Things move fast in the book of John. Already in the second chapter Yeshua does the first miracle of a career which included many miracles. "This beginning of his signs Yeshua did in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him." John 2:11

This first miracle "revealed His glory" - that is, introduced His glory to the world for the first time. In theatrical terms this was His big entrance. This miracle was so impressive it caused His new disciples "to believe in Him." Think about it, if you didn't know already, what would you expect the introductory miracle of the Son of God, the Messiah of Israel to be? Surely, it would be an amazing act beyond reproach, a pious miracle of impeccable good taste as well as a majestic spectacle of  holiness and glory. It is highly unlikely that anyone would have expected that the first miracle of the Messiah would be to provide over a hundred gallons of wine for those who had already "drunk freely" to the extent that they may not be sober enough to even tell what wine they were drinking! Yet, that's exactly what He did. Isn't this an offense against religion?

Even today Christian commentators feel the need to censor the Lord's first miracle. For example, The Believer's Bible Commentary, a Christian commentary I sometimes refer to in my studies, comments on John 2:9 telling readers they should not drink wine at all! Truly, this is good advice for alcoholics, but they don't limit their advice to those who are thus burdened. They advise that all should "leave alcoholic beverages alone." They say:

"What should be the attitude of Christians toward wine today? Wine is sometimes prescribed for medicinal purposes, and this is entirely in accordance with the teaching of the NT (1Ti_5:23). However, because of the terrible abuses which have come about in connection with the intemperate use of wine, most Christians will want to avoid it altogether. Anyone can become addicted to strong drink. The way to avert this danger is to leave alcoholic beverages alone. Again, one must always consider the effect of his actions on others. In our culture it would be a bad testimony on the part of a Christian if an unsaved person should see him drinking wine, and for this reason he should abstain."  

Before I make my comments on the quote above I should tell you that I personally hardly ever drink wine, generally just at Passover, rarely on other occasions. This is not for religious reasons, its simply not my preference. I say this because religious people may otherwise make assumptions about the motive behind my comments that are simply not in accord with my personal behavior, and I don't want wrong assumptions to interfere with the point I am about to make. Now to my comments.

How is our culture today any different from 2,000 years ago so far as wine is concerned? There have always been people who have enjoyed wine in moderation as well as a minority of others who go too far. This claim of a difference in the culture is a vain attempt to not appear to be disagreeing with the Lord while, in actuality, finding fault with His conduct. Such commentary, thus attached directly to this passage in which Messiah provided wine for people to drink, comes across to me as religion bristling against the freedom of Messiah, in favor of protecting religious dogma. Setting rules to prevent people from enjoying what God created to be enjoyed, simply because some others sometimes misbehave, is the thinking at the heart of dead religion. It turns out that Christians can sometimes out-Pharisee the Pharisees! I say that because even the Pharisees had no complaint against the Lord here, while the Christians writing the quoted commentary obviously are at odds with the entire tenor of the Lord's miracle in turning water into the finest wine.

It is precisely in this, that Messiah IS NOT religious and in fact, acts contrary to religion, that His glory is revealed! He is a real person who sees beyond the structures of religion into the hearts of the people who need Him the most - the broken, the outcasts of religion, and the afflicted of this world. All they have to do is call on Him and their lives will begin to change for the better. Every person who has been set free from the bondage of false religion into the glorious freedom of the children of God knows this! It is this glorious freedom based on real righteousness, truth, love, and faith that reveals Messiah to the heart of every true disciple, calling us to follow Him! Stupid religious rules never saved anyone. Only Messiah Himself can do that.

Eliyahu
Tsiyon.Org

****************************************