kept, and when reconstituted was in fact more resistant to fermentation than if it had not undergone this
process.
If produced with cold water (especially from a spring or well or deep pool) it made a very refreshing drink.
Now, undoubtedly, alcoholic wine was produced from grapes. But one did not always and exclusively want to
drink wine when one was thirsty and desired a cool drink, and this reconstituted grape juice was one option
available in the Middle East in biblical times. It is believed that there are still places in the Middle East where
this practice of making "must" and reconstituting it into grape juice has continued into modern times.
There is frequently a tacit assumption when some commentators approach John 2 that ―good wine" must be
―alcoholic wine" because "unfermented grape juice" could not possibly be accorded that description. This is, I
submit, a biased and subjective an assumption.
"Drunk" is the verb MEQUW and it means intoxicated.
We have now moved the discussion to the exact area of meaning of another Greek word. I certainly
acknowledge that MEQUW can mean to be or become intoxicated. But my understanding is that it can also
mean to have drunk well of any liquid, quite without reference to the consequences, if any; and without
necessarily implying that what you are drinking has to be alcoholic and intoxicating.
The mystical side of the first miracle
Yochanan was a mystic. His Gospel is highly symbolic in the way it presents facts about Y‘shua and His
ministry. He made no attempt to portray events in their chronological order. He chose only 7 miracles,
followed by 7 discourses and 7 "I am" statements:
I am the Bread of Life ... 6:35,
I am the Light of the World ... 8:12,
I am the Gate ... 10:7,
I am the Good Shepherd ... 10:11,
I am the Resurrection and the Life ... 11:25,
I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life ... 14:6, and
I am the Vine ... 15:1.
His entire Gospel covers only about 21 days out of 3½; years, devotes 10 chapters to just one week and
nearly^1 / 3 (237) of the 879 verses of Yochanan‘s Gospel describe just one day. The richness of Yochanan‘s
symbolism makes his Gospel a favourite among those who view Scripture from a high level of inspiration,
and his story of the wedding at Cana is the crowning touch. Let's look at it through Yochanan‘s eyes.
Y‘shua commanded unnamed servants to completely fill 6 (the number of man) jars that were stone, cold,
and empty (a model of unregenerate hearts—Ezek 36:25- 27 ) with water. In John 16:5-14, the Holy Spirit is
described as One who would not speak of himself, but only of Y‘shua. In fact, the only name by which we
know the Holy Spirit is actually His job description—Comforter (KJV) or Counsellor (NIV). This title is derived
from the Greek word parakletos, which can also be translated intercessor or advocate. These servants are a
model of the Holy Spirit, Who accomplishes the work of regeneration in our hearts (Titus 3:4- 7 ), filling us with
Living Water (John 7:37- 39 ).
The water, normally used for ceremonial cleansing, immediately turned to wine and so that which had
temporarily cleansed a person from sin now became symbolic of the Blood of Y‘shua that washes us clean
forever (Luke 22:20). The master of the banquet remarked that the bridegroom had saved the best till last,
signifying that the New Covenant that permanently cleanses us (represented by the wine) is far superior to
the Old Covenant that only temporarily set aside our sins (represented by the water). Thus by this miracle,
Y‘shua truly did reveal His Glory; and you can see why the disciples put their faith in Him.
Y‟shua returned to CapernaumAfter this Jewish wedding, Y‘shua remained in the Galilee. Verse 12 says, ―After this he went down to
Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many
days‖. He went down to K‘far Nachum (the Village of Nachum, Capernaum). K‘far Nachum was the
hometown of Matthew, Simon and Andrew, and possibly Yochanan and Ya‘akov (James and John – see
Mark 2:15 and Matt 8:14). It‘s on the north shore of the Kinneret - the Sea of Galilee; which of course, is
really a lake. This town becomes the headquarters for Y‘shua and the disciples.