Scripture:
Luke 5:33-39 (WEBBE)
“They said to him, “Why do John’s disciples often fast and pray, likewise also the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink?” He said to them, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them. Then they will fast in those days.” He also told a parable to them. “No one puts a piece from a new garment on an old garment, or else he will tear the new, and also the piece from the new will not match the old. No one puts new wine into old wineskins, or else the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved. No man having drunk old wine immediately desires new, for he says, ‘The old is better.’”
Reflection:
In this passage, Jesus addresses a question posed by the Pharisees and teachers of the law about why His disciples do not fast like those of John the Baptist or the Pharisees. Jesus responds with a powerful teaching that challenges their understanding of fasting and religious practices. He uses the imagery of a wedding feast, garments, and wineskins to convey the transformative nature of His presence and message.
Jesus compares Himself to a bridegroom, explaining that while He is with His disciples, it is a time of celebration, not mourning. Fasting, traditionally associated with sorrow or repentance, would be out of place during such a joyful time. However, He also hints at a future time when He will be taken away, and then fasting will be appropriate.
The parable of the new garment and the new wine emphasizes that Jesus’ message and the new covenant He brings cannot be confined to old forms or traditions. Just as new fabric cannot be patched onto old clothing and new wine cannot be stored in old wineskins, the new life Jesus offers requires a fresh approach—new wineskins. The old ways of doing things, represented by the fasting practices of the Pharisees, cannot contain the new reality of life in Christ.
This teaching invites us to consider how we are responding to Jesus in our own lives. Are we trying to fit the newness of His message into old patterns or traditions that no longer serve us? Or are we open to the transformation He offers, willing to embrace new ways of thinking, living, and worshiping that align with the life He gives?
The final verse is a reminder that change is often challenging. Jesus notes that people who are accustomed to old wine might resist the new, preferring what is familiar. However, the new wine—representing the new life in Christ—is where true joy and transformation are found. As followers of Jesus, we are called to embrace the new, trusting that He is leading us into a deeper, more fulfilling relationship with Him.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for bringing new life and new ways of living through Your presence and teaching. Help us to be open to the transformation You offer, willing to let go of old patterns that no longer serve us. Give us the courage to embrace the new wine of Your Spirit and to live in a way that reflects the joy and freedom of life in You. Teach us to discern when it is time to celebrate and when it is time to fast, always seeking to follow Your lead. In Your name, Amen.
Application:
- Reflect on areas of your life where you may be holding onto old patterns, traditions, or ways of thinking that no longer align with the new life Jesus offers. How can you open yourself to the new wineskins He is calling you to?
- Consider how you can incorporate both celebration and fasting into your spiritual life, discerning when each is appropriate based on your relationship with Jesus.
- Pray for a spirit of openness and willingness to be transformed by Jesus, trusting that He will lead you into deeper joy and fulfillment as you follow Him.
Verse for Meditation:
“But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.” (Luke 5:38, WEBBE)