It was Christ who in the Old Testament gave the warning to Israel, "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise." Prov. 20:1. And He Himself provided no such beverage. Satan tempts men to indulgence that will becloud reason and benumb the spiritual perceptions, but Christ teaches us to bring the lower nature into subjection. His whole life was an example of self-denial. In order to break the power of appetite, He suffered in our behalf the severest test that humanity could endure. It was Christ who directed that John the Baptist should drink neither wine nor strong drink. It was He who enjoined similar abstinence upon the wife of Manoah. And He pronounced a curse upon the man who should put the bottle to his neighbor's lips. Christ did not contradict His own teaching. The unfermented wine which He provided for the wedding guests was a wholesome and refreshing drink. Its effect was to bring the taste into harmony with a healthful appetite.

Det var Kristus, som i Det gamle Testamente gav Israel denne advarsel: "En spotter er vinen, stærk drik slår sig løs, og ingen, som raver deraf, er vis." Ordsp. 20,1. Og han fremskaffede ikke selv en sådan drik. Satan frister mennesker til en nydelse, som omtåger forstanden og lammer den åndelige opfattelsesevne, men Kristus lærer os at holde den lavere natur i tømme. Hele hans liv var et eksempel på selvfornægtelse. For at overvinde nydelseslysten tålte han for vor skyld den hårdeste prøve, som et menneske kunne tåle. Det var Kristus, som forordnede, at Johannes Døber hverken måtte drikke vin eller stærk drik. Det var ham, som pålagde Manoas hustru en lignende afholdenhed. Og han udtalte forbandelse over det menneske, der rakte flasken hen til sin næstes læber. Kristus var ikke i modstrid med sin egen lære. Den ugærede vin, som han fremskaffede til bryllupsgæsterne, var en sund og forfriskende drik. Den havde den virkning at få smagen til at harmonere med en sund appetit.