New Wine Must Be Poured Into New Wineskins

Luke 5:33-6:11

Key Verse 5:37

And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined.

In this passage we can learn the characteristics of the life that follows Jesus. That is, it is full of life. 

1. Think about some of the religious leaders' question to Jesus about fasting and prayer in verse 33 and Jesus' answer to their question in verses 34-35. What does this conversation tell us about: 1) the purpose of fasting and prayer; 2) the life that is "in" Jesus Christ; and 3) the life that is "without" him? 

** It's ultimate purpose is to be at the heart of God's will and purpose. Through fasting we deny ourselves (particularly the desire for food), and through prayer we proceed to the throne of God, so we would meet God in person and have a fellowship with Him for life. 

** The life that is in Jesus Christ is the life that is in the kingdom of God. Where there is Jesus, there is the kingdom of God. As we are in Jesus so are we in God the Father who sent Jesus Christ. John 14:9

** Without Jesus it is impossible for one to be in God's kingdom. It is only in Jesus that we can find eternal pleasures of life in God’s presence. Psalm 16:11

2. In verse 36 Jesus compares him (and his teachings) and those who belong to him (and follow his teachings) to "new garment", whereas those who belong to John (the Baptist) or the Pharisees (and their teachings) to "old garment". What does the garment(s) do for men? In what respect is Jesus "new" garment? (John 1:29; Heb 9:14; 2Co 5:17) 

** Garments protect man from elements. They keep man warm during the winter season, or keeps man cool from the heat of the day on a hot summer day. With garments, we also adorn ourselves, so that depending on the kind of garment we are wearing, we look either clean or filthy, beautiful or ugly, regal or common. 

** Jesus is a new garment for us in that he cleanses us of our filth (sins), and clothes us with the righteousness (by making us not only justified but also sanctified and then glorified.) 

3. In verses 37-39, Jesus came up with another analogy - wine and wineskin. What does the wine stand for? (Jer 31:12; John 2:7) This parable suggests that a man like an old wineskin cannot receive what Jesus came to offer. How can we become a man like a new wineskin? 

** Wine stands for the joy of salvation which comes from the Spirit of God. 

** We need to let go of what is old (old way of thinking, habits, relationships, customs, etc.) and open ourselves up to Jesus, so Jesus would fully work on us. 

Read Romans 12:2; Ephesians 4:22-24; Col 3:10; Phi 3:13

4. Reflect on what Jesus said to some of the Pharisees in Luke 6:1-5 by comparing it with Col 2:6-17. What do these passages tell us about the new life that is in the Lord?

** 1) It is like a sheep lying on a green pasture where it can find food and drink, joy, peace, and rest. 2) It is free from the snares of the enemies, anxieties of life, for the shepherd is there to watch, to protect, and to provide for the sheep with what it needs. 3) Finally in Jesus we can find the freedom to worship and serve the Lord without any fear. 

5. In verses 6-11 Jesus confronted the Pharisees and the teachers of the law on the man with a shriveled hand. What can we learn from: 1) Jesus; and 2) the man with a shriveled hand? What does this miracle show us about the life in Jesus? 

** Jesus risked his life to save his sheep. 

** This man overcame: 1) the invisible pressure coming from the Pharisees and the teachers of the law; 2) brought his  problem (weakness) into the open (without hiding); and 3) by faith obeyed Jesus' command to stretch out his hand. 

** It is dynamic in that it is powerful enough to overcome all kinds of obstacles of life (such as pressures and challenges) and thereby is expanding (rather than shrinking) powerfully without a limit. The pressures and challenges are opportunities for us to grow in faith, so that as we overcome them by faith in the Lord in the course of obeying the word of the Lord, our faith grows. Through life in Jesus is expanding, rather than shrinking. It is positive and giving. It is like the garden of Even from which had rivers of life (and blessings) flow to the four corners of the world. 

The end