I'm on some sort of Jesus vibe today and have been pondering Jesus' coming out miracle if you will. As documented in the Bible (John 2:1-11), Jesus' first miracle occurred at a wedding.
Jesus, his mom, and his disciples were at a party at the Galilean village of Cana for a wedding (I suppose you could say the JC posse was in the house). The wine ran out.
They set six "very large stone water-jars" on the floor, each holding twenty gallons, and filled them "to the brim" with water. Jesus said take some to the MC. They did, he tasted it, and it was all good. The man called out to the bridegroom, "Everybody I know puts his good wine on first and then when men have had plenty to drink, he brings out the poor stuff. But you have kept back your good wine till now!"
Fair enough — I guess the women weren't tipping it back, I suppose if they couldn't be priests back then it stands to reason they shouldn't be able to drink. It's clear that at this point in the party it's standard to bring out the swill. This cat must have already have run through all his swill because they were out, or perhaps he hadn’t bought swill at all, which means that it was really time to get that party started because people were getting drunk.
Jesus saved the day by turning 120 gallons of water into wine to drink.
I was thinking, isn't that sort of an unusual coming out miracle? Serving good wine to a bunch of people who already had plenty to drink? Consider that his second miracle was the healing of an official's dying son.
Here's the thing: yes, it was a miracle that he apparently changed the water into wine. It's also a miracle that it was the good stuff. Who knows how knowledgeable an already wined up palette actually is (I'm sure it was not the inspiration for the movie Sideways or anything like that), but that is somewhat beside the point.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - nugget
To a Christian who thinks alcohol is the devil I'd imagine it causes some brain synapses and repressive instincts. You know, one of those "we don't talk about that" sort of things.
to a Christian, (like me), who doesn't give a flying fuck....well that just makes Jesus all that much more flippin' awesome.
Also, Christ didn't walk around to reprimand the reprobates and strike down the disorderly inebriated sinner folks. I reckon he was just having a good time.
Either way, I'm sure the James Dobson/Jerry Falwell sheep have trouble with this one. I don't because I'm fucking brilliant, handsome, and carry around too much christian pimp juice to worry about the resident agnostic's "quibble" with such a "fodder."
2 - nugget
strike "a" in last sentence.
good piece, though. Made me loler some.
3 - Tim Taylor
Nugget,
I really like your comments about the repressive instincts designating it one of those "don't talk about it things".
I completely agree with you about Jesus not walking around in order to strike anyone down. His miracles don't change the way I feel about him.
To me, he was one of many examples of the eternal and abundant reality that every one of us is pure love.
Thanks for both of your comments, I laughed quite a bit writing it and have laughed talking about it with friends.
4 - nugget
I guess the responses are limited on this article because no one wants to talk about Jesus being hip with the drunks. "
"Jesus was a fascist, totalitarian, masochistic LIAR!!! REMEMBER??? But I think some of the things he said are very nice!"
The beauty of the "Jesus is cool" double standard is that if you don't believe he's divine, how the fuck could you not say that he was one delusional idiot and anything that came out of his mouth had the collective credibility of a middle school locker room???? I dunno. There's nothing relative about it. He was either one thing or the other.
5 - eric kramer
the symbolism behind the wine steward's saying "usually serve the best wine first... but you have saved the best wine for last",
Jesus was saved for last, the people were given the prophets and teachers first but the best teacher, Jesus, was saved for last.
6 - Donnie Marler
I think he did it to save the host the humiliation of admitting he was out of wine. It was considered very poor manners in those days to short the guests of hooch.
7 - STM
Mate, I wish Jesus had been at my place last Friday night when the grog ran out. There was a near riot.
He's welcome any time, too. But can he turn empty plates into pizza at 2am, though??
My gut feeling is yes ... I suspect he can do anything if he's asked nicely.
8 - Paul Wright
I have been wondering about the absurdity of this first miracle lately as well. Not that it is not believable but because it seems unusual that Jesus would provide more wine for a party of peeps that already had a lot to drink. Although it doesn't say Jesus or his disciples were drinking - although they were fishermen and probably knew how to throw back some two buck chuck. It is symbollic however that Jesus would replace the old laws of Judaism with a new "wine" (his blood) and the forgiveness of sins. In any case, I love learning about God drinking Shiraz/Cab from Southeast Australia. Great article!
9 - Flavourflav
It was normal in those days to purify water with wine due to the unhygenic conditions of water of that time.
Therefore, Jesus didn't perform the miracle to get people drunk or drunker. In fact, drunkedness was cause for public shame. Jesus performed the miracle to ensure the wedding guests had sufficent liquid to quench their thirsts and continue enjoying the wedding festivities.
Cheers,
Flavourflav
10 - sr
Welcome to the cash cab. Please answer the following questions. You win nothing if correct. No cheating please. That would include the internet, Webster's or whatever.
According to Genesis the forbidden fruit was an apple,orange or peach?
Jonah was swallowed by a whale, shark or giant blue fin tuna fish.
Noha parted what body of water.
Should you get all three correct stick a gold star on your face.
11 - Jay
re: jesus first miracle.
what if we had lost the significance of the details in this story because of how we don;t understand jewish culture?
what if...the jars that JEsus filled with wine, were the ceremonial washing jars of the religiously zealous jews of the day?
what statement might jesus be trying to make by turning a religious icon into a party tool? hmmmmmm
12 - Jimbo
I really liked it, it helped me with my homework so much because I didn't have a clue what I was doing. Thank you so much !!!
Thank you !!
13 - Armando
Has anyone thought about why this was called his first miracle? Think about the fact that Mary told Jesus to turn the water into wine, and Jesus saying it wasnt his time yet. Obviously, this is the first miracle to us, if we look for documentation, but hidden in this text, is the fact that Mary asked Jesus to do this. If his ministry started at around 30, then Mary must have had a long time with Jesus, to witness beyond a shadow of a doubt of the things he could do, and since we can infer that, then, the real first miracles werent documented at all!!! And for Jesus to say that it wasnt his time yet, then, the miracles that jesus has done previously, were more private, within his own family circle, and werent public. It also shows us, that Mary and Jesus must have had many conversations between the two alone. Mary never documented it, but we all know a mother and child relationship is one where the mother has complete control over the child. With Mary and Jesus, it was more the opposite. Since the age of 12, Jesus bestowed Mary with honor for her position, but he was his own person, who probably had to influence her thinking more than anyone else. He needed her protection, and she needed to believe in him. IF Mary really knew the Jesus was the Son of God from the get go, she would have been satisfied with just his birth, but she had more children after Jesus. So, we can also infer, that it took a long time of witnessing and discussions with Jesus to finally believe...to have enough confidence to tell jesus, above his objections, "Turn the water into wine."
14 - Ashley Munce
Just to let you know. Jesus turning the water into wine was not just a spur of the moment thing He did. It is deeper then that.
In Pre-Messiah Jewish Culture, there was a thing called The Age of Water & The Age of Wine. Now The Age of Water, is where humanity is held down and under the Law(Mosaic Covanent) and there is no freedom God, you have a relationship with a ptriest instead of a fatherly God. However the Age of Wine was said to comence at the arrival and fulfillment of the Messianic Prophecy(Jesus living and Dying) It brings freedom into religon,the new Age brings an intimate relationship with God, not a formal one with a priest.
So when Jesus did this He was signaling that He was the Messiah and that this new Age was here.
15 - Charles
God Knows your heart and this is good, because the truth will set you Free. What Is the Truth??........
Jesus Christ
16 - Dr Dreadful
Wine into water miracle: very impressive. I mean, it's easy enough to do the other way around, but...
17 - Dr Dreadful
Oops, I just buggered up that comment and ruined the punchline. It is of course, the water into wine miracle, which is way more impressive than the other way around!
18 - Matt
Simply, wine in the bible can mean either fermented or nonfermented wine (grape juice).The common word translated as wine "oinos" is grape juice. Only the context can determine the type of wine that's referred to.
So in this context Jesus turned the water to grape juice, oinos.
19 - Guitarplaya4JC
I hate to comment on such an old and dying blog, but that last comment there that "Matt" made is the only factual comment in this entire blog related to the water to wine miracle that Jesus performed. He didn't make anyone drunk, or drunkER. The wine Jesus made was "the best" and it was "fresh, and brand new" Last time I checked wine before it is fermented is merely grape juice. Also, last time I checked nobody is around here getting drunk off of a bunch of smashed up grapes. Keep livin your little fantasy lives about how Jesus "partied" though. Whatever helps you cope with your daily sins, and make you feel like you're not living in this worldly sin...I guess we'll see the truth on judgment day when we meet God face to face! All I gotta say to ya'll is...GOOD LUCK!
20 - Covenanter
Nugget,
Discipline thy tongue, brother, for you speak with coarse humor and unwholesome, prideful speech.
21 - Manzar Masood
the quran says that his first miracle is to save his mother from flase slander of her peapole! you can refer it in surah (SCRIPTUER) Mariam(MARY)19:30-33
According to the Qu'ran:
"[19:27] Then she brought him to her own folk, carrying him. They said: O Mary! Thou hast come with an amazing thing.
[19:28] O sister of Aaron! Thy father was not a wicked man nor was thy mother a harlot.
[19:29] Then she pointed to him. They said: How can we talk to one who is in the cradle, a young boy?
[19:30] He spake: Lo! I am the slave of Allah. He hath given me the Scripture and hath appointed me a Prophet,
[19:31] And hath made me blessed wheresoever I may be, and hath enjoined upon me prayer and almsgiving so long as I remain alive,
[19:32] And (hath made me) dutiful toward her who bore me, and hath not made me arrogant, unblest.
[19:33] Peace on me the day I was born, and the day I die, and the day I shall be raised alive!
[19:34] Such was Jesus, son of Mary: (this is) a statement of the truth concerning which they doubt.
[19:35] It befitteth not (the Majesty of) Allah that He should take unto Himself a son. Glory be to Him! When He decreeth a thing, He saith unto it only: Be! and it is"
The miracle is that he defended his mother as a Infant(Baby) from her accuser's
22 - concerned
it is very sad to see people who call themselves christians slander the very name of Christ. be careful with the words you use and how you say things, people are looking up to you and you are showing a terrible image of Christ. the bible says -out of the overflow of his heart speaks a man. if all that is coming out of your mouth is cursing, slander, and demeaning towards the Word of God who is Christ Jesus, then what is in your heart? Jesus did turn water into wine and it was his first miracle. that is what the Bible says. He did NOT make anyone drunk or drunker. if that was the case then he would not be perfect or without sin, and therefore could not be our sacrifice.
23 - amanda
wine and ale were largely drunk in those days, much more than water. not sure why. sanitation, maybe.
24 - Tim Taylor
I'm amazed that nearly 2 years later, this post still generates interest/comments.
25 - DJMK
That God is perfectly ok with the (moderate) consumption of booze to get a happy buzz, please observe that God allowed yayin (wine) and shekar (strong drink!) to be purchased with a TITHE of all things! The joy juice was to be drunk BEFORE the Lord with thanksgiving!! Sounds like a PARTY to ME!
The Bible says: "You shall spend that money for whatever your heart desires: for oxen or sheep, for wine or strong drink, for whatever your heart desires; you shall eat there before the LORD your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your household,"
Deut. 14:26
I have yet to see a reasonable, sound and logical refutation of this scrpture as one that proves that God does NOT condemn booze! And am I confident that I never will. Note that I say REASONABLE, SOUND and LOGICAL?? Ok...nuff said!