Did Jesus help people at the wedding of Cana get drunk?

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There is a reason that Jesus chose the wedding feast at Cana to be his first public miracle. At the beginning of his mission he performed a miracle that would show what the consequences would be of the accomplishment of that mission. The water in the six stone jars was intended for the ritual purification, which foreshadows the the real purification that occurs through Sanctifying grace (symbolized by the water and blood poured out from Jesus’ pierced heart). At Mass, wine is turned into the body and blood of Jesus. Upon the resurrection of Jesus, we become new creations in Christ (Pope St. Leo the Great, “Sermon 71").

In Scripture, man is often referred to as stone (dust, rock). Remember, Jesus is the cornerstone of the New Covenant Temple. Why would Scripture go out of its way to mention a seemingly insignifcant detail like the number of stone jars containing said water? The six stone jars are very significant. It was on the sixth day that man was created. Without the stone body of the man, Jesus, there could be no redemption, no purification, no bride that would be acceptable for the bridegroom.

In Ezekiel’s dream of the rebuilt New Covenant Temple, water flowed out from the threshold of the rebuilt Temple and down to the Dead Sea (symbolizing fallen man), whereupon the waters were made pure, fresh, and fruitful. We all know that the newly rebuilt Temple was the resurrected body (composed of dust … microscopic stones of DNA) of Jesus. In fact, Augustine equates the number six with the New Covenant Temple of Jesus’ body (Augustine, On the Trinity, IV, 5, n. 9). How many stone jars at Cana? Oh yeah, six.

Interestingly, there are only two miracles I know of in Scripture where something inorganic (containing no DNA) is turned into something organic (containing DNA, which is classified as dust, stone, and salt … all of which are stones). The first was when God turned the waters of Nile into blood. The second was when Jesus turned the waters (inorganic) of the ritual purification at Cana, into wine (organic). The correlation between the two is significant.
 
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Their response was not “we are Christians, we would not get drunk!” their answer was “It is still early! No one would be drunk this early in the day!”
This goes to the practice of the day (people drinking wine with meals/dinner time) and not getting drunk at the ninth hour (that’s today’s standards).

Maran atha!

Angel
 
Correct!

But it goes to the intimacy with the Virgin not their “secret”/“special” knowledge about Jesus’ impending Public Life.

Maran atha!

Angel
 
Very interesting; thank you for your contribution.

Maran atha!

Angel
 
“We know that the wine of the past was more intoxicating than wine today.”

I believe the alcohol content of what we’d today call a “table wine”, back then was pretty low. Since it was such a common drink, something drunk by people of almost all ages, it would make sense to not make something with a very high alcohol content - just enough to kill any harmful bacteria.

That said, I’m sure there were wines back then that had a pretty good ABV, but I suspect for an everyday sort of wine, it would be somewhere between a hard cider and a wine cooler - i.e. you’d have to drink quite a bit to get ‘drunk’.
 
Maybe. Who said it was secret knowledge? Whatever was know about Jesus at the time was public.
 
I just find it hard to believe no one got drunk at a wedding 2000 years ago.
 
But only those who approached the Virgin seem to be privy to Jesus’ ability, buy your supposition.

Maran atha!

Angel
 
There could have been scores of drunkards; what we are arguing is against the proposition that Jesus made it possible for them to get drunk by providing more wine to already tipsy/inebriated people (as it seems to have been suggested).

Maran atha!

Angel
 
“Mary, could you get your son to stay away from the wine? He’s shown up with his friends and now we are running out.”
The Son of Man came eating and drinking and you said, ‘Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’
But wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”
Luke 7:34-35
 
You may be right. However, we are left with the question how they knew to come to Mary?
Jesus did teach in the Temple and amazed the scholars. Also, the Bible says that everything
in not included so there may have been other works.
Mary came to them, not the other way around…

The Wedding at Cana
2 On the third day there was a marriage at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; 2 Jesus also was invited to the marriage, with his disciples. 3 When the wine failed, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, “O woman, what have you to do with me?[a] My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6 Now six stone jars were standing there, for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the steward of the feast.” So they took it. 9 When the steward of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward of the feast called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Every man serves the good wine first; and when men have drunk freely, then the poor wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.” 11 This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
 
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And they filled them up to the brim.
What are your thoughts as to why the filled the jars to the brim.
It is hard work carrying water. Most workers would have left some space in the jars.
 
I prefer to be called, His Most Royal Majesty Cruciferous :prince:t2:
 
Exactly. Catholics aren’t puritan Protestants. The grave sin of drunkenness is drinking to the point that one can no longer discern right from wrong. For a big man like me, that’s a lot of booze.
 
The water must have been turned into wine as they filled the jars.
Ok, I am not sure what your driving at…but let us go to a better translation…read carefully…

John 2 King James Version (KJV)

2 And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:

2 And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.

3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.

4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.

5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.

6 And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.

7 Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.

8 And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.

9 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 bridegroom,

10 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.

11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
 
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After they poured the water in and before they drew out…If I were pressed I would say just after He uttered a prayer…
 
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