In
the first-century world of the Jews, a marriage feast was very
expensive, and usually lasted seven days. The village pitched in to
help, but still, the groom worked for a year saving up to pay for the
wedding, while living with his parents. Think about having a full-time
job, making, say, $30,000 a year, and then spending $25,000 of that on
your wedding.
The groom and his family had thought they had purchased enough wine for the week-long festivities in Cana, but late in the week, the wine ran out. This was a social disaster; it was going to ruin the groom and his family socially.
The groom and his family had thought they had purchased enough wine for the week-long festivities in Cana, but late in the week, the wine ran out. This was a social disaster; it was going to ruin the groom and his family socially.
When Jesus made wine from water, he saved their reputation, and the wedding. Because it was great wine, he made their reputation.
But he didn't make enough wine just for the wedding. He made something like 120 to 180 gallons, of primo
wine. There was probably at least 80 gallons left after the party had
gone home, which was worth a small fortune. It was a huge wedding
present of a year's salary or so, given to the new couple.
(It might should be noted that if Jesus had created grape juice, it would only be good for a little over a day, and then would spoil into a funky-tasting mush, and then turn into vinegar, probably ending the wedding on a sour taste. Whereas if he created alcoholic wine, it was safe for a couple of days in the stone jars, until the wine could be moved into "wine bottles". Since drunkeness in general, and drinking wine straight, was considered a social no-no, this wine would have been diluted with water to a point that drunkeness would have been difficult to attain. The wine at such affairs were not for getting drunk or even tipsy, but just for loosening up, and feeling joyous.)
(It might should be noted that if Jesus had created grape juice, it would only be good for a little over a day, and then would spoil into a funky-tasting mush, and then turn into vinegar, probably ending the wedding on a sour taste. Whereas if he created alcoholic wine, it was safe for a couple of days in the stone jars, until the wine could be moved into "wine bottles". Since drunkeness in general, and drinking wine straight, was considered a social no-no, this wine would have been diluted with water to a point that drunkeness would have been difficult to attain. The wine at such affairs were not for getting drunk or even tipsy, but just for loosening up, and feeling joyous.)
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