Wine Tasting

By Dwayne Hicks | September 5, 2013 |

wine tastingI must confess that I like the taste of a good glass of wine. I realize that by making that statement, I have offended some people. I do not believe that all wine is evil. I do believe that wine is often abused and misused and the effects of such abuse and misuse can be life altering. I remember doing a skit as a young teenager about Jesus first miracle of turning water into wine.  Jesus, the Son of God turning water into wine apparently because the wedding wasn’t over… or someone miscalculated how much wine was needed. Check this out…

1 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”
4 “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”
5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.
7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.
8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”
They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”
11 What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. (John 2:1-11 NIV)

I’ve never quite understood wine tasting events. I’m not an avid connoisseur of wine either. I know that there is a difference in quality of the wine based on ingredients and the age of the wine. That’s about the extent of my “wine knowledge”. I could “Google it” and speak more intelligently about it – who cares?  I have been to lots of weddings with or without wine. Weddings are to be a celebration of two lives/families joining together and a new family is born and built starting with the wedding. I have seen people get a little sideways or tipsy from too much wine at weddings and other occasions. I found it interesting that Jesus’ mother was at this wedding and that Jesus and his disciples were invited. They didn’t just happen to stop in or crash the reception – they were invited guests. I have also heard people explain that the wine Jesus made from the water wasn’t fermented – then it wouldn’t have been wine. I personally believe that Jesus was fun to be around and that when His mother mentioned something about the wine running out – she wanted Him to do something like He did. Jesus turned approximately 120 gallons of water into great tasting wine. He single-handedly kept the wedding celebration going. I was blessed and blown back by the line that John writes after this event – “he revealed his glory and his disciples believed in him”. Jesus chose as His first miracle a party to reveal His glory. He is the One and Only Son of God and His first miracle is a wedding party/reception. Jesus was not this stuffy religious leader who didn’t have fun. He was a guest and participant at the party. I think He wants to be part of my daily walk – not in a stuffy sort of way, but a fun, light-hearted and godly sort of way. He is not impressed with false and fake piety. He lifts my head and helps me through difficult times and He celebrates with me in joy-filled times as well. It’s not about drinking or partying and the lines there – it’s about a joy-filled existence because I know the Author of Life!

Pressing On!
Dwayne

 

 

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