IN FRATERNAM MEAM: HAS SITE OF JESUS' FIRST MIRACLE BEEN FOUND?

IN FRATERNAM MEAM

Monday, December 27, 2004

HAS SITE OF JESUS' FIRST MIRACLE BEEN FOUND?

Jars may be same type Jesus used to
turn water into wine

CANA, Israel
Among the roots of ancient olive trees, acheologists
have found pieces of large stone jars of the type the
Gospel says Jesus used when he turned water into wine
at a Jewish wedding in the Galilee village of Cana.

They believe these could have been the same kind of
vessels the Bible says Jesus used in his first miracle,
and that the site where they were found could be the
location of bibilcal Cana.

But Bible scholars caution, it'll be hard to obtain conclusive
proof -- especially since experts disagree on exactly where
Cana was located.

Christian theologians attach great significance to the water
to wine miracle at Cana. The act was not only Jesus first miracle,
but it also came at a crucial point in the early days of his public
minsitry-- when his reputation was growing, he had just selected
his disciples and was under pressure to demonstrate his divinity.

The shreds were found during a salvage dig in modern day Cana,
between Nazareth and Capernaum. Israel archeologists Yardena Alexaner
believes the Arab town was built near the ancient village. The jar
pieces date to the Roman period, when Jesus traveled in the Galilee.

"All indications from the archaelogical excavations suggest that the
site of the wedding was (midern day) Cana, the site that we have been investigating," said Alexander, as she cleaned the site of mud from
winter rains.

However, American archeologists excavating a rival site several miles
to the north have also found pieces of stone jars from the time of Jesus,
and believe they have found bibilical Cana.

Another expert archeologist Shimon Gibson, cast doubt on the find at
modern Cana, since both vessels are not rare and it would be impossible
to link a particular set of vessels to the miracle.

More digging needed

"Just the existence of stone vesels is not enough to prove that this
is a biblical site," and more excavations are needed, he said.

Based on the shards, Alexander believes the vessels found at her
site were 12 to 16 inches in diameter---or large enough to be the
same type of jars described in the Gospel of John.

Other evidence that might link the site tot he biblical account
includes the presence of Jewish ritual bath at the house, which
shows it wa a Jewish community. Locally produced pottery was used
at the simple house, showing it could have been from the poor village
described in the Scriptures.

Stephen Pfann, a Bible scholar in Jerusalem, said that while the
American digs has generally been accepted by scholars as the true
day Cana raise new questions.

"I think there is simple evidence that both sites are from the first
century, and we need more informationsto correctly identify either
site," Pfann said.

(Associated Press/ Laurie Copans)

posted by infraternam meam @ 11:49 PM

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