Jesus is Superior!

Take your Bibles and turn to Luke 5:33. I want to share a message with you this morning entitled, “Oil and Water Just Don’t Mix.” 

 

Oil and water don’t mix because of their molecular properties.  You have probably observed such in a science fair project, and we have certainly seen this reality in oil spills in the oceans around the world. 

 

In today’s text, Jesus reminds us that Judaism and Christianity don’t mix.  This is because Jesus is Superior! 

 

 

1. A Comparison of Students, Luke 5:33

33 Then they said to Him, “Why do the disciples of John fast often and make prayers, and likewise those of the Pharisees, but Yours eat and drink?” 

 

Look at verse 33.  It seems that the Pharisees asked the question of why Jesus’ disciples didn’t fast and pray like the disciples of John the Baptist and the Pharisees. 

 

These comments were probably a reference to Jesus’ disciples eating and drinking at the reception thrown by Levi or Matthew in honor Jesus.  They were seen as party animals by the scribes and Pharisees.

 

The Bible is full of different types of fasting which is the abstention from food.  Most of the time, the occasions were sorrowful or mournful, and fasting was seen as demonstration of God providing during a difficult time with His presence than actual food.

 

 

2. Jesus’ Comments on Sorrow, Luke 5:34-35

34 And He said to them, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? 35 But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them; then they will fast in those days.”

 

Beginning in verse 34, Jesus answered the question about His disciples and their not fasting with an analogy about weddings.  In short, He said this time was not a time of sorrow with fasting but one of celebration like a wedding.

 

In first century Jewish culture, newly married couples didn’t go on a honeymoon immediately following the wedding ceremony.  Instead, they joined family and friends for a wedding reception that usually lasted seven days.  It was a multiple-day event that was an occasion for celebration. 

 

Therefore, while the bride and groom are present, let’s celebrate.  Jesus was making Himself out to be the groom, and His disciples, or the church, was the bride. 

 

In verse 35, Jesus went on to say that when the groom is taken away from the wedding party, that will be a time to fast and mourn.  This is veiled reference first of all to Jesus’ death by crucifixion and second to His ascension and departure from the earth. 

 

When He is present, don’t demonstrate sorrow with fasting.  Celebrate His presence with joy!

 

 

3. Christ is Superior, Luke 5:36-39!

36 Then He spoke a parable to them: “No one puts a piece from a new garment on an old one; otherwise the new makes a tear, and also the piece that was taken out of the new does not match the old. 37 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine will burst the wineskins and be spilled, and the wineskins will be ruined. 38 But new wine must be put into new wineskins, and both are preserved. 39 And no one, having drunk old wine, immediately desires new; for he says, ‘The old is better.’”

 

Our last section is the continuation of Jesus’ words with three parables.  Each parable begins with the words “no one” in verses 36, 37, and 39.

 

Remember that a parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.  Jesus gave three very common and well-understand illustrations of the truth that Judaism and Christianity just don’t mix. 

 

The first parable is found in verse 36.  If you have an old garment, and it develops a hole, don’t patch the hole with a new garment. 

 

Why not? When the new garment patch is washed, it will shrink and tear away from the old garment.  Also, the new garment won’t match the old garment.  New and old just don’t mix, and Judaism and Christianity just don’t mix.

 

The second parable is found in verse 37.  It involves wineskins.  Wineskins were animal skins that were used to hold grape juice while it fermented. 

 

As the juice fermented, it expanded the wineskin.  Then the empty wineskin would dry and become brittle.  Therefore, you would not put new grape juice that had not fermented into an old wineskin that had already expanded once, had then dried out, and was now brittle. 

 

Instead, you should put new wine into new wineskins.  Why?  If you didn’t, the old wineskin would bust when the new win expanded during fermentation. 

 

You would lose the wineskin and all of the grape juice.  New and old just don’t mix, and Judaism and Christianity just don’t mix. 

 

The final parable is in verse 39.  However, it not only is a parable, but it is also a condemnation. 

 

Jesus said that once you drink old wine or fermented juice, you will not settle for new wine or unfermented juice if old wine is what you’re wanting.  You will say that the old is good enough.  Old and new just don’t mix, and Judaism and Christianity just don’t mix.

 

 

Conclusion and Application

So what does all this mean?  The Pharisees were wanting to take a few of Jesus’ practices and teachings and ad them to Judaism, and then everything would be just right. 

 

Here’s the problem.  Judaism and Christianity just don’t mix.  Old and new just don’t mix.  Oil and water just don’t mix.  Why?  Jesus is superior!!!

 

Now, let me conclude with three very specific applications.  First, if you’re here this morning, and you have yet to call on the name of the Lord to be saved, and you’re thinking that you will add a little of Jesus to your morality. 

 

It won’t work.  Oil and water just don’t mix.  Jesus doesn’t need any help in saving you.  When it comes to forgiveness of sins, heaven, and eternal life, it is only Jesus saves.  Will you call on Him today?

 

Second, Christians today often try to mix the ways of the world with the ways of the God.  It won’t work.  Oil and water just don’t mix.  See 1 Corinthians 10:21.

 

21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons.

 

This morning, as it relates to salvation and sanctification, Jesus is superior.  Therefore, trust in Jesus alone to save you and sanctify you making your more like Himself.