Also, the Greek word that was translated into wine in the passage where Jesus turned the water into wine is the same word used in the Biblical passage that says we should not get drunk on wine (1). No one goes to a wedding for grape juice, and if grape juice was served after wine no one would have complained that the best was saved for last. Not only is alcohol not prohibited in the Bible, the very first miracle Jesus ever performed during his earthly ministry was to turn water into wine, and no, it was not merely grape juice and there is no solid historical or theological grounds to say that it was (1). One of the things Christians like to judge one another for that is not prohibited in the Bible is alcohol, despite the fact that there are a number of verses in the Bible that speak positively about the use of alcohol in moderation (Proverbs 3:9-10, Deuteronomy 7:13 11:14 33:28, 1 Timothy 5:23, Judges 9:13, Psalm 104:14-15, Deuteronomy 14:23), and it was used as an offering to God as well (Exodus 29:40 Leviticus 23:13 Numbers 15:5,7,10 18:12 28:7,14 Deuteronomy 18:4 1 Samuel 1:24 2 Chronicles 31:5 Ezra 6:9 7:22 Nehemiah 5:11 10:37,39 13:12). As Christians we often assign sin where there is none, and we assign ill intent when no malice was meant. Not only are Christians eager to judge others for things they do that are actually wrong, we are also eager to judge people for things they do in which there is no actual Biblical prohibition, things that may not be advised but are not hurting anyone else. Even as Christians, we are still flawed and sinful human beings and we should not expect others to be perfect, especially when we ourselves are not perfect. Even though no one likes to be judged by others, far too many of us feel that we are justified in judging others and even come up with some excuse to justify our actions.
Sometimes in Christian circles it can feel like walking on eggshells when you are around fellow Christians, especially if they are your neighbors. Not judging one another is one of the things Jesus taught that many of us who claim to be his followers outright ignore and think we are somehow justified in doing so. We all have faults, even, and especially, if we think we don’t and the Bible says, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us,” (1 John 1:8). Jesus was not condoning the woman’s sinful activities, far from it, he was pointing out the fact that all of those who were condemning her had broken some of the laws and were equally deserving of being stoned as the woman was. We will never know on this side of heaven exactly what Jesus wrote, but whatever he wrote on the dirt in the floor before saying, “He who is without fault should cast the first stone” caused each man in attendance to leave in shame instead of throwing a stone. No, Jesus did not argue with the law or say that it did not apply or even insinuate that the woman did not deserve death, instead he pointed out the faults of those who were accusing her and told them the one who was guiltless should throw the first stone, and of course, anyone who is familiar with the Bible knows that no stones were thrown on that occasion as no one was guiltless and the all knew it. When Jesus encountered the woman who was caught in the very act of adultery and it was pointed out to him by the religious hypocrites that Moses, in the law, said that people who were guilty of adultery, as that woman clearly was, should be stoned he did not argue with the law or say that this woman should be the exception, and in fact, Jesus on this and all other occasions it came up he defended the law. Some Christians, or at least so called Christians, have YouTube channels dedicated to judging and condemning other Christians, despite the fact that throughout his ministry a common theme Jesus talked about was how we should not judge others, but apparently those who spend a large portion of their time judging others somehow think they are without fault and are not only justified but obligated to throw out the first stone, as well as many other stones to follow. Having one of our worst qualities to be the first thing many people notice about us is not a good look and does not help anyone come unto Christ. I am not sure why we, as Christians, are so apt to judge others, especially other Christians, but we are, and that is one of the first things non-Christians notice about us, which is sad to say the least.