Context and Dishonest Interpretations 101

I know that I am mostly preaching to the choir on this issue but this week I heard 3 different  laughable versions from the radio, of what kind of wine Jesus created in the wedding at Cana and incidentally it was preached this Sunday at CrossCulture Community but, of course, with a more honest "what did God say" approach to both context and words of John 2:1-12.

I have to do this blog because dishonest interpretations truly irritate me. It makes the interpreter so arrogant that he holds his interpretation at a much higher level than GOD'S PLAIN WORDS!!!

This is where both biblical context must be integrated with historical, sociological context of the passage AND PLAIN COMMON SENSE before the words are analyzed but then even the words already give away what the substance really is.

Dishonest version 1: The wine was really juice.

The Greek word is simply and plainly ordinary TRULY FERMENTED, NATURALLY 8% TO 14% ALCOHOL.
Now, try to give a glass of juice to someone who knows his wines but tell him that it is real wine. If that were me, I would literally puke!

Also, recall that Paul encouraged Timothy to drink a little wine (same Greek word as at the wedding) for his stomach problems. Yes, it is proven that wine improves stomach problems. It is also proven that using juice against stomach problems WILL ACTUALLY MAKE IT WORSE!

Dishonest version 2: The wine was unfermented.

OXYMORON and REVISIONIST! Where in the world can we find unfermented wine ? Either it is naturally (God designed) fermented or IT IS NOT WINE AT ALL! Any human being should NOT EDIT God's word nor HAVE THE FREEDOM TO REVISE ITS MEANING whatever his personal agenda is. These is sheer arrogance!

Dishonest version 3: The wine was diluted with water.

This is the most dishonest Scripture twisting version for the following reasons:

1. Even if it was intentionally diluted, it does not reduce the TOTAL ALCOHOL content. It therefore makes this version the MOST USELESS interpretation based on its own agenda.
2. The bestman of the wedding said that Christ's wine was far superior to the wine they just drank and ran out of. No one would say that of JUICE (c'mon!). Like the first version, serve diluted wine to me and instead of saying it is the best wine, I would PUKE.
3. The bestman said this after they had drank a lot. Honestly, would anyone say this if they were already full of plain juice...and they drank another juice????

Dishonest version 4: There was very little or no clean water during those days.

Beep!!! There were six jars of clean water that he changed to alcoholic wine! Jews do not serve dirty water. Water in those days were genuine underground spring water. Even the water had to be kosher or the Jews would not even dream of touching it. 

Dishonest version 5: God allows it only for medicinal purposes.

Beep!!! That was a wedding with no diabetics, some alcoholics perhaps. Christ created all that great wine for all those people. I am 100% sure that NONE of the guests were sick. Otherwise, they would have stayed at home!

I personally believe that, at least, for this issue, all pastors should learn to drink good wine. Perhaps being tipsy would make them a little more honest with this passage.