verse 10, “every man serves the good wine(kalos oinos) first, and when the people have drunk freely(methuo – to be drunken) then he serves the poorer wine; but you have kept the good wine(kalos oinos) until now.”
The headwaiter uses the same greek words for the wine that people serve at the beginning of the wedding feast as he does for the wine that Jesus made. This wine is capable of the making some to be drunk if overused according to the verse, therefore what Jesus made was the same type of wine and would have had enough alcoholic content to make one drunk if overused.
Please, reconsider. You need to do a word study of methuo including the LXX. Methuo means to be filled or full. The word does not solely mean intoxicated especially when the guests are full of grape juice.
Here is an article here on methuo:
Rethink this position. I find the conclusion absurd to think that Jesus got a drunk wedding party more intoxicated.
How many days did these wedding parties last?
The wedding feast was part of a day (Matt. 25).
That’s interesting. I thought that there was seven days of feasting(Shiv’at Y’mei Mishteh). Do you find a passage that says that he was only there for one day?
Besides the feasting in the Bible? We can’t go by the traditions of Pharisees in the Talmud.
Sorry not sure if my last post came through but I wanted to get your assumption on whether or not if Moses started the marriage tradition with the seven day feast?
No assumption. The Scriptures show that the feast lasted only a few hours from the coming of the bridegroom for his bride and bringing her to their home.
Please show us where the scriptures are that reveals that Jesus was only there a few hours, and that this wedding feast was a lot different from any of the Jewish weddings of that time.
Dear Shawn:
Our customs today are very different from ancient Jewish customs. I believe the Wedding Feast lasted more than a couple of hours. Probably they celebrated for two or three days. The wine that Jesus made might not have had too much alcohol in it, but it was amazingly superior wine. Who knows, but the important part of the story is that Blessed Mother’s humble concern for the family running out of wine, asked JESUS for this favor. Mary said “Do what he says”. She showed obedience to Jesus’s wishes not Hers. He did not have to change the water to wine, but for love of His Mother, He did it.. Jesus’s was NOT ready to start his mission, but because of His loving Mother Mary’s request, He found it hard to refuse Her and performed His first miracle. When Jesus said woman, he was not being disrespectful to her. That is the custom. Another point to think about is Eve was the first woman who sinned and gave us death, but Mary is the new woman, Eve, who did not sin, so we can live and be saved by Jesus on the cross.
Does this make any sense to you?
Anita, I thoroughly agree on the fact that the wedding feast lasted for more than a few hours. That’s why I am asking how long does Mr. Shifford think the wedding feast lasted. I really truly believe that the intentions started out good with this article but the condemning factor or nature, we have, revealed its head at the end. There are a lot of neat concepts in the article, but I believe using this story for a blog to further the doctrine of one church is really adding to the bible. I also understand the use of the word “Woman” it is a highly regarded reference in the same aspect as Abba. This story was to show how Jesus manifested HIS GLORY and with the first miracle to transform something from one thing to another. We serve a God that transforms things and people. It just seems, WE as a people, transform what we want to serve our agenda. Personally I don’t care if anyone believes whether or not, Jesus did or did not drink wine with an alcohol content. That’s between a person and God. But we cannot change the fact that these people were Jews and practiced in rich Jewish culture. Which I felt like Mr. Shifford was trying to do when his comment to me was ” We cant go by the traditions of the Pharisees that are in the Talmud. They were not Church of Christ, Southern Baptist, General Baptist ..ect….The point is it represents the blood that has cleansed us, not condemned us. I write with great love to my Brothers and Sisters!
Grace Received
Shawn
Well said Shawn. To change the subject. We are in a spiritual battle between good and evil. Did you hear about the Satanic Black Mass that was suppose to happen at Harvard, May 12, 2014 at 8:30PM? The Catholic Priests and Christians on campus got this message out in three days to the public. With prayer, petitions, emails to the President of Harvard and the outrage of many people, they cancelled their Black Mass. Thank God! You can get more info. about this on line.
Really did like this article