1 Corinthians 3:16-23
February 26, 2010
Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector's booth. Follow me, Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him. While Jesus was having dinner at Levi's house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: Why does he eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'? On hearing this, Jesus said to them, It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.
Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and asked Jesus, How is it that John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not? Jesus answered, How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them. But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast. No-one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. And no-one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, he pours new wine into new wineskins. -Mark 2:13-22
Jesus explains why His disciples do not fast – they belong to a new era. Jesus justifies the lack of fasting by His disciples by His presence as the bridegroom. He is the Messiah. When He is no longer present, fasting will be resumed. Early Christians fasted on Fridays in commemoration of Good Friday while the Jews fasted on Mondays and Thursdays. The old must give way to the new. Jesus brings a new covenant, a new era, a new way of life based not on the Law but on the Spirit. Old Judaistic customs must yield to the new era. The new patch of Christ cannot be dewed on the old garment of Judaism. The new wine of Christ calls for new wineskins.
Jesus speaks of a new patch and new wine. Of course, He is referring to Himself and His Gospel. The Greek word used here is “Kairos” meaning new in quality and not necessarily in time. The new of quality cannot be forced into the old which is inferior. The new cannot be contained nor restricted by old forms and customs. The new has an inherent power that bursts out of old ideas, forms, and customs. [1]
O Lord, mercifully heart our prayers, and having set us free from the bonds of our sins, defend us from all evil; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever.[2]
Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and asked Jesus, How is it that John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not? Jesus answered, How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them. But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast. No-one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. And no-one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, he pours new wine into new wineskins. -Mark 2:13-22
Jesus explains why His disciples do not fast – they belong to a new era. Jesus justifies the lack of fasting by His disciples by His presence as the bridegroom. He is the Messiah. When He is no longer present, fasting will be resumed. Early Christians fasted on Fridays in commemoration of Good Friday while the Jews fasted on Mondays and Thursdays. The old must give way to the new. Jesus brings a new covenant, a new era, a new way of life based not on the Law but on the Spirit. Old Judaistic customs must yield to the new era. The new patch of Christ cannot be dewed on the old garment of Judaism. The new wine of Christ calls for new wineskins.
Jesus speaks of a new patch and new wine. Of course, He is referring to Himself and His Gospel. The Greek word used here is “Kairos” meaning new in quality and not necessarily in time. The new of quality cannot be forced into the old which is inferior. The new cannot be contained nor restricted by old forms and customs. The new has an inherent power that bursts out of old ideas, forms, and customs. [1]
O Lord, mercifully heart our prayers, and having set us free from the bonds of our sins, defend us from all evil; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever.[2]
[1] Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series B John Brokhoff © 1981 CSS Publishing, Lima, OH
[2] Collect for the Eighth Sunday after the Epiphany Lutheran Book of Worship © 1980 Concordia Publishing House St. Louis
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