At the feast, which was an ongoing multi-day event, the family was running out of wine, fermented Alcoholic wine. We can see this from the circumstance and customs of the day. It was a party, a celebration, and the wine was flowing freely.
When reading this, it is clear to me that the guests were drinking a wine containing alcohol ("...after the guests have had too much to drink"). It is also clear that the new wine presented to the "master of the banquet" was alcohol, and that it was really good wine, much better than that which had been served already. I would expect nothing less from God.
It's not that clear to me...Mary was highly religious; devout...While the bible speaks of wine, fermented and un-fermented, I see multiple warnings in the scriptures against drinking fermented wine...Hard to believe Mary would be getting sloshed up or any devoutly religious group...
Like much of Europe, the drinking water in that part of the world is terrible...Many people drink the 'fruit of the vine' just to keep from drinking water...
I see nothing in John 2 that says the wine has to be fermented grape juice...If their drink of choice was grape juice over water, I can see all the verses could apply to grape juice...
Pro 23:29 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?
Pro 23:30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.
Pro 23:31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.
Pro 23:32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.
Pro 23:33 Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.
Pro 23:34 Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.
Pro 23:35 They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.
While Jesus sought out these kinds of partiers to witness to, seems unlikely Mary would be inclined to have friends like this...In fact, those Jews condemned Jesus for hangin' out with these people...
Does "WHEN THE GUESTS HAVE HAD TOO MUCH TO DRINK" give you any indication? Also, "Mary was highly religious" means nothing. Jesus rebuked her in that same passage...
You can choose not to drink alcohol for whatever reason. But to say that Scripture FORBIDS it's use is stretching most of what I have read and learned. Our life is not ours now, though, as followers of Christ, and if something you wish to eat (or drink) offends your "brother", we are taught to refrain from it.
"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord". If you don't want to drink some wine, I will put the box in the closet!
In fact, those Jews condemned Jesus for hangin' out with these people...
They crucified him for it!
and yet...
9 Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the Lord’s house. 10 In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly. 11 And she made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.”
12 As she kept on praying to the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk 14 and said to her, “How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.”
15 “Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord.
Titus 2:3
The aged women likewise, that [they be] in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
If it's 'grape juice'; I doubt that the old ladies would be WARNED about it!
Thanks for the link on Post 376