John 2:1-11 And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and
the mother of Jesus was there: And both Jesus was called and His disciples,
to the marriage. And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto
them, They have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do
with thee? Mine hour is not yet come. His mother saith unto the servants,
whatsoever He saith unto you do it. And there were set there six waterpots of
stone, after the manner of purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins
apiece.  Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled
them up to the brim. And He saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the
governor of the feast. And they bare (took) it. When the ruler of the feast had
tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the
servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bride-
groom, 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. This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and
manifested forth His glory; and His disciples believed on Him.
This miracle of turning the water into wine manifested His glory. Someone has
said that  oinos, is the New Testament word for the fruit of the vine.
The words when men have well drunk doesn't mean that they were intoxicated.
They simply had consumed all of the fruit of the vine, (grape juice). Some people
read and comment on the drunkenness of these people when the Scripture does
not say they were drunk. Let's not try to read between the lines something that
just isn't there. What God says is important, not what we think.
They had 6 water pots, each contained about 2 or 3 firkins. A Firkin was about
9 gallons. The total amount in the 6 water pots 108 to 162 gallons. Much has
been written about the wine Jesus created. I understand oinos is a Greek word,
and yayin is a Hebrew word for wine, and both could refer to fermented or
unfermented wine. But the Bible makes it clear that the fermented wine is totally
unacceptable and the unfermented wine (grape juice) is acceptable. Scholars are
absolutely wrong when they say, or give the impression, that it is acceptable to
drink intoxicating beverage when God wholeheartedly disapproves, as the Scripture
declares. New wine was nothing more than the blood of the grape or pure grape
juice. Several years ago I had the opportunity to view the remains of two wine
presses in Israel, one was near Calvary and the other was in Bethany near the tomb
of Lazarus. They were called wine presses, even thought they were used to tread or
press the juice out of the grapes. The Bible is the one and only God breathed Book,
and it is infallible (incapable of error), therefore containing no contradictions. Since
God is the author, it is not a Book of confusion, because  He is not the author of
confusion. He absolutely does not condemn something in one Scripture and justify it
in another Scripture. He used some 40 chosen men over a period of 1500-1600
years to write all 66 Books of the Bible.  All the writers and all the Books are in
perfect harmony. God is the Author of the Bible. But He used men to write down the
very Words He gave them to write. They were not given thoughts to put in their own
words, they were transmitted verbally by God. There is NO other book like the Bible.
"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for  doctrine, for reproof,
for correction, for instruction in righteousness"-- II Timothy 3:16.
.
Chrysostom, born A.D. 344, says, "Now, indeed, making plain that it is He who
changes into wine the water in the vines and the rain drawn up by the roots. He
produced instantly at the wedding feast that which is formed in the plant during
a long course of time."--Bible Commentary, p. 305.
God chose for His people to grow vineyards primarily to provide a wholesome
beverage, the juice derived from the grapes by pressing them. The juice was a
delightful drink. They also were, and are good to eat, but in Bible times they  were
used mostly for the juice for drinking. This was a common practice in those days.
Jesus, by supernatural rapidity produced, the pure blood of the grape, (grape juice)
which by His own law of nature takes months to produce the grapes. Fresh grape
juice is called new wine. "Fermenting  is a decaying process caused by bacteria such
as anthrax, and other bacteria necessary for fermentation, nitrogen fixation." This is
an excerpt taken from Webster's New World Dictionary, 3rd Edition.

In Luke 10:34, "Pouring in oil and wine" is speaking of an external and medicinal
application." The Bible does not use the words, fermented wine and unfermented
wine. We must study the Word of God, and rightly divide it in order to understand
when it  is speaking of fermented wine, and unfermented wine. Both are called wine.
Do not think for one moment that Jesus produced intoxication wine that is strongly
condemned in the Scripture.

Proverbs 23:31-32 "Look not upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth
his color in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and
stingeth like an adder."

Physical and psychological effects, also delusion, can be the results of drinking the
wine described in verses 31 and 32. "Moveth itself aright," no doubt, speaks of the
fermenting process. These verses are absolutely speaking of fermented wine. Also in;
Proverbs 20:1 "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived
thereby is not wise."

(Raging means: violent anger; out of control; turmoil; extremely agitated condition).
Intoxicating wine in this verse  is represented as deceptive. It is contrary to wise living.
When wine is mentioned in the Bible, and it is in a context of God's approval, it is
speaking of grape juice, or the blood of the grape.
Psalm 4:7. "Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn
and their wine increased."

Grape juice is delicious, and very beneficial to ones health and totally approved
of God, for it is one of His precious gifts to mankind.

Psalm 104:14-15. He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the
service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth; And wine that
maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which
strengtheneth man's heart.

The wine mentioned in these verses is grape juice, the blood of the grape.
Alcohol is beneficial as a (medicinal) substance for the treatment or diagnosis of
certain diseases, but never as a beverage according to God's precious Word.
Wine is not mentioned in relation to the Communion.

After the same manner also He took the cup, when He had supped, saying, "This
cup is the new testament in My blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in
remembrance of Me." (I Corinthians 11:25).
Matthew 26:26-29 "And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it,
and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is My body. And
He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
For this is My blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission
of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until
that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom."

Jesus spoke of the "fruit of the vine", the pure fresh grape juice. Hallelujah!!! What a
day that will be when we can drink the the VERY BEST of wine, the fruit of the
vine, the Purest ever, with our Precious, Wonderful Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ!
Glory to His Name! What a Savior!!! There is NO OTHER.

It has been said that the Greeks as well as the Hebrews called the fresh juice or
grape juice, wine. Many people are of the opinion that all wine is fermented and
intoxicating. Nothing is further from the truth, as we can see in the Word of God.

Only pure grape juice could possibly represent the precious, innocent, sinless blood
of Jesus. His body, including His blood was incorruptible, therefore saw no corruption.
Intoxicating wine is the result of corruption via fermentation, and could not possibly
represent the blood of Christ. The Lord chose the pure fruit of the vine, the blood of
the grape to represent His precious, pure, innocent, incorruptible blood.

The Preservation of Grape Juice
One of the ways of preventing fermentation of the grape juice was by boiling. By this
process the water is evaporated, thus leaving so large a portion of sugar as to prevent
fermentation. The grape juice boils at 212 degrees; but alcohol evaporates at 170
degrees, which is 42 degrees below the boiling point. Therefore, if any possible portion
of alcohol was in the juice, this process would expel it. The obvious object of boiling the
juice was to preserve it sweet and fit for use during the year. Another method of
Preservation was by Filtration, the gluten or yeast is separated from the juice of the
grape. While the juice will pass through the filtering implements, the gluten will not, and,
being thus separated, the necessary conditions of fermentation are destroyed. Therefore
the grape juice could be preserved for long periods of time.
It has been said that the ancients in the land of Israel, and of course in the surrounding
area, drank a lot of wine, pure (grape juice) because of the lack of water, also because
it was good to the taste and healthy. Many of course drank fermented wine. It has also
been said; "The fabricating of an intoxicating liquor was never the chief object for which
the grape was cultivated among the Jews. It was the least of all the objects for which the
vine was cultivated." Many of us have heard that wine (intoxicating wine) is good for your
health. The fact is, the potent,  the real beneficial part of the wine, comes from the grape
seed. Unfermented wine and grape seed extract is recommended by Dr. Reginald Cherry.
The grape seed extract in capsule form can be purchased at many drug stores across the
country. For a lot of information you can go to Dr. Cherry's, Web Site; www.drcherry.org.
(Dr. Reginald Cherry Ministries). His ministry is very informative and beneficial. A lot of
people, even many who say they are christians, say it is ok to drink beer, wine or even a
few shots of whiskey. The fact is, if you never take a drink, you will never become an
alcoholic. The following is from "Heart Blessings," a book compiled by the late Dr. Dale
Crowley, one of my best friends in Christ, and one of my mentors.

"Drink has drained more blood, Hung more crepe, Sold more houses, Plunged more
people into bankruptcy, Armed more villains, Slain more children, Snapped more
wedding rings, Defiled more innocence, Blinded more eyes, Twisted more limbs,
Dethroned more reason, Wrecked more manhood, Dishonored more womanhood,
Broken more hearts, Blasted more lives, Driven more to suicide, and Dug more
graves than any other poisoned scourge that ever swept its death dealing waves
across the world."----------------------------Evangeline Booth

General John J. Pershing said:
"Banish the entire liquor industry from the United States; close every saloon and brewery;
suppress drinking by severe punishment to the drinker; and, if necessary, death to the seller
and maker, or both, as traitors, and the nation will suddenly find itself amazed at its
efficiency and startled at the increase in its labor supply. I shall not go slow on prohibition,
for I know what is the greatest foe of my men, greater that the bullets of the enemy."

"Woe unto him that giveth his neighbor drink, that puttest thy bottle to him and makest him
drunk also.....the cup of the Lord's right hand shall be turned unto thee.....because of men's
blood, and for the violence of the land, the city, and of all that dwell therein."
--Habakkuk 2:15-17.

Abraham Lincoln said; "The liquor traffic is a cancer in society, eating out the vitals and
threatening destruction, and all attempts to regulate it will not only prove abortive, but will
aggravate the evil; there must be no attempt to regulate the cancer; it must be eradicated;
not one root must be left behind."

"I Don't Drink" (written by a High School student)

"Everybody's doing it." No, not yet! Because I'm "Somebody", don't forget!
Anyone with courage to stop and think, Is certainly "Somebody"!--I don't drink.
Many a "Somebody" who didn't think, Became a "nobody" because of drink.
And you can follow what the crowds do; I'm trying to be "Somebody"--How about you?

Some people use the verse of Scripture in I Timothy chapter 5, verse 23 to justify the
drinking of alcoholic beverage. Now, my friend, even if this verse is speaking of fermented
wine, its use would be only as a medicine. The value to wine medically is questionable even
in the light of modern science, according to what I have read. Let's look at the verse and
study it in light of other Scriptures I have included in this study. When we do, I believe we
will  find that this is really referring to grape juice.

I Timothy 5:23 "Drink no longer water, but use a little wine (oinos) for thy stomach's sake
and thine oft infirmities."

Beverage Alcohol, What It Is And Does---Andrew C. Ivy, Ph.D. ,M.D., D.Sc., LL.D.
Former  "Head of the Department of Clinical Science, University of Illinois;
"Alcohol has at least 600 good and necessary uses. Without it present day science and
industry would be tremendously handicapped, if not impossible. Its beverage use, however,
is totally unnecessary and is the direct or related cause of many of the ills and tragedies of
modern civilization."

Wine (the blood of the grape), grape juice, is the emblem of spiritual blessings.
Grape juice is called "blood of the grape" in Deuteronomy chapter 32 verse 14.

Isaiah 55:1 "Ho, everyone that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no
money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine  and milk without money and
without price."

Intoxicating wine could not possibly be an emblem of spiritual blessings. The wine and
milk spoken of in this verse are in harmony, both are harmless and nutritious gifts
of God. He is the Giver of every good and perfect  gift according to James 1:17.
Speaking of gifts, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord...Romans 6:23. Also we read in Ephesians 2:8 & 9;

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of
God. Not of works, lest any man should boast."

We are saved totally by grace thought faith in Christ, or we are not saved at all. To be
almost saved is to be totally lost. All who call upon the Lord, exercising faith in him,
shall be saved, given eternal life. The saved are not on probation, as some think. If
we were, none of us would make it to heaven. As Fanny Crosby wrote, "His child, and
forever I am." Paul said in II Timothy chapter 1 verse 12b.......for I know whom I have
believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto
Him against that day."
"That He is able to keep" refers to the assurance of salvation which is committed...against
that day, when we will stand before Christ at the Judgment Seat.

The Gospel In A Nut Shell, As Someone Has declared, Is John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth
in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

If you are not saved, trust in the Lord Jesus now. One minute from now may be forever too
late. If you have been saved and not living for the Lord, repent, pick up your cross you have
laid down and begin to faithfully serve the Lord. Don't wait until He has to judge and chasten
you. He tells us to judge ourselves, lest we be judged. If He has to judge, He will chastise
because He loves us, and wants us to let our light shine for Him.

If you have any comments or questions, please don't hesitate to send them to one of the
following addresses: relayne@mounet.com or layneministries@hotmail.com

In Christian Love
All because of Calvary
Evangelist R. E. Layne