Water To Wine: And why it matters

Jesus famously turned water into wine for his first miracle.

I was asked the other day as part of a debate did Jesus create non alcoholic wine or not.

The reason for this question was due to some thoughts about Jesus’s first miracle. One group of listeners thought Jesus had turned the water into non alcoholic wine or grape juice because he was God. Others felt it was just wine. I wasn’t in the mood to argue about details that I felt didn’t matter. The context was over communion wine being either alcoholic or non alcoholic.

IN the long run the importance of the the wine from water miracle should not be forgotten.

It was REAL wine.

On that fateful day Jesus stood at the wedding of a family friend. He was begged by his mother for a show of his wonder working power. To turn some guys down trending party into a famous saying. The wine the wonderful wine was gone and the groom and the family where becoming nervous. How could we celebrate. The Water to wine miracle says a lot about Jesus’s feelings toward us.

The wine was real. Yes very real. Like if you where to go back in time to 30 AD and attend that wedding you could get a buzz. But why? Why would my sweet Jesus create a life destroying alcoholic beverage. Well, for starters the bible never says its a sin to drink. It says to not love to drink, to not be given to drink, and that strong drinks “mock” those who indulge them. Paul states you are free to do all things but be a slave to none. But I would venture to agree with Ecclesiastes and say there is a time and place for everything. Due to the culture at the time people drunk wine at weddings and celebrated. We as human beings celebrate its our nature. Jesus was asked to save the celebration so he made real wine. Because that’s what wedding celebrations needed. And it was so good that people created a saying that stuck around for over a thousand years they saved the best (wine) for last!

Why waste “cosmic power” on some drinks? This is the power of the miracle. All other miracles where explicitly part of Jesus’s purpose. He said he would heal people, it was prophesied he would heal people, but on this occasion he did something that was neither prophesied or proclaimed. So what made him complete this miracle? He wanted to to help out his friend and fulfil the request of his mother. So here is Jesus at an event that has nothing to do with destiny doing something out of honor and friendship? Yes. God is a good friend and a good son. So because he was their WITH them he suffered their problems that had nothing to do with his agenda. He didn’t see it as a waste that humans where doing human things because he was there amongst them. Like the name Immanuel “God with us”

Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of human beings? Will you try the patience of my God also? Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son, and will call Him Immanuel.” — Isaiah 7:13–14

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). — Matthew 1:22–23

And how this plays out is beautiful for the times when we just ask God for what we want. Every time we catch a deal on a car or house, or find our soulmate, or manage to not get hurt during a game its because God is with us and grants our desires. Now he is to wise to give us every desire but God is good to us. He understands what is important to us even if its not important to him.

Modern Day wine

During award shows we see famous singers and rappers acknowledge the goodness of God in their acceptance speeches. For years I chuckled as whole albums that talked about killing, sex, and drugs would be created by people who where believing in God. They weren’t believing in God to make parent’s and Sunday school teachers angry; they rather where trying to achieve their own victory. And God who is good, who is with them if they believe in him, helps them achieve.

I know what your saying Christians. “God has more important things to do that cause athletes to win, and cause filthy singers to finish an album.” Yes, he does have more important things to do than that and more important things to do than wake up everyone in the morning and provide you safe travel to that mall 40 miles away, and keep that show you like on the air. If he promises to provide for me, why do I need a promotion. Why do I need a car? Jesus never had a car. I’m pulling your leg. It is funny how harsh we judge someone else’s desires verses our own. If we are honest a lot of our requests are about us and have nothing to do with God’s kingdom and that is okay. God is our friend and he is with us.

Sometimes that just means he supports us internally in our hearts and minds. Other times God literally provides victory for us. The most Raunchy performer has a background. They have hardships they had to overcome. To even get an album out is a miracle…But God did it. God brought thugs and killers out of the hood and changed their life. Giving them money and power things that don’t matter all that much to him but that we can look at and say they are blessed. And when the recognize God its because he is Good even if they are not! This amazing permissive will allows us time to see God’s nature even before its time for us to live in God’s purpose. He suffers our dreams and desires because he cares. He turns water into wine for us everyday. He never has to do it but he does!