Monday, January 23, 2012
Jesus
Brings a New Thing
Luke
5:33-39
33 They said to him, “John’s disciples often fast and pray,
and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours go on eating and drinking.”
34 Jesus answered, “Can you make the
guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? 35 But the time
will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will
fast.”
36 He told them this parable: “No one
tears a patch from a new garment and sews it on an old one. If he does, he will
have torn the new garment, and the patch from the new will not match the old. 37
And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will
burst the skins, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. 38
No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. 39 And no one after
drinking old wine wants the new, for he says, ‘The old is better.’”
There
are always people in the church who think it’s spiritual to not have any fun.
There are “religious killjoys” who try to make others feel guilty for having a
good time. They hide behind legalism or asceticism and they don’t mind a good
confrontation.
Jesus
is confronted by such in this section of Scripture. Jesus is still at Levi’s party and he and his
disciples are having a good time. A question
is asked of him, “Why are your followers having fun? Shouldn’t they be fasting?
Shouldn’t they be praying?” Jesus
answers his critics by letting them know that there is a time for fasting and
this wasn’t the time. This was a time of feasting. A Jewish wedding reception
lasted seven days. It was a time of celebration. Jesus was saying that his presence brings joy
into the lives of his followers. This was a time of celebration, not
gloom. Jesus said in Matthew 13:44, “The kingdom of
heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it
again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.”
Paul wrote in Romans 14:17, “The kingdom
of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and
joy in the Holy Spirit.” Both Paul and
Jesus agree: a relationship with Jesus brings joy into our lives.
Jesus
shares two parables that really teach us about the newness that Jesus
brings. Don’t sew a new patch on an old
garment. The new patch will shrink and
tear the garment. Don’t pour new wine
into an old wine skin. The new wine will
ferment and burst the old skin. In other words, Jesus didn’t come to patch up
our lives; he came to give us new life. He came to make us new creations. He
doesn’t want us to put on a patched up garment but a new one. We are to clothe ourselves with Christ.
Christ wants to pour his new wine into a new skin. A relationship with Jesus brings newness and
joy and peace and righteousness into our lives.
Religion is rigid and can cause people to lose joy.
There
is a time for fasting. But there is also a time for joy and fun in our
relationship with Christ.
Here
are some questions to help you meditate on this passage:
1)
In following Jesus: am I inflexible? Do I believe things should be done one
way? Do I require that one way for others?
2)
Will I try to patch things when the Holy Spirit wants to give me a new way?
3)
Does my life in Christ reflect joy and fun?
An
old creed says it well – We should glorify God and enjoy Him forever! Amen.
Comments:
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As usual Tim you are on to something in this lesson.
The bible does speak of the practice, purpose and the importance of fasting. Jesus set the example for us by fasting. The bible also teaches us how to fast.
I seem to recall more events where the bible speaks of Jesus being at a feast or a wedding or preparing food for followers and would be followers. while at the same time pouring into them the word of truth. Sounds like fun to me.
I believe in fasting. I like to have fun too. If you invite me to a ' fasting party' and tell me to bring my unsaved friends I probably will not come
The bible does speak of the practice, purpose and the importance of fasting. Jesus set the example for us by fasting. The bible also teaches us how to fast.
I seem to recall more events where the bible speaks of Jesus being at a feast or a wedding or preparing food for followers and would be followers. while at the same time pouring into them the word of truth. Sounds like fun to me.
I believe in fasting. I like to have fun too. If you invite me to a ' fasting party' and tell me to bring my unsaved friends I probably will not come
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: 8:11 PM
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