"But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins" - Luke 5: 38.
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Reflecting on this Gospel passage meticulously recorded by Luke (the doctor). Jesus walked on Earth in a sad epoch where God's Voice was visibly absent in the nation of Israel. The poor masses desperately sought God for healing. But they were denied entry to the temple because of their unclean state, whether it was because they held lowly jobs that were deemed unclean by the powerful religious leaders, or had ailments that made them ceremonially unclean. Or because they couldn't afford the exorbitant fees charged by the temple traders or money changers, who were making a fast buck from faithful pilgrims who wanted to offer temple sacrifices to the God of Israel.
Thus, in collusion with unscrupulous temple leaders, these crooks in religious garbs were "stealing" from the poor. In direct rebellion against God's commands not to oppress or take advantage of the poor and lowly folks of Israel. Thus, it was like a refreshing stream of living waters running through a parched land when the multitudes sat on the hillside by the sea of Galilee to listen to teachings by the son of a lowly carpenter. Who possessed unheard of miraculous powers to heal and even Godlike powers to forgive sins. Is He really the Messiah? Is He the Son of God as He claimed? There must have been endless questions.
Matthew 5:3-10
3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 "Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
10 "Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
I find it supremely ironic that the very people who searched the Scriptures diligently for signs of the Messiah, had totally missed the presence of the Messiah. Walking in their midst and performing those signs and wonders that would herald the Messiah's arrival as written by ancient prophets. Indeed, it seemed like their zealous observances of religious piety was the same veil that blinded them to see the Son of God with them. As Jesus had said so beautifully in verse 37-39: "And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the new wine will burst the skins and will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. And no one after drinking old wine desires new wine, but says, 'The old is good."
My prayer for all of us even as we prepare our own Scripture reflections: that the Holy Spirit will clothe us with new wineskins. That we shall run this race of faith with eyes firmly fixed on the completed work of Jesus' amazing grace and sacrifice on Calvary for our sins.
I will close my sharing with this beautiful worship song New Wine. May this be a prayer song as we read of increasing trials and tribulations faced by our brothers and sisters-in-Christ all over the world.
New Wine - by Hillsong Worship
In the crushing
In the pressing
You are making new wine
In the soil
I now surrender
You are breaking new ground
So I yield to You into Your careful hand
When I trust You I don't need to understand
Make me Your vessel
Make me an offering
Make me whatever You want me to be
I came here with nothing
But all You have given me
Jesus bring new wine out of me
In the crushing
In the pressing
You are making new wine
In the soil
I now surrender
You are breaking new ground
You are breaking new ground
So, make me Your vessel
Make me an offering
Make me whatever
You want me to be
I came here with nothing
But all You have given me
Jesus, bring new wine out of me
Jesus, bring new wine out of me
Jesus, bring new wine out of me
'Cause where there is new wine
There is new power
There is new freedom
And the Kingdom is here
I lay down my old flames
To carry Your new fire today
'Cause where there is new wine
There is new power
There is new freedom
And the Kingdom is here
I lay down my old flames
To carry Your new fire today
So, make me Your vessel
Make me an offering
Make me whatever You want me to be
God, I came here with nothing
But all You have given me
Jesus, bring new wine out of me
Jesus, bring new wine out of me
Jesus, bring new wine out of me
Make me Your vessel
Make me an offering
Make me whatever You want me to be
I came here with nothing
But all You have given me
Jesus, bring new wine out of me
Sing that again, like me
Make me Your vessel
Make me an offering
Make me whatever You want me to be
God, I came here with nothing
But all You have given me
Jesus, bring new wine out of me
Jesus, bring new wine out of me
Oh, Jesus, bring new wine out of me, oh Jesus
Jesus, bring new wine out of me (it means we're getting back on the altar)
We're saying we surrender everything, Lord
Bring new wine out of me, Jesus
Jesus, bring new wine (keep going) out of me (Jesus)
Jesus, bring new wine out of me
Jesus, bring new wine out of me
'Cause where there is new wine
There is new power
There is new freedom
And the Kingdom is here
I lay down my old flames
To carry Your new fire today
Where there is new wine
'Cause where there is new wine
There is new power
There is new freedom
And the Kingdom is here
I lay down my old flames
To carry Your new fire today
So, I say make me Your vessel
Make me an offering
Make me whatever You want me to be
I came here with nothing
But all You have given me
Jesus, bring new wine out of me, Jesus
Jesus, bring new wine out of me
Jesus, bring new wine out of me
Songwriters: Brooke Gabrielle Fraser
Copyright: New Wine lyrics © Hillsong Publishing, Hillsong Music Publishing Australia
Reflection on Luke 5:17-39 by Chris Tan
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