Text: Luke 5:29-35
Right from verse 27 to verse 39 we witness miracles or wonders of God’s grace.
It was a miracle and the grace of God that Jesus Christ could not only recruit a converted tax collector, but could keep company with many other unconverted tax collectors and notorious “sinners” (v. 29). It was by God’s grace that Jesus could patiently bear the opposition of evil people (Heb. 12:3), as they targeted Him and His disciples (v.30). He never developed resentment in any way towards them. Instead He calmly answered them with reason and meekness.
It was by God’s grace that Jesus, God Himself, knew His disciples very well (Psalm. 103:14) and that His demands on them were proportional to their strength as opposed to those of Pharisees and John the Baptist (v. 33), He knew that some of those strict demands could scare away His new converts. Jesus insisted that self-denial was much better than bodily penitence and fasting. Jesus quoted Prophet Hosea that God desires mercy and not sacrifices (Hosea 6:6).
It was by God’s grace that Jesus reserved trials for His disciples for the future date when they would be well prepared for them. But now they were guests of the bridegroom (v. 35). The trials would come when Jesus had left, their hearts full of sorrow, much work for them to evangelise to the world and having enemies everywhere, then they would fast. It happened in those days and it continues to happen today.
Through the grace of God, Jesus never wanted to immediately impose strictness of discipleship otherwise they would be tempted to ran away. So, He would not sew a new cloth to the old one or put new wine to old wine skins, all would be ruined (vv. 36-39). Also the disciples would be tempted to think that their old way of living is better than the new one (v. 39). You need to know how to handle new converts; otherwise, you can easily scare them away. It is by God’s Grace that He Himself converts us, maintains our salvation as we struggle in this life.
Meditate on verse 32. How are you going to apply it to your life?
Our Lord and heavenly Father, I pray for the many who have not received Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord to repent of their sins. I also pray for those who have received Jesus Christ to be filled with the Holy Spirit, be rooted and built in Christ. In the name of Jesus Christ I have prayed. Amen.