Water Into Wine

At the feast of Cana, Joshua turns water into wine. Strange details may make this a genome parable. It shifts to Roman authority, as did Paul. This is a hint at science as the judge, not religion.

Feast At Cana

We believe the story of the wedding at Cana was edited. There are missing details as to who is getting married. The original story was likely a wake.

The wake was for Joshua's step father Joseph. In part because his mother is apparently in charge, asking Joshua to help provide wine.

There is also a master of the banquet, likely the official who is responsible for the disposition of the will. Unlike our modern setup where government provides judges, the Roman world judges were agreed when contracts were signed. More like an arbiter in modern situations.

The order of the stories is still disputable too, but after this point Joshua is responsible for family property and he proceeds to Sychar and the field ripe for harvest. He has now inherited the land where the scrolls are kept in a cave.

At the Feast of Cana. Joshua's mother asks him to perform a miracle, and his does, turning water into wine. Here is the account.

There are details here which are normally not part of the plot. In particular that these are stone jars that he uses for the transformation.

This story is combining water and stone, which is typical of the Jordan river crossing as well as Jeremiah's stone into the river.

In this case the stone jar itself is the carrier of water. A reversal of how stones are carried in the rivers in the other stories.

But think of the stone jars as carrying the wine.

The master of the banquet exclaims that he has saved the best for last.

If this is a genome parable it is pointing at conversion of a substantial amount of water. Not fist sized stones like David.

It is a parable for something last. I do not want to say this was at the end of the party, as there would be no reason to supply more wine.

It is saying something about the insufficiency of the early wine and a massive provision at some point future.

If the master of the banquet is a lawyer, say, then he represents the Roman government and world measuring the actions of Joshua.

Paul's Roman Citizenship

Consider Paul's authority for his missionary work. Trained by Gamaliel, but then transformed at his Damascus Road experience. These are both religious basis for authority. Like having a seminary degree and then an encounter at a revival meeting.

On Paul's way to Rome, once under the care of Roman guards, we learn of his Roman citizenship. This keeps the guards at bay

This other authority is quite different than what he has used at any earlier time in his work.

He is going to Rome for the final part of his work. Late in the story of the New Testament.

Combine these ideas with the idea that a Roman lawyer is the authority at the Wake of Cana. That Roman is commending that miracle. It was done for Roman benefit, not the benefit of religious people.

Should the genome contain inspired text as we suppose, it will not be judged by religion, but by scientists. A very different basis of authority.