Posted on 12/21/2004 1:20:03 PM PST by Pharmboy
CANA, Israel (AP) - Among the roots of ancient olive trees, archaeologists have found pieces of large stone jars of the type the Gospel says Jesus used when he turned water into wine at a Jewish wedding in the Galilee village of Cana. They believe these could have been the same kind of vessels the Bible says Jesus used in his first miracle, and that the site where they were found could be the location of biblical Cana. But Bible scholars caution it'll be hard to obtain conclusive proof - especially since experts disagree on exactly where Cana was located.
Christian theologians attach great significance to the water-to-wine miracle at Cana. The act was not only Jesus' first miracle, but it also came at a crucial point in the early days of his public ministry - when his reputation was growing, he had just selected his disciples and was under pressure to demonstrate his divinity.
The shards were found during a salvage dig in modern-day Cana, between Nazareth and Capernaum. Israeli archaeologist Yardena Alexander believes the Arab town was built near the ancient village. The jar pieces date to the Roman period, when Jesus traveled in the Galilee.
"All indications from the archaeological excavations suggest that the site of the wedding was (modern-day) Cana, the site that we have been investigating," said Alexander, as she cleaned the site of mud from winter rains.
However, American archaeologists excavating a rival site several miles to the north have also found pieces of stone jars from the time of Jesus, and believe they have found biblical Cana.
Another expert, archaeologist Shimon Gibson, cast doubt on the find at modern Cana, since such vessels are not rare and it would be impossible to link a particular set of vessels to the miracle.
"Just the existence of stone vessels is not enough to prove that this is a biblical site," and more excavations are needed, he said.
Based on the shards, Alexander believes the vessels found at her site were 12 to 16 inches in diameter - or large enough to be the same type of jars described in the Gospel of John.
Other evidence that might link the site to the biblical account includes the presence of a Jewish ritual bath at the house, which shows it was a Jewish community. Locally produced pottery was used at the simple house, showing it could have been from the poor village described in the Scriptures.
Stephen Pfann, a Bible scholar in Jerusalem, said that while the American dig has generally been accepted by scholars as the true site, the shards found in modern-day Cana raise new questions.
"I think there is ample evidence that both sites are from the first century, and we need more information to correctly identify either site," Pfann said.
Alexander has been digging in modern Cana since 1999.
The current find came in a last-ditch "salvage dig" before a house is built on the site. A Christian Arab family financed part of the excavation, in accordance with Israeli law, before construction can begin.
Alexander believes that with more substantial investment, the site could became a major tourist attraction and pilgrimage destination.
"We're really working very hard to save some of this site because what we do have here is a village of Jesus," she said. "And it was here that he carried out the first miracle."
AP-ES-12-21-04 1601EST
This picture reminds me of the San Fernando Valley before we were infested with illegal border crossers.
Beautiful area....
Calling it evil, and I like your analogy, is a bit silly and over the top in my opinion. JC also drank it with His disciples. That being said, leadership demanded that He didn't abuse it and I don't see anywhere that He did or his disciples.
Merry Christmas everyone!!
Two threads, and it takes almost 100 posts on this one before anyone has something nice to say about the discovery.
Hey there! where's our Kitty and doggie posts?
Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!From Missy!
Marry-Weddings!
Marraige was the miracle GIFT from God miracle......it was Adam and Eve!
Wheeeeew!
LOL
Merry Christmas.......the miracle in the MANGER in Bethleham!!!......Micah 5:2......GPS positioning!
(Romans 10:17)
They make more than Maddog (MD 20-20), although that is probably their most famous - or infamous - line.
I don't drink wine, but if I lived back then, I certainly would have imbibed a little.
Who would want to drink the non-alcoholic juice of grapes that have been stomped on by bare human feet? :-)
Why thank you, missyme...always a pleasure to hear from you. I guess it's the usual 72 degrees in SD; it was 5 degrees yesterday morning here--10 this AM. It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas...
It's Christian archeology, but archeology worth a GGG PING.
I went back, it turned out both are the same article, just with different title.
This one has many more replies, so you may want to ping people to this one, and just add the link to the other one, for completeness' sake.
Jews don't recognize Christians,
Catholics don't recognize Protestants,
Protestants don't recognize Catholics,
and Baptists don't recognize each other in the liquor store.....
Sour cream tastes good an ANYTHING! Mmmmmmmm, hash browns? Gotta go check this out.........!
It was also Jesus' first act of transubstantiation, the changing of one substance into another.
Me too.
It would make this miracle of Jesus appear to be an evil as well. Why would Jesus multiply and freely distribute that which is evil?
The argument against is that wine, and its usage, in Jesus' time was not exactly comparable to wine and its usage today. Aside from water, wine was the only beverage that could be stored for any period of time. My understanding is that wine in Jesus' day was generally weaker than the wine we use today, and it was used daily by all members of the family.
OTOH, it seems pretty clear from the Biblical context that the wine was being used for celebratory purposes, since the waiters say, "usually the best wine is served first," the implication being that the cheap wine can be served after everyone's tipsy.
Pleasure to hear from you.....
Yes you are correct 72 degrees here, but it looks like we may have some cold weather Christmas 60! okay.. I know we have no concept of cold weather, but when I think of your cold weather, snow outside a warm fire that sounds pretty darn good!
Enjoy your holiday!
"Overindulgence in pure water can probably kill ya,"
Yep - it's called "drowning".
Please FREEPMAIL me if you want on, off, or alter the "Gods, Graves, Glyphs" PING list --
Archaeology/Anthropology/Ancient Cultures/Artifacts/Antiquities, etc.
The GGG Digest -- Gods, Graves, Glyphs (alpha order)
Amen!
It's an idea that thankfully is passing from favor. When my mother was a child, few Baptists attended movies because they were considered to be the work of the devil. Come to think of it, maybe they had the right idea after all.Baptists (and I am one) need a good kick in the pants on this and several other issues. Legalism based on man-made rules has no place in any church, no matter what the denomination.
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