Transforming Interactions
Luke • Sermon • Submitted
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33 Then they said to Him, “Why do the disciples of John fast often and make prayers, and likewise those of the Pharisees, but Yours eat and drink?” 34 And He said to them, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? 35 But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them; then they will fast in those days.” 36 Then He spoke a parable to them: “No one puts a piece from a new garment on an old one; otherwise the new makes a tear, and also the piece that was taken out of the new does not match the old. 37 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine will burst the wineskins and be spilled, and the wineskins will be ruined. 38 But new wine must be put into new wineskins, and both are preserved. 39 And no one, having drunk old wine, immediately desires new; for he says, ‘The old is better.’ ”
“They”- This is John’s disciples asking Christ this question (Matt. 9:14). John, the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth is being compared to Christ. Their ministry approaches are in question.
The reality is that John’s ministry was meant to prepare (Matt.3:1-12) (John 1:19-28)., while Jesus’ ministry was to fulfill (Matt. 5:17). These mini missions hold two different approaches. Each feel and look slightly different. Fasting was typically joined with prayer over large decisions, times of sorrow or desperate need for guidance. Typically prayer and fasting was saved for the day of atonement. During John’s ministry it was needed to fast and pray as the waiting messiah had yet to come.
Now why would John’s disciples include the Scribes and Pharisees in their observations? We cannot forget that the Pharisees were of tradition. They could not transfer or expand what they did. They did it out of tradition and habit. Jesus’ way could not match up with what they knew. Their epistemology was different, their starting point was different, and that which they knew to be true and reality was different.
Why the comparison between fasting and praying vs. drinking and eating? John was preparing, while Christ was fulfilling. This causes for great celebration! The scribes and pharisees were not only upset at the disciples’ friends but also at their obvious joy as they fellow shipped with Jesus and the guests. Here we get the impression that the Pharisees experienced little if any joy in the practice of their religion (Matt 6:16, Luke 15:25-32). Jewish weddings lasted a week and were times of great joy and celebration. Essentially Jesus is saying this: “I came to make life a wedding feast, not a funeral”. If you know the bridegroom then you can share his joy through fellowship (1 John 1:4).
What is their to anticipate at this point? He whose sandal strap is too worthy- is now here! For now it is time to enjoy the sweet fellowship of the Messiah. But, Christ warns John’s disciples that their will be a day that they need to go back to fasting and praying when the bridegroom (himself) will no longer be present on this earth.
Christ presents a beautiful analogy for John’s disciples. Two concepts that people during that time could really understand. It is amazing to realize that when Christ spoke, he spoke in the listeners language of understanding. He knew their physical epistemology.
The patch on clothing. The new may not shrink at the same rate of the old clothing.
He did not come to patch up the old. Even the Pharisees knew that Judaism was not all it could be, perhaps they hoped that Jesus would work with them in reviving the old religion. Jesus showed the foolishness of this approach by contrasting two garments. “If you take a patch from a new garment and sew it to the old you ruin both of them”. In Scripture garments are often times used to picture character and conduct (Col 3:8-17). Isa 64:6
6 But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away.
Many people have patched religion of their own making, instead of trusting Christ for the robe of salvation that He gives by grace.
2. The new wine will expand during fermentation beyond the capabilities of the old wineskin.
What is this saying?
The new life of the Spirit could not be forced into the old wineskins of Judaism. (Heb 8:13
13 In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.
Main idea:
To Follow Christ is a radical change! When we mix the old man with the new life we have in Christ it is bound to fail. Hebrews 10:11
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Our lives should be transforming over time. We are to “prove” what is good, acceptable, and perfect will of God.
15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
But here is the struggle: We do not like change. We do not like to leave the climate that we know. We like to keep things the same and remain “comfy”. It was not until AD 70 when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and the temple, and scattered the people. Most of the Jews preferred the old way.
The Jews weren't used to this new concept that Jesus was the bridegroom. Hosea 2:16-20
16 “And it shall be, in that day,” Says the Lord, “That you will call Me ‘My Husband,’ And no longer call Me ‘My Master,’ 17 For I will take from her mouth the names of the Baals, And they shall be remembered by their name no more. 18 In that day I will make a covenant for them With the beasts of the field, With the birds of the air, And with the creeping things of the ground. Bow and sword of battle I will shatter from the earth, To make them lie down safely. 19 “I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me In righteousness and justice, In lovingkindness and mercy; 20 I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness, And you shall know the Lord.
Now lets look at what Luke is painting for a picture with this in mind. Here Luke is seeking to write an orderly account so that Theopholis is will know for certain the things in which he is instructed. So that we may know for sure as believers.
Gives barren parents a child after trusting and remaining faithful (Luk. 1)
Parents to remain focused on heavenly items more than earthly (Luk. 2)
Casts out an unclean spirit so that people realized his authority and power (Luk. 4)
A mother-in-law healed so that she could go and serve (Luk. 4:38)
Many sicknesses healed so that they would proclaim the authenticity of the Messiah (Luk. 4:40)
Disciples called away from what they knew to be fishers of Men
A leper whose report was spread like wildfire (Luk. 5)
A paralytic who who immediately arose and sought to Glorify God. (Luk. 5).
So here is Luke’s overarching perspective as a doctor (Luk 5:31).
We must often times examine ourselves. Are we attempting to mix in our old man with the new? Is there anything between us and God 1 Corinthians 11:27-30
27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.
Communion:
The bread- His Body broken for you- so that change, salvation, growth would occur. Hebrews 10:12—18
12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. 15 But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before, 16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,” 17 then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” 18 Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.
The cup- When the bridegroom com meth will your robes be white? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
In Closing: Hebrews 10:25
25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Spending time in prayer and fasting is needed today as we await the Day approaching.
We may all struggle through the transition, but we are meant to be transformed in Christ, at salvation and beyond. We are fully preserved in this relationship through Christ that we can boldly approached the Holiest of Holies through the power of Prayer. A christian without growth is a christian stuck by the capacities of humankind without a God. Our walk will not be authentic, if our foundation our focus is not aligned with a relationship with the Lord. We are limited by the nature of man and sin at that point- but this is not what God desires for us. Jesus Christ is the only one who can make this kind of a difference in our lives.