Some interesting info I came across as I read the bible:
from the revised std version (http://www.bibleontheweb.com/Bible.asp)
6 Now six stone jars were standing there, for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to them, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim. 8 He said to them, "Now draw some out, and take it to the steward of the feast." So they took it. 9 When the steward of the feast tasted the water now become wine
1 gallon is equivalent to about 4 litres (depending on whether it is UK, US or dry but average to about 4. Check this site out http://www.digitaldutch.com/unitconverter/). I am also assuming that the gallon referred to here in the rev std version is the one Im converting.
So that gives:
20-30gallons x 6 = 120 - 180 gallons = 480 - 720 litres of wine.
Jesus made an average of 600 litres of wine, more than half a ton!
If you read the scipture, he made the wine AFTER they ran out. Which means they drank the good wine first, then the bad wine. Why this order? This is so because they expect people to be less able to tell how bad the bad wine really is after finishing up the good one. I'm tempted to infer that at this point, much wine has been drunk already because it's a wedding, people will try to prepare more than enough on such occasion. The host seems to have servants, so I'm guessing that they are not poor either.
No matter how you look at it, that's still a lot of wine - even if you're doing a chinese wedding with 100 tables!
So...
Would we say that Jesus 'stumbled' people then?
Would we still argue whether drinking can or cannot be done?
One would say, there would be (and there should be) more wholesome things to be done than drinking on a wedding? Why make wine and so much of it?
What is the principal behind this that we can all learn?
If it's not about the wine then what is it about?
4 comments:
Actually the 'wine' of those times are very different from today's. For a start it doesn't contain alcohol and I remember it isn't even fermented, more like today's 'grapejuice'. :)
Well there's that arguement. But as i read the old testament where wine is concerned, it's quite obvious that those wine are alcoholic - hence ppl get drunk.
Also during those age, the water quality is so bad that wine is drunk because of it's anti-bacteria properties (due to the alcohol)
I seriously don't know where the theory that wine in Jesus' day is 'non alcoholic' came from but if you read the bible clearly, you would know that the wine mentioned is alcoholic from Old Testament times to New Testament times.
Some examples from OT:
1) Num 6:2-4 - A Nazirite must abstain from wine and other fermented drinks... (quite straightforward)
2) Pro 31:6 - Give beer to those who are perishing, and wine to those who are in anguish, let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more (I don't see how Ribena can do it)
3) Isa 28:7 - And these also stagger from wine and reel from beer; Priests and prophets stagger from beer and are befuddled with wine (I don't see how grape juice is able to have that effect)
A few examples from NT:
1)In the story where Jesus turned water into wine, the master of the banquet(not knowing what Jesus had done) said to the bridegroom that usually people serve the best wine first and then the cheap wine later (and we all know why) but this bridegroom has saved the best for last
2) Jesus was accused as a drunkard and a glutton - seriously you won't accuse someone a drunkard if they are drinking grape juice
3) The apostles exhortation to the leaders of the church is that they are not given over to drunkardness (1 Tim 3:3) for the overseers and 'not indulging in much wine' 1(1 Tim 3:8) for the deacons - I seriously don't see the application if the wine is not alcoholic
4)Paul in 1 Cor 10:17-34 when chastising the Corinthians for participating in the Lord's supper in an unworthy manner mentions among other things 'one remains hungry, another gets drunk'...again my point,you can't get drunk on grape juice! And the Lord's supper then is really supper, not the little cup and tiny piece of wafer we pass off as communion today.
Seriously I don't know why we need to make the wine Jesus drink into non-alcoholic wine. I hope it's not because we need the gospel to be more 'holy'. Then we would have miss the whole point.
Much ado about wine.. or whining
I think there are 2 things to look at here.
1. Alcohol.. wine.. had "medicinal qualities"
a. they knock you out before an operation
b. they detox/oxidise the body..
But as in all things.. Exercising moderation is good. Throughout scripture, it mentions wine being used on many occassions in celebrations. In fact at our communion celebration.
I guess why there's a big hoo-hah in church about drinking and keeping the temple pure.. is because.. we don't trust ppl with drinking... we are afraid that ppl will go overboard with drinking.. (no self control).. so the standard is.. don't drink.. but staying away doesn't mean the problem doesn't exist.
So I believe we can still drink, but we need SELF CONTROL.. and know your intention of drinking.. each person has different tolerance, different reaction and different purpose to drinking..
Don't be caught in debauchery.. and that's all the Bible tells.. coming from Paul the Apostle.. and I don't think it's what God spoke directly to him. .. So .. I Paul NOT the apostle.. say.. "Minum.. tapi ala kadar lah" .. Drink in moderation and don't get drunk and out of control..
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