Temple Baptist Church - 10-2-2022
John 2:1-11
Introduction:
A. I am preaching through the Gospel of John on Wednesday nights but, because of its nature, I need to preach this message when the majority of our people are here. I have also placed a copy of this message into your hands because of its length and number of verses used. I want you to be able to take it home with you for future reference.
B. I am not using every verse found in the bible either as the word “wine” is found 297 times in your King James Bible and the word “drunk” in one of its several forms is found 81 times in your Bible. I am just giving enough of a sample to whet your appetite to study them out for yourselves if you want to expound on the subject. I will give you enough material this morning to convince anyone who honestly wants to know the truth on the subject.
C. Also, this message has absolutely no intent to disparage any preacher or person that will disagree with me on the subject.
1. I refuse to debate the subject because, as a pastor and one who takes the time to study the Bible as to rightly divide it, believe that what I will preach is biblically right and right for our families who sit here this morning and will have no problem at all standing before the Lord with this message.
2. For those who chose to believe differently, that will be between them and the Lord but, this is what I believe that the Bible teaches on the subject, and it is where I, as your pastor and spiritual guardian, MUST stand.
D. We live in an ever-changing time and society. One where things that were once black/white and light have turned into shades of grey and darkness. As the world quickly turns from the wisdom of God to the wisdom of men and from good to evil, its way of thinking and living is changing in the same direction.
E. There are many such changes in today’s society where social drinking, social drugs, and social sex are no longer looked upon as they once were by either the world or the churches. Morality is virtually a thing of the past. Black and white have become shades of gray and light has become darkness.
1. Where drinking was once against the law, today is socially acceptable. (Beer, wine, whiskey, and hard ciders are found everywhere in public and stores)
2. Where drug usage was once against the law, today is socially acceptable. (Recreational Marijuana now found in many states and not prosecuted in most states.)
3. Where pre-marital sex and adultery were once frowned upon, today they have become a way of life.)
4. Though the list could go one, I will only deal of these problems. Does drinking alcohol have the approval of God? That is the question that I will be dealing with in this message. These messages are so very important for our families and young people.
F. As we have read the story, there are two words that I will deal with in this first message. There are also 3 different usages of each of the two words found in the Bible. But first, let me explain the third usage of each of these words. The third usage is a metaphor. Let me explain what a metaphor is.
1. Metaphor - a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable. We are all familiar with metaphors or figures of speech as we use them all the time.
2. “I hit the bulls eye.” No, we did not hit a bull in the eye! There was no blow stricken, no bull, and no injury to the eye. This is a metaphor or figure of speech.
3. “I got tied up this morning.” No, no one took a rope and tied me up this morning! It is a metaphor for my being busy and could not attend to something or be some place. This is a metaphor or figure of speech.
4. “His words cut like a knife.” “Her emotions are on a rollercoaster.” “I am a little blue today.”
The list could go on and on because these metaphors are a part of our daily speech.
G. In verses 3 and 10, we find the two words that I want to look at this morning: wine and drunk. Each of these two words are used in three different ways in the Bible and are always interpreted by their context. For time and space’s sake, I will not give every verse in the Bible that contains these two words because they are each used numerous times.
“and when they wanted wine” (verse 3), “when men have well drunk” and “the good wine.” (Verse 10)
1. Wine. The word “wine” is used three different ways in the Bible with each usage being explained by its context. It is used as the blood of the grape or the fruit of the vine; it is used as an alcoholic beverage made by man; it is also used as a metaphor.
a) Wine: non-alcoholic also referred to as the fruit of the vine or blood of the grape.
1) Judges 9:12-13 Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us. (13) And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?
This wine is equated with the fruit of the vine. The vine does not produce alcoholic wine in its natural estate, men must make alcoholic wine. Also, alcoholic wine certainly does not cheer God. Nowhere is God alluded to as an alcohol drinker.
2) Isaiah 24:7 The new wine mourneth, the vine languisheth, all the merryhearted do sigh.
The “new wine” is the blood of the grape and is tied directly to the vine upon which the grape grows.
b) Wine: alcoholic or strong drink.
1) Genesis 19:33 And they made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose.
I have no doubt that the wine was alcoholic or strong drink!
2) Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
Wine here is tied with strong drink and makes a mockery out of someone. I have no doubt that the wine was alcoholic or strong drink!
3) Proverbs 23:29-35 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? (30) They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. (31) Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. (32) At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. (33) Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. (34) Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. (35) They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.
Verse 31 explains the beauty and fermentation of the alcoholic wine. Wine causes the drinker to do sinful and perverse things. I have no doubt that the wine was alcoholic or strong drink!
4) Isaiah 5:11 Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!
Isaiah 28:7 But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.
c) Wine: a metaphor.
1) Genesis 49:10-12 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. (11) Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes: (12) His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk.
The vines are grape vines. His garments are His clothes and what He washed them in called wine and the blood of the grapes which come from the choice vine.
Prophetic of our Lord Jesus Christ Binding his foal to a choice vine that produces wine to wash his garments in. His garments are his clothes, and the Bible clearly says that the wine was the blood of the grapes. Our Lord certainly will not appear drunk. In Revelation it speaks of His eyes as red, the flame of fire.
2) Revelation 17:2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.
Drunk, wine, and fornication are all metaphors in this verse.
3) Revelation 18:3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.
The wrath does not produce wine.
2. Drunk. The word “drunk” is used three different ways in the Bible with each usage being explained by its context. It is used to refer to having drank one’s fill; it is used to refer to being inebriated; it is also used as a metaphor.
a) Drunk: to drink until full.
1) Judges 15:19 But God clave an hollow place that was in the jaw, and there came water thereout; and when he had drunk, his spirit came again, and he revived: wherefore he called the name thereof Enhakkore, which is in Lehi unto this day.
Samson was not inebriated.
2) Ruth 3:7 And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn: and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down
Boaz was not inebriated.
3) Isaiah 29:8-9 It shall even be as when an hungry man dreameth, and, behold, he eateth; but he awaketh, and his soul is empty: or as when a thirsty man dreameth, and, behold, he drinketh; but he awaketh, and, behold, he is faint, and his soul hath appetite: so shall the multitude of all the nations be, that fight against mount Zion. (9) Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink.
These are not drunken by wine or strong drink.
4) 1) Deuteronomy 32:42 I will make mine arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh; and that with the blood of the slain and of the captives, from the beginning of revenges upon the enemy.
The arrows are not inebriated.
b) Drunk: to be inebriated.
.
1) Genesis 9:20-21 And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard: (21) And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent.
I have no doubt that Noah was inebriated.
2) Genesis 19:32-33 Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father. (33) And they made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose.
I have no doubt that Lot was inebriated.
3) Habakkuk 2:15 Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!
I have no doubt that this man is inebriated.
c) Drunk: a metaphor.
1) Deuteronomy 32:42 I will make mine arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh; and that with the blood of the slain and of the captives, from the beginning of revenges upon the enemy.
The sword is not inebriated with blood.
2) Revelation 17:1-2 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.
Both drunk and wine are metaphors in these verses as people are not drunk with spiritual fornication and neither is spiritual fornicati”on an alcoholic drink.
3) Revelation 17:6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
The Great Whore is not inebriated with the blood of martyrs of Jesus.
H. The first thing recorded that Christ did after His baptism was to attend a wedding in Cana. He took His earthly mother, Mary, and His disciples with Him to the wedding feast. Now let us look at the miracle that Christ did at the wedding feast.
1. Jesus attended the wedding feast with His mother, Mary. During the feast, Mary approached Jesus and told Him that the people wanted more wine but there was none left.
2. Jesus told the servants to bring the waterpots, fill them with water, and carry them to the governor of the feast. The governor tasted the water that had been turned into wine and as the bridegroom from whence it came.
3. Here is the statement that the governor made: “Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.”
4. The reason for the miracle is given in verse. “This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.”
J. The controversy is that some believe that all wine in the bible is fermented and that every use of the word drunk pertains to being inebriated. If the wine in chapter 2 is fermented, we find some doctrinal problems concerning who Jesus was and what He was.
K. Who was the Lord Jesus Christ? Jesus was the Only Begotten Son of God; Jesus was Almighty God in the flesh; Jesus was the impeccable, sinless Son of God. Jesus did not sin; Jesus could not sin; and Jesus condemned sin in the flesh.
1. Would Jesus, the sinless Son of God, have graced a drunken wedding party with His presence? I believe that the biblical answer to this question would be NO!
Psalms 26:4-5 I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers. (5) I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.
1 Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
Hebrews 7:26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
I would not attend such and neither would the Lord.
2. Would Jesus, the sinless Son of God, have been a partaker in the wine drinking if it were fermented? NO! The Bible says that Jesus was a wine drinker.
Matthew 11:18-19 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. (19) The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.
John drank neither wine nor strong drink. Notice the differentiation between wine and strong drink. This wine was not strong drink.
Luke 1:15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.
In verse 19, Christ was referred to as a “winebibber”. Though that was a slander, the Bible says that Christ came “eating and drinking” and the drinking is tied to wine. I have no doubt that Christ drank of the fruit of the vine because He drank it at the last supper with His disciples.
Matthew 26:29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.
3. Would Jesus, the sinless Son of God, have taken His godly, widowed mother, Mary, to a drunken wedding party? I believe that the biblical answer to this question would be NO!
Ephesians 6:2-3 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) (3) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
I would never take my mother to a drunken party, and neither would the Lord.
4. Would Jesus, the sinless Son of God have told His disciples to “follow me,” and taken them to a drunken wedding party? I believe that the biblical answer to this question would be NO! 47 times in the 4 Gospels, Jesus commanded for His “disciples” to “follow me.”
John 2:11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
The apostles were at the wedding feast with the Lord.
5. Would Mary, the mother of Jesus, have ever asked Jesus to supply a bunch of drunks with more alcoholic wine with which to get drunker? I believe that the biblical answer to this question would be NO!
Luke 1:30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
Luke 1:38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
My earthly mother would have never done so, and neither would the mother of the Lord.
6. Would Jesus, the sinless Son of God, have turned the water in the waterpots into 67 -120 (the amount varies among commentators) gallons of alcoholic wine to satisfy a bunch of drunks at the wedding? I believe that the biblical answer to this question is NO!
Habakkuk 2:15 Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also … !
Ephesians 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
James 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
I would not have done such and neither would our Lord.
7. Would such an atrocious act by the Lord Jesus Christ have manifested His glory or caused His disciples to believe upon Him? I believe that the biblical answer to this question is NO! On both accounts.
Exodus 23:2 Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment:
Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
John 12:46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
1 John 1:5-7 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. (6) If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: (7) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Going to a drunken party and taking His mother and disciples with Him would bring no glory to Himself, neither would turning water into wine to feed the lust of a bunch of inebriated drunkards cause His disciples to believe in Him or follow Him.
8. Our Lord Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God, would be our “sinner in chief” if He had committed such sinful things that are contrary to His Word. The wine was non-alcoholic, and our Lord gladly replenished their depleted supply so that the feast could go on!
James 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
