Subject: word for wine in the original text? |
Bible Note: John, Part 1 I will answer your post in two parts, as there is no possible way for me to briefly address your doubt's. First reason; The making of Alcoholic drink is not strictly a natural process. Many take for granted that if you take the juice of a grape, and let it sit, not refrigerating it, it would automatically turn into wine. This is not true. It takes more than time to make wine. People try to defend drinking with the idea that since God made grapes, alcoholic drink must be OK. But the fact is, God did not make alcohol! Man has learned how to make alcoholic liquors through processes that he has invented. Wine makers know that one must have the correct amount of water, sugar and temperature to make wine. Keeping grape juice in a refrigerator would prevent fermenting, because the temperature is not right. Likewise, hot, tropical temperatures would prevent fermentation. In ancient days, before we had refrigeration, people learned how to preserve the juice of the grape without turning it into alcoholic wine. Many people boiled it down into a thick syrup, preserving it for long periods of time. When they got ready to drink it, they would simply add water to the consistency desired, in much the same way we take frozen concentrates and add water. In Bible days, contrary to what most believe, it was not necessary for everyone to drink alcoholic wine as a table beverage. The making of wine, therefore, requires input from man. It requires certain additives, such as sugar, and the control of temperature, etc. The natural processes will produce fermentation under certain circumstances, that is true, but those processes lead quickly to turning the wine to vinegar. The natural process is perverted by man. Alcoholic drinks must be produced by man, using invented processes, not natural processes. ********************************* Jesus did not drink alcohol or make alcoholic drinks. Heb. 7:26 "For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;" The second reason is because of His Holy Nature. No doubt, the Saviour had an air of holiness about Himself that could be seen by the most simple of people. The words of Jesus were different, He had a very holy appearance, character and speech. Why is this so important? Consider this illustration. Suppose we lived during the 1920's prohibition days, and were approached by people offering us a drink of cider. Now, "cider" may mean an alcoholic drink, or plain apple juice. One of the persons, we knew to be one of the holiest men in town, faithful to the house of God, separated from the world, diligent in prayers, always witnessing to others; the other was a known liquor dealer. If each one offered us a drink of "his very own cider", we would assume that the holy person's cider was no more than apple juice, while there would be no doubt about the liquor dealer's cider! Clearly, the character of a person influences what he does. Since Jesus Christ was "holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners", we may safely assume He would not make what is called in Scripture "a mocker and deceiver of men," causing untold misery. (con't.) |