by Mary Bidou

Created on: April 27, 2009

Jesus Crist came into this world to be an example for the people, and He lived life with the same set of rules He expected us to emulate. The first miracle Jesus performed was turning water into wine. It really amazes me that people ask the question "Is drinking a sin for Christians?" Why would Jesus perform the miracle of water into wine if drinking were a sin? Doesn't his first miracle strike anyone as strange if drinking is thought to be sinful?

Throughout my Christian walk I have encountered many different theological views of every different passage in Scripture, and rarely do I hear this arguement in response to this question. It was the first act of supernatural faith Jesus presented to the people. What is difficult for people in today's society to comprehend, is that society was largely different 2000 years ago, when Jesus walked the Earth, than it is today. A wedding ceremony in that time was a large celebration where all the members in a community were invited to participate, and family members would travel miles, and even days to join the celebration. In the story, where Jesus was approached by his Mother, her concern was for the guests. The gathering of the people was for the purpose of rejoicing, and celebrating the union of a man and a woman, which was expected to last a lifetime. It was bringing the union of this man and woman before God and the people, as a promise to respect the union as the joining of two into one, just as God is joined to us.

In today's society, we are so consumed with ourselves, we forget there are, or even were others who do not, or did not, see the world as we see it ourselves. If drinking is a problem for anyone, they should refrain from doing so. If people are coming together to break bread, (at the Last Supper they also drank wine, not grape juice) and join in celebration, they should be expected to indulge themselves in worldly pleasures, such as good food and good company, as well as good wine. It was a once in a lifetime event. It was a joyous occassion. It was not something that people experienced every day. Jesus came into his ministry with the symbol of wine and rejoicing. Jesus took the cup of wine, the cup of his blood, as he parted from us. He wished we would come together forever in taking of the bread and drinking from the cup in His memory. No matter how you look at it, Jesus was blessing the people with the pleasure of the wine.

It has never been acceptable to immerse oneself in any form of activity, to the point your life revolves around that one activity. Honoring your father and mother can become a sin. if we forget to honor God in all we do. Even prayer and giving to God must be structured and fruitful. When peoople begin to condemn themselves for things in life as simple as having a good time in the company of good friends, they have truly missed the whole concept of Jesus, and everything He sacraficed in saving our lives. Jesus loved us just the way we are, and as Christians we owe him the honor and respect to follow his example. and love ourselves, and each other, as he loved us-without condemnation.

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