The Curse of Alcoholic Drink - part 2
Proverbs 20:1
“1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.”
2. Jesus Was Glorified With This Miracle.
John 2:11
“11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.”
Sin does not glorify God.
Romans 3:23
“23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”
Jesus manifested forth his glory with this first miracle that He did. There is no glory in sin. Anything to do with the liquor industry is sin. It is sin to produce it, it is sin to sell it, it is sin to consume it. Jesus Christ did not produce it, He did not promote it, and He did not cause anyone to consume it, nor did He consume it Himself. He is the eternal Son of God.
3. The People at this Wedding Ceremony Were Not Drunk
John 2:10
“10 And saith unto him, 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.”
The man in charge of the wedding festivities was sober and able to detect that this wine was of much better quality than other wine. The context clearly points out that the wine spoken of here was not alcoholic in nature. It was good wine. It was clean wine. It was pure grape juice.
There are those who would want to argue other points no doubt regarding John 2, but we must keep in mind that the Old Testament was written before the New Testament. The Old Testament is the Word of God as is the New Testament.
Some might suggest that we should not be looking to the Old Testament for direction because Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament so all we should be looking at now is the New Testament. This kind of talk is foolish. It rejects the fact that all of the Bible is the word of God and we cannot understand the New Testament properly apart from having the Old Testament to study as well. Jesus Christ quoted from the Old Testament many times. Those who want to isolate certain parts of the Bible are doing so to defend false doctrine. God gave us a complete record which includes both the Old Testament and the New Testament. As we study God’s Word faithfully we will come to the right understanding of what He wants us to know and do.
Matthew 5:17, 18
“17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”