#DailyMeditation Friday (September 5): The unity of the new and the old - Luke 5:33-39 Which comes first, fasting or feasting? The disciples of John the Baptist were upset with Jesus disciples because they did not fast. Fasting was one of the three most important religious duties, along with prayer and almsgiving. Jesus gave a simple explanation. Theres a time for fasting and a time for feasting (or celebrating). A time to weep and fast - a time to rejoice and celebrate To walk as a disciple with Jesus is to experience a whole new joy of relationship akin to the joy of the wedding party in celebrating with the groom and bride their wedding bliss. But there also comes a time when the Lords disciples must bear the cross of affliction and purification. For the disciple there is both a time for rejoicing in the Lords presence and celebrating his goodness and a time for seeking the Lord with humility and fasting and for mourning over sin. Do you take joy in the Lords presence with you and do you express sorrow and contrition for your sins? A mind closed to Gods wisdom Jesus goes on to warn his disciples about the problem of the closed mind that refuses to learn new things. Jesus used an image familiar to his audience - new and old wine skins. In Jesus times, wine was stored in wine skins, not bottles. New wine poured into skins was still fermenting. The gases exerted gave pressure. New wine skins were elastic enough to take the pressure, but old wine skins easily burst because they became hard as they aged. What did Jesus mean by this comparison? The Old Testament points to the New - the New Testament fulfills the Old Are we to reject the old in place of the new? Just as there is a right place and a right time for fasting and for feasting, so there is a right place for the old as well as the new. Jesus says the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old (Matthew 13:52). A very common expression, dating back to the early beginnings of the Christian church, states that the New Testament lies hidden in the Old and the Old Testament is unveiled in the New - the two shed light on each other. The New Testament does not replace the Old - rather it unveils and brings into full light the hidden meaning and signs which foreshadow and point to Gods plan of redemption which he would accomplish through his Son, Jesus Christ. How impoverished we would be if we only had the Old Testament or the New Testament, rather than both. New wine of the Holy Spirit The Lord Jesus gives us wisdom so we can make the best use of both the old and the new. He doesnt want us to hold rigidly to the past and to be resistant to the new action of his Holy Spirit in our lives. He wants our minds and hearts to be like the new wine skins - open and ready to receive the new wine of the Holy Spirit. Are you eager to grow in the knowledge and understanding of Gods word and plan for your life? Lord Jesus, fill me with your Holy Spirit, that I may grow in the knowledge of your great love and truth. Help me to seek you earnestly in prayer and fasting that I may turn away from sin and wilfulness and conform my life more fully to your will. May I always find joy in knowing, loving, and serving you.
Posted on: Fri, 05 Sep 2014 04:25:00 +0000
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