Pastor Nam Park.
At the heart of this: What are the characteristics of this new relationship with the Savior.
Luke 5:33 And they said to Him, “The disciples of John often fast and offer prayers, the disciples of the Pharisees also do the same, but Yours eat and drink.” 34 And Jesus said to them, “You cannot make the attendants of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them, can you? 35 But the days will come; and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days.” 36 And He was also telling them a parable: “No one tears a piece of cloth from a new garment and puts it on an old garment; otherwise he will both tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. 37 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled out, and the skins will be ruined. 38 But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. 39 And no one, after drinking old wine wishes for new; for he says, ‘The old is good enough.’”
Prayer: Pray for our hearts, protecting us from putting on the forms of religion without having Godliness at the core of it; without faith in Jesus Christ at the center of what we do and believe. Remind us of how great God is. And that the greatest victory and the greatest blessing by way of the Gospel is that we have YOU (Lord). More than rescue from sin and damnation, we have the living God. Teach us to live with JOY on display for ALL TO SEE.
Anyone seeing Jesus interacting with sinners. Shouldn't these people be mourning over their sinfulness?
Looking at Jesus' disciples: Is it alright for them to be so joyful in their new-found salvation? Is the Christian faith different from other religions in its joyfulness?
A: Completely, undeniably, we should be a joyful people.
They are questioning: What is unique about your (partying/joyful) expression of faith in the Lord, vs. our faith (fasting and offering prayers) in the Lord?
Fasting: Putting aside something as delightful as eating (God's good magnificence) to show commitment to prayer; denying self to this delight.
Yet fasting and prayers were becoming something of merit.
The willingness to sacrifice and fast doesn't multiply effectiveness of prayer.
True Fast: Renouncing sin and turning to the Lord for Salvation.
If I declared that you had to do something, like read the Gospels everyday for the rest of your life. It could have started off good, but our Works-Righteousness natural takes that and says "See, I'm doing it, so I'm better than most." This now is a mark of us being "super-spiritual," a form of pride.
Matthew 6:16 “Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
John's disciples: Sacrifice
Pharisees: Suffer
Jesus' disciples: Party. Teacher, is this okay?
- Jesus' Response to them:
Luke 5:34 And Jesus said to them, “You cannot make the attendants of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them, can you?
- Jesus hints that it just doesn't make sense for the disciples to sacrifice and suffer.
- The ENTIRE point of being saved, having your sins forgiven... is for you to discover the joy of finding the Savior.
Luke 5:35 But the days will come; and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days."
- It is never normal for the groom to be taken away. Rather, guests usually leave after the wedding. When Jesus is taken away, you won't have to teach the disciples to fast, it will be automatic. A natural fasting will ensue. They will lose appetite. The one that brought them joy is now gone.
There should be no other people as joyful as redeemed Christians. Forgiven. Full of rejoicing.
The more the spirit influences your life, the more joy.
Q: How can you tell a Christian is growing?
A: By increasing evidence of fruit of the Spirit.
Ruins both.
Luke 5:36 And He was also telling them a parable: “No one tears a piece of cloth from a new garment and puts it on an old garment; otherwise he will both tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. 37 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled out, and the skins will be ruined.
- We don't deserve a new chance, but Christ gives it to us.
The Prodigal Son.
We don't have a 2nd class citizenship. We are adopted. We are His Sons.
We are embraced: "My son is found!" Restoration to full sonship.
Why bring the old works-mentality to this amazing faith in Christ, established in His work and His work alone.
Luke 5:39 And no one, after drinking old wine wishes for new; for he says, ‘The old is good enough.’”
- Jesus' point is that if you love the old, you don't wish to look at the new. Example: Those that love the works mentality don't look to think about his need for the NEW.
The new isn't always better than the old. But here, the new (the gospel) is most definitely better than the old (works mentality).
Celebrate with the bridgegroom. Give thanks for His victory and grace. God is good, period... Not IF you do X, Y, and Z. God is good, PERIOD. And no one of us should have more joy, than those of us who understand the new covenant reality, in Him.
