What started with an email from a sincere enquirer about the use of wine in the life of a believer, led to a five-hundred page book with scientific research, hundreds of helpful references, empirical evidence and above all, a call to a deeper, more sincere walk with God. As Ignatius le Roux delved deep into the Greek and Hebrew meaning of words translated as ‘strong drink’, ‘wine’ and ‘vinegar’, my eyes were opened to the importance of truth about what the Scriptures were saying about this topic, but also of so many other.

I was challenged and informed as I read about the connection between wine and the Greek gods, the flood and how that changed everything, what King Solomon’s advice really meant and the way the Israelites lived and celebrated. I found myself looking forward to the next chapter as most of what I read about the few things mentioned above, inspired me to look at modern life and provided answers to some of my personal questions. For instance, are there times when medication is necessary to be given for a while to those who have undergone trauma? Or, is it justified to drink absolutely no alcohol whatsoever as a child of God in this modern generation?

Although the book was written originally in Afrikaans, the English translation carries the same conversational style, speaking of a deep personal relationship that the author has with his Saviour and Lord, Jesus Christ. This is infectious and we are challenged about the triumph of the gospel against the background of Bacchus, the god of wine, and the terrible deception reigning in the Roman world at the time of the disciples and Jesus.

What if the “medical” advice about red wine being good for one’s heart is a deception and the justification that Jesus Himself drank wine as we know it today is an even greater one? Am I following the true Son of God or am I deceived? You’ll have to read one of the ten addendums at the end of the book if you want to know the answer!

One of my favourite parts in the book is an explanation of Jesus’ words about new wine in new wineskins where a modern-day tanner was consulted about his skill of making leather products. Through his explanation, I could test my own salvation! Was I washed with water, tanned with oil and cured with wine and ready to receive Jesus’ fresh message?

What Wine Did Jesus Make And Why? contains an uncontaminated look at an age-old question. Read it and see for yourself why Jesus changed water into wine as His first miracle.

This interesting Wine Book offers a complete explanation of the use of wine in Biblical times. The discovery of what wine Jesus made is incredible! It gives one a clear perspective, namely that the ancient wine back then was very different from today’s modern wine. The book reads easily – it flows together as one story and is a must read for everyone.