How do we confidently answer someone who uses the miracle of water into wine as an excuse to drink in moderation? Let’s look at the context of the event:

“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, 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.” John 2:9-11

Scripture states that what Jesus did at the wedding was to manifest His glory. Facilitating intoxication would have accomplished the exact opposite. “Well drunk” simply meant that those at the feast had been served a satisfactory amount. It was customary during week-long wedding celebrations to serve the lesser beverage last to encourage guests to bid farewell to the celebration. Had it been intoxicating wine, the miracle would have been a sin. It would have gone against Jesus’ holy nature to add to the drunkenness of even one person, much less an entire party of people. Also, He would have gone against His own counsel (Luke 21:34). What example would that have set for His disciples?

Our body is the temple of God and our bodies are not equipped to digest fermented wine. Even moderate drinking impairs clarity of mind, reflexes, coordination, and judgement. In addition, it destroys brain cells, damages the liver, heart, and pancreas. This fact and several others cause me to believe this wine was grape juice, fresh from the vine—pure and unsullied like our Lord.