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Read: Matthew 9:15-17
Listen: Matthew 9

Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved. Matthew 9:17

Concluding his conversation with the Pharisees and John’s disciples, Jesus uses a few illustrations to drive home his point: a wedding celebration, sewing and new wineskins. With these pictures, Jesus declares he is doing something new. And the old way doesn’t belong with the new way. The coming of Jesus, God in the flesh, fulfills the promises made to Israel long ago. He fulfills the old law and replaces the temple and the sacrificial system. His death provides the new (and only) way for forgiveness of sin and restoration with God.

We can easily miss this and think we can just attach Jesus to what we already do. We believe that if we add Jesus to the mix, he will help us achieve our goals, bring us happiness, and give us peace. But Jesus is doing something new, and it can be disruptive! To become a follower of Jesus means handing over total control of our lives to his authority. It’s to give him leadership over everything. He doesn’t want fans; he wants followers.

TODAY: If you have not yet given control of your life to Jesus, you can do so today. A good starting point is this simple prayer, “Jesus, I surrender. You are my king. You are my leader. I give you authority and leadership. I want to follow you.” If you have done this before but find yourself re-claiming authority in some area of your life, confess your sin to God and re-submit to his daily authority.

JESUS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT:

Read Ezekiel 37-38. Highlight anything that points to Jesus. Pay attention to the vision of dry bones coming to life. Consider how this points to the resurrection and power of Jesus (John 5:28-29).