It’s hard to embrace “new”. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks, and turning over a new leaf is just as difficult. Thankfully, Jesus gives us a new lease on life; He has come to bring us to new pastures. He is the new bridegroom, new garments, and new wine we can embrace.
In Luke 5:33-39, the religious officials of the day, the Pharisees, were upset. They knew to fast and prided themselves on doing it so well; it was ingrained in their thinking and a long-standing ritual. BUT Jesus and His disciples didn’t fast; this made the Pharisees angry. In conflict they questioned Jesus: “Why don’t you and your disciples fast?” Jesus answered in three pictures – a bridegroom, garments, and wine.
“Wedding guests don’t fast while the bridegroom is with them,” Jesus said. When the bridegroom is with the guests, it’s time to feast and celebrate. Jesus is the bridegroom who has come to be with His people – there’s no need to fast anymore. Eat! He also said, “No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old garment,” and “No one puts new wine into old wineskins.” Jesus IS the new garment and new wine we wear and drink. New is new and old is old; don’t mix the two up. New life in Christ is too rich and deep and wide and high and long for the old ways to handle. They must be abandoned to make way for the new.
The Pharisees didn’t like Jesus’ answer. They were stuck in their old ways and wouldn’t change. What old ways might you be stuck in? Are you willing to change? It is Jesus who does a new work in a person’s life. He opens eyes and ears and hearts and minds. Jesus will change you. Don’t cling to the old today, there’s a new bridegroom, new garments, and new wine for you in Christ. Embrace the new.