"The Old is Better"
“And no one, having drunk old wine, immediately desires new; for he says, ‘The old is better.’ ” – Luke 5:39, NKJV
Then Jesus said to his critics, “I have a question for you. Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?” – Luke 6:9, NLT
“…Jesus interprets his behaviors, which are questionable and innovative to some onlookers, as manifestations of God’s ancient purpose coming to fruition, while the concerns of the Pharisees are rejected not only as innovative but also as quite inconsistent with God’s program.” – Joel B. Green (emphasis mine)
“The interesting thing about Jesus’ approach is that he did not simply argue that repressive regulations should be relaxed and a more liberal attitude adopted; he said that his opponents had missed the whole point of this holy day. Had they understood it they would have seen that deeds of mercy like his were not merely permitted- they were obligatory.” – Leon Morris (emphasis mine)
“The day then was looked on as cessation from labour, a pause, a rest but this with a view to its being dedicated to God, an opportunity for getting to know God and for worshipping Him.”- Theological Wordbook of the New Testament (emphasis mine)
Last week, I realized that I had been misreading the parable at the end of Luke 5. Its what leads into the text we spent time with on Sunday (6:1-11). My reason for misreading it is possibly because similar parable sayings of Jesus have an inverse meaning. (See Matthew 9:14-17, Mark 2:18-22) Although now I wonder if those too might mean what Jesus means here in Luke. Its verse 39 (see above) that is unique to Luke. And for Luke (at least) is the key to Jesus point in the parable. As a believer in the “New Covenant” I always thought Jesus’ point in the parable was that He was the new garment and new wine. Luke sees it the other way around. Jesus is not a ‘new’ part of God’s redemptive plan. Rather, He is the crowning work of the redemptive plan and purpose of God from before creation. The new thing is the legalism of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law. And that new thing breaks the old thing, spoiling the old thing. Jesus’ ministry and work though is to restore the old thing by fulfilling it. Old wine is better than new wine, any wine drinker can tell you. But, you have to wait for it and pay a premium to get it. Here then is the meaning of the parable. Jesus isn’t bringing a ‘new’ teaching so much as he is restoring the original intention of the old one. Jesus isn’t the innovator, the many laws of other Rabbis were the innovations. Sabbath is the example that Luke uses most immediate to the parable so we might not miss the point. Sabbath is not a day for keeping score for yourself and others. Sabbath is a day of rest. Sabbath is an invitation from God to imitate Him and to get to know Him and His goodness. It is not a day for keeping people from life-giving activity and engagement with God. Quite the opposite, it is a day for doing good and experiencing the fullest kind of life in communion with God. Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath because, He has come with the purposes of sabbath at the heart of His ministry. He will provide for the people of God the rest God intended for them (see Hebrews 4:1-11). The Sabbath Jesus gives is based on His finished work. His is a work which extends to us the mercy and grace we need without effort on our behalf. Jesus’ work extends to us the opportunity to enter into Sabbath the way it was created; a day of relationship with God unhindered by sin, untainted by evil. Of course, as with all parts of redemption, this side of heaven we don’t yet fully possess all that Jesus intended. And yet, like all parts of redemption, it is our privilege (and our ‘work’) to experience every bit of it now as possible.
Questions for life application/discussion:
In what way(s) do you find yourself adopting the Pharisees mindset about Sabbath (i.e.- making it a day of work, making it a day of putting up barriers around communion with God)? How will you invite Jesus into teaching you the right way to sabbath?
What are helpful practices for you to find communion with God?
How can you ‘sabbath’ everyday in the grace of God through Jesus?
What are ways you can show off the brilliance of the Son to others in resting rather than striving?
Songs for Sabbath