Over the last couple of weeks, we have been considering the Bible’s teachings on alcohol and whether or not Christians should drink it. As mentioned at the end of last week’s article, many will turn to John 2 and use Jesus’s miracle as their justification for the ability to drink alcoholic wine. When we honestly consider the context, however, I believe it is clear that the wine made by Jesus could not have been alcoholic – meaning that John 2 is no justification for drinking alcoholic drink.
When considering Jesus’s miracle, it is important to remember the purpose of turning the water to wine – to manifest “His glory” and to cause “His disciples” to believe “in Him” (Jn. 2:11, NKJV). With this in mind, we know that turning water into wine would produce these results. In turning the water to wine, Jesus miraculously turns roughly 120 to 180 gallons of water into wine (Jn. 2:6-10). We learn as well from John 2:10 that the guests at the wedding feast were already “well drunk.” Therefore, if Jesus created 120-180 gallons of alcohol and we assume what was already provided at the feast was alcoholic, Jesus just provided more alcohol to an already drunk crowd. If this were so, Jesus would have been violating the teachings of the Old Testament (Hab. 2:15), but He also would be violating what the Spirit would go on to teach under the New Testament (Eph. 5:18). How could this possibly bring about His “glory” and promote “belief” (Jn. 2:11)? We know according to Hebrews 4:15 that Jesus was without sin. Taking all of this into account, we must conclude that the wine made through Jesus’s miracle could not have been alcoholic.
Despite this truth, there are still many who claim it is alright to drink alcohol so long as one does not get drunk. For this reason, we would be wise to consider what the Bible says concerning social drinking or the occasional glass of wine. Next week, we will consider how much constitutes too much.
By: Preston McElyea