They Called Him a Drunk!

I have a friend who chastises me for not posting more frequently. Sometimes, I just don't have anything to share; other times I just want to keep my thoughts to myself. So why have a blog?, you ask. I have no good response. I think I'll just have to get over myself. My biggest fear is being labelled a heretic because of my musings on scriptures. Today is one of those days.

Many times, I have heard preached from the pulpit that Jesus did not drink wine. Each time I heard that, certain scriptures would come to mind that seemed to contradict that judgement. Last night I read yet one more - Matthew 11:19 - where Jesus, himself, said, "The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold, a glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners..." What was he drinking that would have others call him a drunkard? It wasn't Kool-Aid. Another scripture is John 2:9-10, describing Jesus turning water into wine, "When the host of the wedding tasted the water that had become wine (he didn't know what had just happened but the servants, of course, knew) he called out to the bridegroom, 'Everybody I know begins with their finest wines and after the guests have had their fill brings the cheap stuff. But you've saved the best till now'" Again, I say, he is not describing Kool-Aid.

So what's my point? I think we need to read scripture with the understanding Jesus came to earth as a man. He was tempted in every way we that we are, BUT without sin.(Hebrew 4:15)He came to earth to show us how we may live. (John 10:10) But I think we'll miss all He was trying (and is still trying) to teach us if we look at the scriptures through eyes of a Pharisee. We make rules about drinking wine and then make Jesus conform to that rule. I've always thought it rather humorous that drinking is not permitted but gluttony is. Ever noticed how many overweight Christians there are? One "sin" is not worse than another. There is no hierarchy. Besides if you are going to live your life by The Law, as soon as you break one law you are guilty of breaking them all.(James 2:10)