Scripture

After the crowd was put outside, however, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she stood up!

Observation

A synagogue leader comes to Jesus and tells him that his daughter has died, but he knows that Jesus can bring her back to life again.

While Jesus and the disciples are on their way, a woman who had suffered for 12 years from constant bleeding comes and touches the fringe of His robe. She is healed instantly

At the official’s home, Jesus removes the mourners. He then takes the girl by the hand, and she stands up.

Application

Who has the greater power – the crowd who celebrates death, or Jesus who brings life?

Jesus had to put all the mourners out of the house because their declarations of the girl’s death amounted to a curse, a prayer of a negative outcome.

With Jesus in the picture, death itself is defeated.

The key factor is faith. Do we believe that God is the same God? Do we bleieve that God is able to heal? Do we believe that God is willing to heal right now?

In this short passage, we have two people – a woman and a father. They both have big problems, but they know that Jesus will bring the breakthrough they need.

We do not see Jesus in the flesh, but he is still the same. It may take more faith to see that He is able to heal, but we should not let that deter us.

Prayer

Lord, I know you are still the Healer. Please help me to believe with solid faith. Amen.

Scripture

“No one puts new wine into old wine skins, for the old skins would burst from the pressure, spoiling the wine and ruining the skins. New wine is stored in new wine skins so that both are preserved.”

Observation

Disciples of John the Baptist come to Jesus and ask him why His disciples do not fast like they and the Pharisees do.

Jesus replies with three analogies:

1. Guests don’t mourn at a wedding, but one day the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.

2. You don’t patch old clothing with new cloth, for the new cloth will shrink, tearing a hole in the old garment.

3. You don’t put new wine into old wine skins because the new wine continues to ferment, and the old wine skin will split, spilling the wine.

Application

People often speak of new wine and old wine skins to justify throwing away traditions they disagree with.

Here, Jesus is pointing out he is bringing a New Covenant that goes beyond what was possible in the Old Covenant. Therefore, our practices reflect the new realities of the presence of the Holy Spirit in every believer.

The problem is that we keep wanting to go back to old wine skins – the known ways are easier than the new ways.

Our common church buildings reflect Greek and Roman secular culture, not New Covenant culture. The institution of the pastor as the source of all wisdom is not New Covenant. The cherished three point sermon is based in Greek rhetoric not Holy Spirit direction.

Every part of our corporate worship and individual practice must be a new wine skin, otherwise the new wine of the Holy Spirit cannot be contained in it.

Prayer

Father, forgive me for wanting the comfort of old wine skins. Please help me to allow you to renew my thinking. Amen.