St Matthew, Chapter 9, verse:17, The Bridegroom, the patch, and the wine.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The question of fasting) Part 3.  

Christ continues his conversation with the disciples of John.  He tells them further about the need for new wine skins verses using old wine skins.  Christ says,  "Nor do people pour new wine into old wine-skins, else the skins burst, the wine is spilt, and the skins are ruined."   In this statement he is telling the disciples of John that a new approach was needed with his disciples.  Christ indicates that the disciples of John were not used as his disciples because of the new wine of life that is being poured into his disciples. 

Christ is telling the disciples of John that the new wine that is being poured into his disciples will not be spilt.  The new wine of life that they are being given cannot be put into old wine skins.  The new wine of life will be lost if it is poured into old wine skins and both the wine skins and the new wine of life will be lost.  Christ is setting a new precedent with these words.  He is demonstrating to the disciples of John  that he has something new to give.  He has something different to present.  He has something that he does not want to be wasted or lost.  Therefore, it is necessary that new disciples are used.  It is necessary for new ideas to come forth.  It is necessary to recruit new people to carry the new wine of life so that it is not lost or spilt.

The disciples of John wanted to know why the disciples of Christ were different.  They wanted to know why they did not follow the norm that was given to them.  They thought that the disciples of Christ should follow the way that was given to them.  They should follow the principles and practices that they were given.   They thought that the disciples of Christ should not receive special treatment.  They and the Pharisees questioned Christ about the different path that his disciples were taking.  They were indignant to the special treatment that the disciples of Christ were given. 

Christ calls us today.  He calls new wine skins today.  He looks for new faces, new people, new vessels to carry the new wine of life.  He does not want to waste the message.  He does not want to ruin the old wine skins.  He does not want to spill the new message of life.  There are the old wine skins that have been used to put the old wine into.  There are the old wine skins that carried the message before.  There is the new wine that needs to be put into new vessels.  There is the new message that Christ seeks to spread.  He wants to give the new message of life by putting it in new vessels.  Are you ready to have the new wine of life poured into you?  Are you ready to become a new wine skin for Christ?  Or do you continue to receive the message of life into old wine skins where the new wine of life bursts the wine skins and the message is lost?  

St Matthew, Chapter 9, verse:16, The Bridegroom, the patch, and the wine.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The question of fasting) Part 2.  

The disciples of John the Baptist spoke with Christ about fasting.  They asked him why his disciples did not fast while the Pharisees and they did fast.  Instead of answering their question and telling them that his disciples did not fast because they were in the presence of the Lord, he told them that they did not fast because they could not mourn while the bridegroom was present.  He told them that they could not fast until the bridegroom was taken away and then they would fast.  The disciples of John did not understand that instead of mourning they should be rejoicing.  Instead of being in sorrow they should be festive because they were in the presence of the Lord.  John the Baptist had told them that one was coming that was even greater than he and he was not worthy to tie the straps of his sandals.  The disciples of John did not understand.  They were blinded.  They did not see.

Christ gives them further examples of his presence by telling them another reason for not fasting.  He tells them,  "No one puts a patch of raw cloth on an old garment."  Christ is telling them that this is why they do not understand because they are not his disciples.  They are not his disciples because they are old garments.  They are not his disciples because the old and the new patch will not work.  They are not his disciples because a new garment is needed and not an old one.  Christ lets them know the reason for the need of something new.  He says, the patch tears away from the garment, and a worse rent is made."   

So Christ has given them the explanation to help them understand why his disciples do not fast.  He has told them that a new garment is needed instead of a patch to an old garment.  He has told them that the wedding feast is taking place and his disciples are festive.  His disciples are rejoicing.  His disciples are merry.  Christ gives them these explanations so that they may understand.  Matthew gives us these statements from Christ so that we may understand.  Are we going to be disciples of Christ or disciples of John the Baptist?  Are we going to mourn at the wedding feast or are we going to rejoice?  Are we going to be sorrowful at the wedding feast or are we going to be happy?

Like the disciples of John the Baptist, do we follow the teachings of Christ or the teachings of our leaders?  John was a great prophet and a great teacher.  But he pointed to the one to come.  He admitted to his unworthiness and humbly showed the way to the Greater One.  There are many great religious leaders in the church community today.  John spoke of Christ. They speak of Christ.  John had disciples.  They have disciples.  Christ seeks new garments today, not old ones to put a patch upon.  John spoke of his decrease while Christ must increase.  Our leaders today, who do they point to?  Are you led to Christ through your religious leader today?  Are you being created as a new garment in Christ or are you being patched over?  
    

St Matthew, Chapter 9, verses:14-15, The Bridegroom, the patch, and the wine.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The question of fasting) Part 1.  

In the previous verses Christ gave instructions to the Pharisees, telling them to learn about mercy.  Now he gives instructions to the disciples of John the Baptist.  John's disciples come to Christ asking about fasting.  Christ has broken tradition.  He has brought about change in the old way of doing things.  He has given understanding to old laws and rules.  Now, he gives John's disciples details explaining why his disciples are different.  

John's disciples ask why they and the Pharisees fast when the disciples of Christ do not fast.  The rule of fasting has been a rule handed down for many generations.  Christ  asks them a  question,  "Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them?"   This question brings up a kind of dilemma.  The question they asked concerned the rules of fasting and Christ answered them with a question about a bridegroom.  How do the two questions relate?   Christ does not say, "They do not fast because...."  Instead he challenges them to see the reason for themselves.  He tells them about the bridegroom and mourning.  He tells them that now is not the time to mourn but to celebrate.  He implies that now is the time to rejoice and to be glad, because the bridegroom is in their midst.  He gives them a reason to know for themselves why his disciples do not fast.

John's disciple did not understand.  They see Christ as a teacher.  They see him as a great Rabbi.  They see him as a prophet.  They do not see him as the Son of God.  This is why they ask the question of fasting.  This is why they compare themselves with the Pharisees as following the rules of fasting.  This is why they are fasting and questioning why the disciples of Christ do not fast.  They do not understand the reason for joy.  They do not understand the reason for celebration.  They do not understand the reason for happiness.  They may not have understood the reasoning of Christ's answer concerning the bridegroom.  

Christ's answer indicates a wedding.  Christ's answer indicates a marriage about to happen.  Christ's answer indicates a a union about to take place.  Christ's answer indicates a feast taking place.  Christ's answer indicates a time for celebration.  John's disciple question indicated a time for mourning.  The question asked by John's disciple indicated a time for sorrow.  The question asked by John's disciple indicated that they did not know who was in their midst.

Christ tells them that a time will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them and then they will fast.  And Christ was taken away from them and crucified on the cross.  Christ was taken away from them and buried in the tomb.  Christ was given back to them when he arose from the dead.  And Christ is with us today when he ascended into heaven.  Are we like John's disciples who mourn and fast in the presence of God?  Why do we not rejoice when our loved ones go to the wedding feast to meet the bridegroom?