Matthew 9:14-17 KJV
14 Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?
15 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.
16 No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.
17 Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.

After fifty years of living, I have to wonder about the changes in recent 30 years of global changes around the world. How nations have changed because of war, and how lines and boundaries did not stay the same in some places. The map has changed since high school and I suspect change can be good, but it still the same people. John's disciples wanted to know why the priesthood fasted and his disciples did not. Jesus was clear would the groomer's men fast for a wedding, of course not, that would be time of celebration. Divison between the Old and New Testament was occuring right before John's disciples eyes and they noted it happening, with the notation of fasting by tradition and celebration of food and eating of two groups. Jesus is clear his disciples would need to fast and would fast when he was no longer physically with him, but while with him they would feast. The question comes is Disciples of Jesus following God and Christ? Question that plagues the mind when people except Jesus' teaching, as a teacher, as minister and have yet to discovered his lordship.

Christ's lordship did not mean faith had changed, it meant old tradition established were no longer fitting in to society rules, because society was changing. Bartering system will always be in existence, it is still today, when people trade for things with other items they need. The job and work force changing and the shepherding of sheep still existing but not everyone owned large heards of livestock. The ability to get the sacrifice meant other source would be used like money coins, gold and silver. The way society was maintain was not by control of both temple and government, but in one since temple still had a lot of say in control of the people but it was not for long. That be changing in about 40 to 60 more years completely. The Sanhedrin in power in the temple, that was the religious court Jesus stood before for questioning. When the temple fell it would change the Jewish order again. However Christianity was in full swing when it happened. Power changing as far as having governmental control or form of correction beyond just teaching. To listen to someone teach sometimes is enough of a correction for a person, but the temple had authority to try civil cases and so forth to a point. Jewish culture was respected among the Jews. The correction from the temple elders was respected before Roman law. Why because the Jewish culture was based on God first and the worship of God alone. To worship Jesus would of seem to be worship another God, to roman society they had many deities and so no issue here. Is Jesus God. I discussed this in other devotions and studies. I believe Jesus is God's only Son, the word of God and God in human flesh. Part of the triune Godhead and yet completely Godhead bodily as fully being God. For Jewish society Jesus would of been not accepted because they were monotheistic in thinking, not understanding the fullness of the godhead bodily because of Christ's human flesh. Christ incorruptibility not seen til after the cross. His flesh a symbol of destruction, God's power to resurrect to a position of indestructibility.

Society is changing and John' disciples understood it, but I do not doubt they struggled with understanding of who and what the Messiah was truly beyond him being anointed(chosen by God known as the Christ). If you accept his lordship readily without question and put God the Father into the picture you have to imply Jesus has a Father. Every person has parents, whether they know them or not. However you are not your parents but might be like them. Jesus was fully God and yet part of God in understanding as the Sonship and yet fully Lord.

Back to the problem John's disciples are having issues with the difference in two groups that are suppose to be of the same value and belief. To get to the place of understand the connection between the Jewish faith and Christianity. The Holy Spirit law of love never changed in the heart of man, from Old to New Testament. The writen laws of faith never changed in regards to faith. To love, God and your fellowman, including like you loved yourself.

Jesus was gathering the lost sheep of Israel and Israel, to all that would believe in the Messiah coming. Does that mean when Christ was resurrected that the Jewish faith had no power? Jewish faith was under the old covenant. Is God's promises and covenants void. Christians say yes. Jews do not believe in Christ as their Messiah so they say no. Yet Christ is the word of God coming in the flesh, Word of Prophesy is Jesus according to Revelations 19. There verse in Revelations. Yet we look for the physical manifestation of Christ returning in the clouds. First the word will come with prophesy and then physical prophetic manifestation of the Christ. Yet in this time, there is rejection and unbelief. God's word is coming and keeps coming, but one can rest assure it is true.

Lets talk about patching clothes. Would you rather patch a garment with an expensive piece of fabric knowing the fabric you are putting the patch on is old, or do you patch the old garment with old piece of cloth. The garment of faith is not stitched or sewn onto and old garment, but it sewn into a new garment to complete the garment. There is no patching of the Jewish faith, beyond with the old covenant for Christ coming. Christ is old, but new. Why because He is from God in the flesh, but is of old because of the spoken word. That same word Christ used in the New Testament and in our lives by the Holy Spirit today. Yet the Jews believe not the spoken word of the virgin birth.

The new skin(new believers) had have new wine, because to put into them into the Jewish temple it would destroy it. Today there is a rise in what many believe in the work of the Holy Spirit. I do believe God is present but I also believe the devil wants to make a mockery of the Christian faith. Church needs more awareness to the fakery of faith and realize this "outpouring" is not a mockery if it glorifies God and not man. Training of Elders by the Spirit of God as well as through teaching of scripture. Christ comes into our heart making our faith true and honorable to God upon belief and we are sealed by the Holy Spirit as being God's child. If Christ is in us, his Spirit is in us. If his Spirit is in us and we obey not our own desires by Christ's Spirit then we know no shame for it. We are fully dress with salvation with Jesus, no need for patches.

Dear Heavenly Father, help us to trust in your plan of salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. That you made all things new through your Son and no old garment of religiousity needs to be worn. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study: 2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.