Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. And He said to them, “Draw out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it. When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made grape juice, and did not know where it came from, the master of the feast called the bridegroom. And said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good grape juice, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good grape juice until now.
John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking grape juice, and you say, “He has a demon.” The Son of Man has come eating and drinking and you say, “Look, a glutton and a grape juice bibber (an excessive drinker), a friend of tax collectors and sinners! But wisdom is justified by all her children.”
On the night He was betrayed, Jesus had dinner with twelve of His disciples. As they were finishing the meal, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it and gave it to His disciples. “Take and eat; this is my body,” He said. Then He took the cup, and gave thanks and gave it to them saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” For this reason we break bread and drink from the cup of grape juice to show out acceptance of our Lord’s gift of grace.
There appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and sat upon each of them. And they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. And when the sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in their own language. So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?” Others mocking said, “They are full of new grape juice.”
Shall we water down the Holy Spirit? On the day the Spirit entered into those waiting in Jerusalem, they appeared to be filled with new wine. If we say they appeared to be filled with new grape juice, what image do we see? At the Lord’s table, He shared wine in the cup with His disciples. John the Baptist was under a vow and did not cut his hair nor drink wine or strong drink. Jesus drank wine and was called a winebibber. Jesus turned water into wine. The wine represents the blood of Jesus the Christ. Why do we make a statement of faith out of the preferences of men, turning the wine into grape juice? Excess is not preferred but denial is not the law.