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February 17

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THE NEW WINE OF THE GOSPEL

From: February 17, 2024

“And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins—and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins” (Mark 2:22 ESV).

The Pharisees questioned Jesus as to why he and his disciples did not fast as they did. He answered with a double parable that illustrated the futility of trying to bind something new to something old. However, his answer had greater relevance than fasting. For the old garment and the old wineskin represented Judaism. And the new cloth patch and the new wine represented the newness of Christ’s presence and gospel, which would of necessity call for a new entity, namely, the Church.

No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment and no one puts new wine in an old wineskin. So why would anyone want to live under the old covenant law, when Christ has set us free to live under the new covenant of grace?

As John wrote in his gospel, “For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17).

PRAYER: Dear Father, we give thanks for Jesus who has given us new life through faith in Him. We also give thanks for the Church, which is the Bride of Christ. For we are the Church and we wait expectantly for Christ’s soon return to take us with Him to our heavenly home that He has prepared for us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

IGNORANCE IS NO EXCUSE

From: February 17, 2023

“Suppose you sin by violating one of the Lord’s commands. Even if you are unaware of what you have done, you are guilty and will be punished for your sin” (Leviticus 5:17 NLT).

Centuries before Roman law declared, “Ignorantia juris non excusat” (Ignorance of the law excuses not), God gave the same to Moses. The number and detail of Levitical law is overwhelming to read and no doubt, even more overwhelming to keep. A careful numbering of Levitical law brings the total to 613 commandments (248 positive “i.e. “Remember the Sabbath” + 365 negative “i.e. Thou shalt not kill”).

The majority of the commands (603) were given to further describe the keeping of the Decalogue (Literally, “Ten Words, or Ten Commandments). Yet, Jesus was able to summarize the whole into one word, namely, love: “Love God and love others as yourself” (Matt. 22:36-40).

Whether it’s one, ten or 613, the Bible says that none of us can keep the law without sin (Rom. 3:23). Claiming ignorance of God’s law does not excuse us. Only an appropriate sacrifice will satisfy. Thankfully, the complex law and sacrificial system were satisfied in one person, Jesus Christ. He has kept the law and offered Himself as the unblemished sacrifice for our sin, those we committed knowingly and unknowingly. He bore our sin and guilt that we might receive His righteousness!

PRAYER: Dear Father, we are thankful that though we may be ignorant of all the law, we know Jesus. And knowing Him, being in relationship with Him by faith, Your law is fully satisfied. For we have received His righteousness and He lives in us to lead and empower us to do good. Thanks be to God! In Jesus’ name, amen.

“He looked around at them angrily and was deeply saddened by their hard hearts” (Mark 3:5 NLT).

From: February 17, 2022

WHAT DOES CHRIST SEE IN YOUR HEART?

The Pharisees brought out the full range of emotion from our Lord Jesus. When He tried to show them the spirit of the Sabbath, they clung to the letter of the law, even that which they themselves had added to it. He asked them a simple question, one that begged a correct response. He asked whether the law permitted good on the Sabbath or evil? They wouldn’t reply. So, he put the man with the withered hand before the whole assembly in the synagogue and healed him. The man and his family rejoiced. But the Pharisees left angry, plotting with the Herodians, whom they normally hated, to plan the killing of Jesus.
 
This occasion caused conflicting emotions in Jesus. He was both angry and sad. Angry at the sinful pride that wouldn’t answer His question. And sad at the hard hearts that wouldn’t listen.
 
What does Jesus see in your heart today?
 
PRAYER: Lord, examine our hearts and reveal Your feelings about what You see in us. We repent of anything that does not cause You joy in us. Where we are stubborn, make us patient and willing. Where we are hard, make us tender and open. We would have hearts that beat with Your heart. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“After looking around at them with anger and sorrow at the hardness of their hearts” (Mark 3:5 HCSB).

From: February 17, 2021

WHAT DOES CHRIST SEE IN YOUR HEART?

The Pharisees brought out the full range of emotion from our Lord Jesus. When He tried to show them the spirit of the Sabbath, they clung to the letter of the law, even that which they themselves had added to it. He asked them a simple question, one that begged a correct response. He asked whether the law permitted good on the Sabbath or evil? They wouldn’t reply. So, he put the man with the withered hand before the whole assembly in the synagogue and healed him. The man and his family rejoiced, but the Pharisees left angry, plotting with the Herodians, whom they normally hated, to plot the killing of Jesus.
 
This scene caused conflicting emotions in Jesus. He was both angry and sad. Angry at the sinful pride that wouldn’t answer His question. And sad at the hard hearts that wouldn’t listen.
 
PRAYER: Lord, examine our hearts and reveal Your feelings about what You see in us. We repent of anything that does not cause You joy in us. Where we are stubborn, make us patient and willing. Where we are hard, make us tender and open. We would have hearts that beat with Your heart. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment… And no one puts new wine into old wineskins…” (Mark 2:21, 22 NKJV).

From: February 17, 2020

NEW WINESKINS FOR NEW WINE

The Pharisees questioned Jesus as to why he and his disciples did not fast as they did. He answered with a double parable that illustrated the futility of trying to bind something new to something old. However, his answer had greater relevance than fasting. For the old garment and the old wineskin represented Judaism. And the new cloth patch and the new wine represented the newness of Christ’s presence and gospel, which would of necessity call for a new entity, namely, the Church.
 
No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment and no one puts new wine in and old wineskin. So why would anyone want to live under the old covenant law, when Christ has set us free to live under the new covenant of grace?
 
As John wrote in his gospel, “For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17).
 
PRAYER: Dear Father, we give thanks for Jesus who has given us new life through faith in Him. We also give thanks for the Church, which is the Bride of Christ. For we are the Church and we wait expectantly for Christ’s soon return to take us with Him to our heavenly home that He has prepared for us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“He looked around at them angrily and was deeply saddened by their hard hearts” (Mark 3:5 NLT).

From: February 17, 2019

HOW DOES JESUS FEEL ABOUT YOUR HEART?

The Pharisees brought out the full range of emotion from our Lord Jesus. When He tried to show them the spirit of the Sabbath, they clung to the letter of the law, even that which they themselves had added to it. He asked them a simple question, one that begged a correct response. He asked whether the law permitted good on the Sabbath or evil? They wouldn’t reply. So, he put the man with the withered hand before the whole assembly in the synagogue and healed him. The man and his family rejoiced, but the Pharisees left angry, plotting with the Herodians, whom they normally hated, to plot the killing of Jesus.
 
This scene caused conflicting emotions in Jesus. He was both angry and sad. Angry at the sinful pride that wouldn’t answer His question. And sad at the hard hearts that wouldn’t listen.
 
PRAYER: Lord, examine our hearts and reveal Your feelings about what You see in us. We repent of anything that does not cause You joy in us. Where we are stubborn, make us patient and willing. Where we are hard, make us tender and open. We would have hearts that beat with Your heart. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds” (Psalm 36:5 NLT).

From: February 17, 2018

The quality of the love of God is unfailing and its quantity is as vast as the heavens. David knew and wrote of the love of God. Yet, its highest expression is found in Christ. For He is the apex of God’s love expressed. He is the demonstration of God’s love for all to see. As the apostle Paul wrote, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8).

“If a person sins, and commits any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the Lord, though he does not know it, yet he is guilty and shall bear his iniquity” (Leviticus 5:17 NKJV).

From: February 17, 2017

Centuries before Roman law declared, “Ignorantia juris non excusat” (Ignorance of the law excuses not), God gave the same to Moses. The number and detail of Levitical law is overwhelming to read and no doubt, even more overwhelming to keep. A careful numbering of Levitical law brings the total to 613 commandments (248 positive “i.e. “Remember the Sabbath” + 365 negative “i.e. Thou shalt not kill”). The majority of the commands (603) were given to further describe the keeping of the Decalogue (Literally, “Ten Words” or Ten Commandments). Yet, Jesus was able to summarize the whole into one word, namely, love: “Love God and love others as yourself” (Matt. 22:36-40).
 
Whether it’s one, ten or 613, the Bible says that none of us can keep the law without sin (Rom. 3:23). Claiming ignorance of God’s law does not excuse us. Only an appropriate sacrifice will satisfy. Thankfully, the complex law and sacrificial system were satisfied in one person, Jesus Christ. He has kept the law and offered Himself as the unblemished sacrifice for our sin, those we committed knowingly and unknowingly. He bore our sin and guilt that we might receive His righteousness!

“And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart…” (Mark 3:5 ESV)

From: February 17, 2016

The Pharisees brought out the full range of emotion from our Lord Jesus. When He tried to show them the spirit of the Sabbath, they clung to the letter of the law, even that which they themselves had added to it. He asked them a simple question, one that begged a correct response. He asked whether the law permitted good on the Sabbath or evil? They wouldn’t reply. So, he put the man with the withered hand before the whole assembly in the synagogue and healed him. The man and his family rejoiced, but the Pharisees left angry, plotting with the Herodians, whom they normally hated, to plan the killing of Jesus. This scene caused conflicting emotions in Jesus. He was both angry and sad. Angry at the sinful pride that wouldn’t answer His question. And sad at the hard hearts that wouldn’t listen.

“And it shall be, when he is guilty in any of these matters, that he shall confess that he has sinned in that thing; and he shall bring his trespass offering to the Lord for his sin which he has committed” (Leviticus 5:5-6 NKJV)

From: February 17, 2015

The Mosaic sacrificial system was very specific and demanding, yet it revealed our desperate need for a Savior that could set us free not only from sin’s penalty, but from sin’s power over us. Yet, the principles revealed in the old system for receiving forgiveness are still true. We still must admit our sin, confessing it specifically to God. Then, we must trust in Christ as our ultimate, once-for-all, sufficient “trespass offering” to God for the forgiveness of our sins. Under the Old Testament sacrificial system, our sin offerings would never be enough. The work of sacrifice would never finish. But Christ finished it. The New Testament is the fulfillment of the Old. Have you confessed your sin and placed your trust in the sacrifice of Christ as payment?