Ben Wilson

He says, Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? And fasting is something that a lot of religious people do where you abstain from food. You intentionally make yourself hungry in order to sacrifice something and hopefully draw closer to God. And so these people are saying, hey, like the Pharisees, they fast all the time.

So did the disciples of John the Baptist. But you guys are always eating and drinking. Why is that? And Jesus' answer is basically, hey, I'm here. You know, the Messiah is here. It's time to celebrate. One of my favorite facts about the miracle of the water to wine is that the wine is really good. So as I was saying earlier, the governor of the feast tries the wine and this is his response.

So did the disciples of John the Baptist. But you guys are always eating and drinking. Why is that? And Jesus' answer is basically, hey, I'm here. You know, the Messiah is here. It's time to celebrate. One of my favorite facts about the miracle of the water to wine is that the wine is really good. So as I was saying earlier, the governor of the feast tries the wine and this is his response.

Quote, when the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine and knew not whence it was, but the servants which drew the water knew, the governor of the feast called the groom and saith unto him, every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine. And when men have well drunk, then that which is worse, but thou has kept the good wine until now.

Quote, when the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine and knew not whence it was, but the servants which drew the water knew, the governor of the feast called the groom and saith unto him, every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine. And when men have well drunk, then that which is worse, but thou has kept the good wine until now.

So in other words, like, wow, usually people put out the good wine first and then bring out the worst wine later. You know, I guess they're hoping that you won't notice that it's not as good of wine because you're a little tipsy at that point. But the governor says, you saved the best wine for last. This is great wine. So Jesus doesn't just turn water into wine. He turns it into really good wine.

So in other words, like, wow, usually people put out the good wine first and then bring out the worst wine later. You know, I guess they're hoping that you won't notice that it's not as good of wine because you're a little tipsy at that point. But the governor says, you saved the best wine for last. This is great wine. So Jesus doesn't just turn water into wine. He turns it into really good wine.

And I obviously, yeah, I find that funny, but I also think it's trying to say something about Jesus, how much conviviality mattered to him. Like it was important to him that not just that he turned water into wine, which itself says that like, it's important enough to him that people have a good time at this wedding, that he's willing to do a miracle for it.

And I obviously, yeah, I find that funny, but I also think it's trying to say something about Jesus, how much conviviality mattered to him. Like it was important to him that not just that he turned water into wine, which itself says that like, it's important enough to him that people have a good time at this wedding, that he's willing to do a miracle for it.

Not only that, but it matters to him that the wine be good. I also think this demonstrates part of why he was able to gain followers. Yes, the miracles are the big thing. As it says in the gospels, like first he starts performing miracles, he starts healing people, and then very quickly he gets these big crowds following him.

Not only that, but it matters to him that the wine be good. I also think this demonstrates part of why he was able to gain followers. Yes, the miracles are the big thing. As it says in the gospels, like first he starts performing miracles, he starts healing people, and then very quickly he gets these big crowds following him.

Yes, his revolutionary teachings are also important, but also the lifestyle that he offered. If you wanted to be crass, you would say that Jesus and his disciples were basically unemployed guys who went around hanging out, discussing interesting philosophy and day drinking.

Yes, his revolutionary teachings are also important, but also the lifestyle that he offered. If you wanted to be crass, you would say that Jesus and his disciples were basically unemployed guys who went around hanging out, discussing interesting philosophy and day drinking.

I don't think they were alcoholics, but I do think that the lifestyle Jesus put forward of radical freedom and relaxed convivial environment was really attractive to a lot of people. And so if you want to start a movement like Jesus did, you look at startups and businesses which are built around helping people do what they should do and they fail all the time.

I don't think they were alcoholics, but I do think that the lifestyle Jesus put forward of radical freedom and relaxed convivial environment was really attractive to a lot of people. And so if you want to start a movement like Jesus did, you look at startups and businesses which are built around helping people do what they should do and they fail all the time.

But businesses that offer people what they want to do succeed. Weight Watchers has a market cap of like $65 million and McDonald's has a market cap of $200 billion. What's true of companies, I also think is true of movements. You don't just want to scold people and tell them, you should do this, this, this, this. You have to offer something attractive to people.

But businesses that offer people what they want to do succeed. Weight Watchers has a market cap of like $65 million and McDonald's has a market cap of $200 billion. What's true of companies, I also think is true of movements. You don't just want to scold people and tell them, you should do this, this, this, this. You have to offer something attractive to people.

You have to give them something that they want to do. And a lot of the political movements and social movements today are all about things that you should do. I see this in politics. On the right wing, a lot of the messaging to young men is you should step up, get a job, be responsible. instead of offering something compelling in terms of an attractive way of life.

You have to give them something that they want to do. And a lot of the political movements and social movements today are all about things that you should do. I see this in politics. On the right wing, a lot of the messaging to young men is you should step up, get a job, be responsible. instead of offering something compelling in terms of an attractive way of life.

Same thing, like you can think about the environmentalist movement. A lot of it is, you know, you need to do this and this and this and this in order to help the environment. These are all the things that you're doing that are polluting, that are bad, you should be better. Instead of offering people an attractive way of life.