Beech Tree News Network

Recently, I saw where the claim was made that Jesus drank alcohol. Is this true? Where can we find this mentioned in the New Testament? Some might suggest that John 2 has something to say about Jesus drinking alcohol when He turned water into wine at the wedding feast (Jn. 2:1-11). However, for this to be so means we have had to make two assumptions. One assumption is that we have to assume that the word “wine” used in John 2 means alcohol. The second assumption is that Jesus drank it. Please read John 2:1-11 and see if these assumptions can be substantiated.

    Yes, Jesus attended a wedding feast, and as we analyze John 2:1-11, we find that Jesus was told that the “wine” had been consumed (v. 3). Therefore, the servants brought Jesus six waterpots, each with the ability to contain 20-30 gallons (v. 6). Jesus told them to fill the pots with water, and they were filled to the brim (v. 7). This means there was between 120-180 gallons of water in those pots. This water was then turned into wine by the Lord (v. 9). Based upon what we have studied so far, why would we immediately assume Jesus was making alcohol or drinking alcohol? Is it not because of our 21st century assumptions concerning the use of the word “wine”? Instead of assuming something based upon our reasoning, let us respect the context of the book of John, which was written in the 1st century.

    The word “wine” in the original (Yayin in Hebrew/Oinos in Greek) is a generic term. Unlike today, “wine” in the Bible denotes “juice of the grape” in all forms. It is akin to saying such generic terms as “groceries,” “automobile,” “furniture,” “music,” etc. When the Bible uses the term “wine,” it does not tell us type, kind, categories, etc., because it is a generic term. We must specify terms in order to have a better understanding. This means respecting the context of the Scripture to know whether or not the “wine” mentioned was fermented or not. Just because we read the word “wine” in the Bible does not mean it is alcoholic wine, unless the context shows that it is. It is a stretch of the imagination to say with certainty that Jesus turned water into alcohol.

    Yet, if we assume for a moment that Jesus made alcohol in John 2, then please consider this in light of the context of John 2. If Jesus made alcohol, then understand Jesus was attending more than a wedding, but actually a drunken feast. Then, according to our assumption, Jesus has miraculously provided between 120-180 additional gallons for these drunk people to continue consuming! Friend, does this sound like something the Son of God, who did no sin (I Pet. 2:22), would be doing? Would He be involved in breaking God’s commands concerning drunkenness? Would He be involved in making gallons and gallons of alcohol for a party, but then inspiring His apostles to write something else to the Christians? (See: Eph. 5:18; I Pet. 4:3-4; etc.) That makes no sense at all, does it?

    Rather than assuming Christ made alcohol and drank alcohol, look at this context, study the word “wine” (oinos/yayin) in light of what the word originally meant, and also consider who Jesus is. The truth is that these people had already drank many gallons of grape juice, and Jesus just made more.

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