Didn't Jesus Turn Water Into Wine?

Text John 2:1-11; 1 Corinthians 10:23

Are you of the school of thought promoting this notion of wine being a proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy? Well, I beg to differ.

Of course He did turn water to wine but it's no basis for wine to enslave you. Alas, it rips my heart to know that even Christendom today misses it in this regard but I do not claim to know it all.

So many professing Christians give the John 2:1-11 account as a justification to gratify their alcoholic gluttony, failing to realize that God is not an author of confusion and doesn't contradict Himself. Though He created wine for a purpose, He knows the effects of it and that is why He warned us before hand in His Word (Bible) to desist from it.

Have this in mind that every miracle Jesus did was symbolic and shouldn't be examined on the surface. The water to wine miracle elucidates the gracious power of God to rescue from shame and disgrace in dire times of need and trial.

Imagine it's your wedding or your daughter's or someone close to you and you are in charge of the organizing and all. Dignitaries, friends, well-wishers, relatives and even foes have been invited to the occasion. Suddenly, you run out of stock of food and drinks and the reception had barely started, having no other avenues to refill the stock. You can imagine the scenario.

There was the Saviour, Jesus Christ, saving the day by providing what was needed at its best quality. This is what we should hold on to in this account and not to justify wine drinking. You may want to make reference to 2 Timothy 5:23 where Apostle Paul urged Timothy to take a little wine? But is that the end of the story? Of course not; Timothy had to use it as cure for his frequent illness. If indeed you too are sick as Timothy was, should wine now take the place of praying for healing or seeing a doctor when necessary?

"Harlotry and wine and new wine take away the heart and the mind and the spiritual understanding" (Hosea 4:11). This is a profound wisdom God wanted us to get that He made this known in His Word. In Isaiah 28:7, it was wine that led the priest and the prophets astray from the path of righteousness. And for God so love the world that He gave us this warning so as not to err and miss His promises for us.

For Lot's daughters to have their father fulfill their heinous intents, they had to fetter him with wine (Genesis 19:31-33). King Ahasuerus misbehaved and sent his wife away under the influence of wine (Esther 1:1-18). These are incidents God doesn't want to occur in the lives of any of His children and has given a clear path to follow.

"Wine is a mocker, strong drink a riotous brawler; and whoever errs or reels because of it is not wise" (Proverbs 20:1).  Enslaving yourself to wine brings sorrow, woe, wounds without cause and dimness of eyes that precedes a fall and embarrassment. "It bites like a serpent and strings like an adder" (Proverbs 23:29-35). If anyone claims to be wise but bows to the supremacy of wine, he is but a liar and dead to reality.

Apostle Paul said, "All things are legitimate (permissible – and we are free to do anything we please), but not all things are helpful. All things are legitimate, but not all things are constructive (to character) and edifying (to spiritual life)" (1 Corinthians 10:23; 6-12). Wine intake may be lawful but not profitable for the spirit man. And "if we live by the (Holy) Spirit, let us also walk by the (Holy) Spirit…" doing away with the things of the flesh.

Don't be misguided and misled on this issue of wine and drinking. The Bible frowns at it, God forbids it and Jesus Christ, our Master, didn't do it. Why then must you engage in it? False prophets have risen among us, spreading erroneous messages and misconstruing the Bible and those with feeble minds fall for it.

Now more than ever, we as believers of Christ have to get closer to our Master to know Him more and know all of His instructions on varied issues of life. We have to grow from "milk taking for the unskilled in the doctrine of righteousness and start eating solid food (meat of the Word) (Hebrews 5:12-14).

Don't be deceived! So many have erred from the faith by being unskilled and ignorant of the ordinances of God. You shouldn't be the next victim of the devil. "Don't perish for lack of knowledge". The Bible is not a novel to keep and read at convenience. It is the Word of Life that can save, sanctify and transform. Read it, study it, meditate on it, spend time with it, and understand 'THE TRUTH'.

With these few points, I believe I have been able to debunk the notion of the first picture above. And for those who are already enslaved by wine and need to quit drinking entirely, Jesus remains the only answer. His blood will miraculously deliver you from alcohol addiction more than any rehabilitation center can do.

*** Written by Jacobs Adewale (Admin) ***

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