The Lord Jesus Christ drank new wine.

[Rippon]

For the first 1800-1900 years of Christianity, drinking alcohol in moderation was one more way to enjoy God’s gifts. But a movement in the social politic of America in the early 1900’s suddenly changed some protestant denominations stance on alcohol consumption.

The temperance Movement actually started in the 1820's in America and the next decade abroad.

T

 

[RLBosley]

Actually, their wine was probably close to 17% alcohol whereas ours is limited by law in all 50 states to 12%.

I don't post around here much, mainly cause of idiotic threads like this, but I occasionally check out the latest arguem...errr discussions. Anyway, I just thought I'd point out that you must have your info off somewhere cause the bottle of merlot I have is 13%.

Anyone care to guess my opinion on the alcohol issue? :tongue3:

 

[Revmitchell]

Barns Commentary:

"The good wine - This shows that this had all the qualities of real wine. We should not be deceived by the phrase “good wine.” We often use the phrase to denote that it is good in proportion to its strength and its power to intoxicate; but no such sense is to be attached to the word here. Pliny, Plutarch, and Horace describe wine as “good,” or mention that as “the best wine,” which was harmless or “innocent” - poculo vini “innocentis.” The most useful wine - “utilissimum vinum” - was that which had little strength; and the most wholesome wine - “saluberrimum vinum” - was that which had not been adulterated by “the addition of anything to the ‘must’ or juice.” Pliny expressly says that a good wine was one that was destitute of spirit (lib. iv. c. 13). It should not be assumed, therefore, that the “good wine” was “stronger” than the other: it is rather to be presumed that it was milder."

The wine referred to here was doubtless such as was commonly drunk in Palestine. That was the pure juice of the grape. It was not brandied wine, nor drugged wine, nor wine compounded of various substances, such as we drink in this land. The common wine drunk in Palestine was that which was the simple juice of the grape. we use the word “wine” now to denote the kind of liquid which passes under that name in this country - always containing a considerable portion of alcohol not only the alcohol produced by fermentation, but alcohol “added” to keep it or make it stronger. But we have no right to take that sense of the word, and go with it to the interpretation of the Scriptures. We should endeavor to place ourselves in the exact circumstances of those times, ascertain precisely what idea the word would convey to those who used it then, and apply that sense to the word in the interpretation of the Bible; and there is not the slightest evidence that the word so used would have conveyed any idea but that of the pure juice of the grape, nor the slightest circumstance mentioned in this account that would not be fully met by such a supposition.

 

[DHK]

I don't post around here much, mainly cause of idiotic threads like this, but I occasionally check out the latest arguem...errr discussions. Anyway, I just thought I'd point out that you must have your info off somewhere cause the bottle of merlot I have is 13%.

Anyone care to guess my opinion on the alcohol issue? :tongue3:

13-17%??
Someone has been badly misinformed. Here is some good information:

Unmixed wine and plain water at the Lord’s Supper were both found unacceptable. A mixture of wine and water was the norm. Earlier in the latter part of the second century Clement of Alexandria stated:

It is best for the wine to be mixed with as much water as possible. . . . For both are works of God, and the mixing of the two, both of water and wine produces health, because life is composed of a necessary element and a useful element. To the necessary element, the water, which is in the greatest quantity, there is to be mixed in some of the useful element [Instructor II, ii, 23.3—24.1].​

To consume the amount of alcohol that is in two martinis by drinking wine containing three parts water to one part wine, one would have to drink over twenty-two glasses. In other words, it is possible to become intoxicated from wine mixed with three parts of water, but one’s drinking would probably affect the bladder long before it affected the mind.



In concluding this brief article I would like to emphasize two points. First, it is important to try to understand the biblical text in the context in which it was written. Before we ask “What does the biblical text mean for us today?” we must ask “What did it mean to them originally?”



Second, there is a striking difference between the drinking of alcoholic beverages today and the drinking of wine in New Testament times. If the drinking of unmixed wine or even wine mixed in a ratio of one to one with water was frowned upon in ancient times, certainly the drinking of distilled spirits in which the alcoholic content is frequently three to ten times greater would be frowned upon a great deal more.

http://www.swartzentrover.com/cotor...ohol/Wine-Drinking in New Testament Times.htm


This of course is speaking of the average drink, called wine, in the Bible--such as the wine that Jesus created.

It is not saying that fermented wine could not be made with which one could get drunk. Read the above link. It has a lot of good information.

 

[webdog]

This thread was more fun with the KJV / Yoda quote battle.

 

[Zaac]

Luke 7:33-34 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil. The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!

Eating and drinking what? They accused Him of being a winebibber. That was their ACCUSATION. If it was an accusation, are we to believe what they said to not be true?

 

[Zaac]

Granted, this could rabbit-trail and derail the thread quickly...but my understanding is that Jesus did not "allow" for divorce.

Matthew 19:8 ...Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.

9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

In verse 9, Don, appears to be the exception to allow for divorce. That and an unsaved person leaving a saved person.

He gives reasons why you CAN, but it doesn't say that it is right. That's why I offered it as a parallel to the making of wine at the wedding of Cana.

 

[Zaac]

Show me where Jesus said "you are divorced" to someone wanting to get divorced.

Jesus is GOD. the Bible is ALL His word. If you trust that He is God and His word is truth, does it not stand to reason that if His word says I am giving an exception that allows you to divorce, and it is HIS inspired word, that He means you are divorced?

That's not the same as did He drink wine because Scripture never explicitly says that HE did. But Scripture does show GOD's word---Jesus's word---giving a couple of reasons why folks can divorce.


Doesn't mean divorce isn't sinful, but He does allow for it.

 

[Zaac]

He would have cautioned them to take it in moderation. Like it or not, He drank wine Himself. Those of you who deny it have no historical or biblical leg to stand on.

Again, my Biblical legs don't show anywhere in Scripture where it says that Jesus drank wine without someone inferring something that makes them have to infer something else that makes them have to infer something else. Pretty soon the entirety, or most of, your belief system is based on inferences instead of what the words on the pages say.

 

[Zaac]

http://toronto.ctvnews.ca/binge-drinking-among-ontario-teens-a-concern-survey-1.732832


In another study:

http://www.ctvnews.ca/cdc-calculates-societal-costs-of-excessive-drinking-1.712544



And to think it all started with just ONE drink.

Would Jesus have given those young people that one drink, that one alcoholic beverage?
He did know the consequences didn't he?

I ask people this question a lot. When I look at the statistics of all the violence and crime and drug abuse in the world, most of it, I do't think it would be far fetched to say darn NEAR all of it, can be traced back to alcohol.

Given the statistics of death and despair tied to alcohol, would an all-knowing God encourage it?

Considering what happened when alcohol was consumed by Lot...considering that there was no doubt some drunkenness in Sodom...or in the story of Esther... and all the stats tieing all sorts of evils back to drinking, why do we want the association?

 

[annsni]

I ask people this question a lot. When I look at the statistics of all the violence and crime and drug abuse in the world, most of it, I do't think it would be far fetched to say darn NEAR all of it, can be traced back to alcohol.

Given the statistics of death and despair tied to alcohol, would an all-knowing God encourage it?

Considering what happened when alcohol was consumed by Lot...considering that there was no doubt some drunkenness in Sodom...or in the story of Esther... and all the stats tieing all sorts of evils back to drinking, why do we want the association?

Actually the Bible tells us that money is the root of all kinds of evil. But we don't say that we shouldn't have money. Yes, alcohol when it's misused causes issues but so does sex and money. But in it's proper use (moderation with alcohol, only in marriage for sex and having a generous heart with money), each of these can be a benefit to us.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Actually the Bible tells us that money is the root of all kinds of evil. But we don't say that we shouldn't have money. Yes, alcohol when it's misused causes issues but so does sex and money. But in it's proper use (moderation with alcohol, only in marriage for sex and having a generous heart with money), each of these can be a benefit to us.

Actually the Bible says this as well....

Ecclesiastes 10:19

19 A feast is made for laughter,
And wine makes merry;
But money answers everything.

 

[Zaac]

Actually the Bible tells us that money is the root of all kinds of evil. But we don't say that we shouldn't have money.

The Bible tells us that the LOVE of money is the root of all kinds of evil.

Yes, alcohol when it's misused causes issues but so does sex and money. But in it's proper use (moderation with alcohol, only in marriage for sex and having a generous heart with money), each of these can be a benefit to us.

Again, feel free to justify doing whatever you wish as God says all things are allowable, but not all things are beneficial.

Considering the wickedness associated with alcohol, is it beneficial to the Christian witness to drink at all?

You will always find Christians who say yes because they got to have that drink just like they think they've got to have water.

Want outweighs the witness. It simply is what it is.

 

[Steadfast Fred]

One of the reasons one shouldn't engage the op

And yet, you continue to engage.

LOL

 

[DHK]

Actually the Bible says this as well....

Ecclesiastes 10:19

19 A feast is made for laughter,
And wine makes merry;
But money answers everything.

And the Bible says:

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT ALCOHOL

​

by
Andrew Corbett
The Bible is black and white about certain issues such as murder, lying, property rights, and interpersonal relationships. But there are some issues that Christians feel very strongly about such as family values, hygiene, church attendance and fashion, that the Bible appears not to be very categorical about. Another issue that stirs emotions ranging from anger and disgust, to, indifference and carelessness, is the use of alcohol.

THE DANGER OF LEGALISM

In discussing the issue of alcohol I want to avoid two dangerous extremes. Firstly, man-made legalism which teaches that the salvation Christ purchased through His blood shed on the cross, and received by putting our faith in Him, is in doubt if we break a man-made rule. Secondly, antinomianism (a license to sin) where a person is under no obligations whatsoever to walk worthy of the salvation that Christ offers. In relation to alcohol, I want to stress that their various opinions among Christians that are worthy of respect. Throughout history there have been some very godly and influential Christians who have drunk alcohol (for example, Martin Luther used to brew and drink his own beer, Charles Spurgeon also drank hard liquor), and other equally great and influential Christians who were temperate (non-drinkers).



One of the reasons I have never preached on the subject of alcohol is my concern that some people who hold very passionate views either way and will make this an issue for our mutual fellowship. I’m reminded that doctrines never divide, only attitudes do. I trust that we are mature enough to perhaps disagree yet enjoy fellowship with each other.
Therefore, in stressing the main points of this article I need to stress that if someone disagrees with these findings and conclusions found here, I am not suggesting that their salvation is in question, or that they are not striving to live a liberated and godly life. I have endeavoured to avoid these two deadly extremes of legalism and antinomianism in presenting this article.

DEALING WITH BIBLICAL GREY AREAS

He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God... (v. 22) So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves.(v. 23) But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.
Romans 14:6 NIV
​

The New Testament presents the believer with certain issues that are grey areas where the believer should decide for themselves whether they are tight or wrong. Eating meat, drinking alcohol, and observing a rest day as holy to the Lord, are a matter of conscience. To assist the believer’s conscience come to a "fully persuaded" Biblical position it is helpful, if not inevitable, that a survey of what the Bible says is needed. In this sense then because these issues are grey, there is no one passage that deals with it. We therefore have to examine the overall Biblical presentation of an issue to formulate a clear "fully persuaded" position.
There are certain issues that the Bible seems to approve of, but many believers would clearly condemn. For example: polygamy (being married to more than one person at a time).

If a man has two wives, and he loves one but not the other, and both bear him sons but the firstborn is the son of the wife he does not love...Deuteronomy 21:15 NIV
​

We could justify polygamy (the marriage to more than one spouse) by pointing to Biblical characters who practised polygamy, such as Abraham, Jacob, and David. We could say that the New Testament nowhere condemns polygamy, it simply says that a man could not be an elder in a church if he was the husband of more than one wife (1Timothy 3:2 NIV - Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach).



Yet when we take an overall look at the Biblical presentation of polygamy, we see that it paints polygamy as being fraught with moral, spiritual, material, and physical danger. Polygamy was the downfall of Patriarchs, Kings, and common men alike. It led to family schisms that often resulted in treachery and even murder. Clearly, the overall presentation of polygamy is to condemn it. This condemnation is doubly subtle when you consider the parallels that Bible makes about monogamous marriages. It uses Adam and Eve, God and Israel, Christ and the Church as examples and models of godly marriages. I trust that you can see some principles here in the way the Bible should be interpreted: where the Scripture seems to silent, we need to closely note its overall message. We are therefore endeavouring to employ principles of interpretation, rather than seeking to uncover obscure Biblical laws.

THE OVERALL PRESENTATION

The use of alcohol can be viewed just like we view polygamy. We will survey what the Bible has to say about the use of alcohol, in much the same way that we have done with what it says about polygamy. By using these principles of ascertaining a Biblical position, we will see that the principles for determining whether alcohol usage is compatible with Christianity are identical other similar issues such as smoking (nicotine), illicit drug usage, pharmaceutical abuse, and other substance abuses.
The first mention of alcohol in the Bible deals with the shaming of Noah, and the subsequent mockery by his son Ham.
Noah, a man of the soil, proceeded to plant a vineyard. When he drank some of its wine, he became drunk and lay uncovered inside his tent.
(Genesis 9:20 21 NIV)
This was a foolish indiscretion on the part of Noah. It resulted in his son being cursed, and a family division between the brothers that led to the generational Israel-Philistia conflicts. The next major reference to the use of alcohol in Scripture is when the daughters of Lot got their father drunk.
One day the older daughter said to the younger, "Our father is old, and there is no man around here to lie with us, as is the custom all over the earth. Let's get our father to drink wine and then lie with him and preserve our family line through our father." That night they got their father to drink wine, and the older daughter went in and lay with him. He was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up.
(Genesis 19:31-33 NIV)
This use of alcohol resulted in incest and the formation of a nation that caused Israel many problems. The next major reference to alcohol use is found in Leviticus 10 where Nadab and Abihu enter their priestly service drunk and mock the holy offerings. God strikes them dead. The Lord then gives this warning-

"You and your sons are not to drink wine or other fermented drink whenever you go into the Tent of Meeting, or you will die. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come."
Lev. 10:9
​

In the Book of Numbers, the Lord instructs people how to fully commit themselves to Him.

Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘If a man or woman wants to make a special vow, a vow of separation to the LORD as a Nazirite, he must abstain from wine and other fermented drink and must not drink vinegar made from wine or from other fermented drink...’
(Numbers 6:2-3a NIV)
​

It should be stressed in the midst of these major references, there are other references to alcohol being used in offerings. It was an ingrained part of the culture, in much the same way that polygamy was. But when God would put His blessing on someone, it was said so that an expression of prosperity was used: abundant grain and new wine. For example, Isaac’s blessing of Jacob.
May God give you of heaven's dew and of earth's richness-- an abundance of grain and new wine.
(Genesis 27:28 NIV)

http://www.andrewcorbett.net/articles/alcohol.htm

​

 

[Steadfast Fred]

http://toronto.ctvnews.ca/binge-drinking-among-ontario-teens-a-concern-survey-1.732832


In another study:

http://www.ctvnews.ca/cdc-calculates-societal-costs-of-excessive-drinking-1.712544



And to think it all started with just ONE drink.

Would Jesus have given those young people that one drink, that one alcoholic beverage?
He did know the consequences didn't he?

If we are to believe those who advocate drinking, either Jesus didn't know, or He didn't care that hundreds of thousands that started with just ONE drink would become murderers for another drink, become paupers for another drink, become child abusers, be doomed to hell, etc..

So many use the Word of God deceitfully and place a stumbling block in the paths of others by telling them Jesus approves of alcohol.

 

[DHK]

Continued from above:

Its worth noting that the blessing was for "new wine", (Hebrew word: tiyrowsh), which was different to fermented wine (Hebrew word, yayin). New wine was sweet, freshly squeezed grape juice. Interestingly, every reference to God’s blessing expressed as abundant grain and wine always refers to tiyrowsh, unfermented, sweet grape juice.

When Samson was dedicated to the Lord, he was not to drink alcohol.

Now see to it that you drink no wine or other fermented drink and that you do not eat anything unclean,
(Judges 13:4 NIV)

Absalom, son of King David, was able to murder his brother because Amnon got drunk.

Absalom ordered his men, "Listen! When Amnon is in high spirits from drinking wine and I say to you, 'Strike Amnon down,' then kill him. Don't be afraid. Have not I given you this order? Be strong and brave."
(2Samuel 13:28 NIV)

Proverbs talks about alcohol.

Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
(Proverbs 20:1 NIV)

He who loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and oil will never be rich.
(Proverbs 21:17 NIV)

Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat,
(Proverbs 23:20 NIV)

29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? 30 Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.31 Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly!32 In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper.33 Your eyes will see strange sights and your mind imagine confusing things.34 You will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on top of the rigging.35 "They hit me," you will say, "but I'm not hurt! They beat me, but I don't feel it! When will I wake up so I can find another drink?"
(Proverbs 23)

4 "It is not for kings, O Lemuel-- not for kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer,5 lest they drink and forget what the law decrees, and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.6 Give beer to those who are perishing, wine to those who are in anguish;7 let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.
(Proverbs 31)

Isaiah...

Woe to those who rise early in the morning to run after their drinks, who stay up late at night till they are inflamed with wine.
(Isaiah 5:11 NIV)

Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine and champions at mixing drinks,
(Isaiah 5:22 NIV)

And these also stagger from wine and reel from beer: Priests and prophets stagger from beer and are befuddled with wine; they reel from beer, they stagger when seeing visions, they stumble when rendering decisions.
(Isaiah 28:7 NIV)

In Jeremiah 35, the prophet is told to honour the Recabites for abstaining from alcohol-

But they replied, "We do not drink wine, because our forefather Jonadab son of Recab gave us this command: ‘Neither you nor your descendants must ever drink wine.’"
(Jeremiah 35:6 NIV)

‘Jonadab son of Recab ordered his sons not to drink wine and this command has been kept. To this day they do not drink wine, because they obey their forefather's command. But I have spoken to you again and again, yet you have not obeyed me.
(Jeremiah 35:14 NIV)

In reforming Temple worship, God requires this of His priests-

No priest is to drink wine when he enters the inner court.
(Ezekiel 44:21 NIV)

Daniel refused to drink wine.
But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.

(Daniel 1:8 NIV)

The prophet Amos laments over Israel’s use of wine -

You drink wine by the bowlful and use the finest lotions, but you do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph.
(Amos 6:6 NIV)


THE OLD TESTAMENT REVELATION

The survey that we have just done of the Old Testament about alcohol, presents an overall message that alcohol is neither wise, beneficial, or complimentary to a godly life. It must be remembered that this is presented against the backdrop of where alcohol was as much a part of culture as eating. Yet the Scriptures present it in the light we have just seen.

The phrase "wine and strong drink" is usually found in contexts warning against or forbidding the use of alcoholic beverages (see the following- Lev. 10:9; Num. 6:3; Deut. 29:6; Judges 13:4; 1Samuel 1:15; Isa. 5:11, 22; 22:9. Strong drink is probably beer rather than a distilled liquor...
International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, page 1069

JESUS AND ALCOHOL

Did Christ drink alcohol? Considering what we know about the overall presentation of alcohol in the Old Testament, it would seem a curious thing if Christ drank fermented (alcoholic) beverages. Especially since He was and is our High Priest -
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess),
Hebrews 4:14



- and that God had strictly forbidden the High Priest from drinking alcohol -

Then the LORD said to Aaron, "You and your sons are not to drink wine or other fermented drink whenever you go into the Tent of Meeting, or you will die. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come)
Leviticus 10:8-9

- it would have been extremely unlikely that Christ would have violated such a basic principle of ministering to God. Some people also use the Nazirite vow of Numbers 6 to substantiate that Christ would not have drunk alcohol. This is perhaps a legitimate use of the passage so long as it is understood that Christ was a Nazarene (Matthew 2:23), not a Nazirite, and that the original passage allowed for the extreme possibility of even grape products being fermented themselves, which was increasingly possible due to desert conditions, and lack of refrigeration. This is confirmed when we observe how the Nazirite vow was applied to John the Baptist.

for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth.
Luke 1:15

Just as in the Old Testament, where there were two distinguishing words for alcoholic wine, and non-alcoholic wine, so it is that many scholars believe it is with the New Testament. "New Wine" was grape juice that had not been given the time for the sugars in the juice to ferment. The ancients could chill grape juice wine for extended periods of time by placing the wine into skins, tying a rope around it, and dropping it into a cool stream suspended from a tree, to prevent it from becoming fermented. "Wine" in the New Testament is the Greek word: oinos. This word can be either alcoholic wine, ornon-alcoholic wine. For example, there are Scriptures which warn against mis-use of oinos which would acknowledge the Bible's dual use of this word (Eph. 5:18; Rom. 14:21; 1Tim. 3:8; Titus 2:3- which all imply drunkenness from oinos). But the Greek word for wine which always refers to alcoholic wine (gleukos) is never used of non-alcoholic wine.

There is enough classic literature from antiquity to show that oinos was most commonly non-alcoholic. It was usually condensed through evaporation (either over a flame, or naturally) into a honey-like concentrate that could be rehydrated at a later time. In the Odessey, an ancient Greek tale, the central character sets sail on a ship that takes him on an epic journey. His fluids are sustained as he dilutes the wine-concentrate into oinos (non-alcoholic).

The most common mixture was wine diluted with water. The ratio of water to wine varied, but the quantity of water was almost always greater than that of wine. The favoured mixture for the Greeks was one part wine and three parts water...During Roman times the ordinary table beverage was wine mixed with water (see Ferguson). Since the water was not completely safe to drink, mixing wine with water had a purifying effect on the water (cf. 1Tim 5:23).
International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, page 1070

Interestingly, Christ's first miracle also involved water becoming wine (oinos).

Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine (oinos). And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum.
John 4:46

This is the wine that Jesus drank. The New Testament has another word that scholar James Strong in the Strong's Concordance says is used for alcoholic wine: gleukos. This was wine where the sugars had been allowed to ferment it. Strong's Concordance defines this word for wine as highly intoxicating, fermented wine. On the Day of Pentecost, the disciples are accused of having been drinking too much wine, gleukos, not oinos.

Some, however, made fun of them and said, "They have had too much wine (gleukos)."
Acts 2:13

 

[Steadfast Fred]

He would have cautioned them to take it in moderation. Like it or not, He drank wine Himself. Those of you who deny it have no historical or biblical leg to stand on.

Show me in John 2 where Jesus told those wedding guests to "take in moderation."

 

[Don]

If we are to believe those who advocate drinking, either Jesus didn't know, or He didn't care that hundreds of thousands that started with just ONE drink would become murderers for another drink, become paupers for another drink, become child abusers, be doomed to hell, etc..

So many use the Word of God deceitfully and place a stumbling block in the paths of others by telling them Jesus approves of alcohol.

Your logic is incorrect. Consider the rich young ruler; Jesus let him simply walk away. Did Jesus not care about him?

 

[DHK]

Your logic is incorrect. Consider the rich young ruler; Jesus let him simply walk away. Did Jesus not care about him?

"Jesus, beholding him, loved him and said: "one thing thou lackest; Go, sell all that thou hast; give to the poor, and come follow me."

Not only did he love him, he told him exactly what he must do.