Why Following Jesus Transforms Everything
Scripture (NIV):
14 Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?”
15 Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.”
16 “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse.
17 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.”
🌿 A Question About Fasting… and a Deeper Lesson
John’s disciples came to Jesus with a sincere question:
“Why aren’t your followers fasting like us?”
Their expectation:
If you want to be spiritual, follow certain rules.
But Jesus’ answer flips their thinking:
👉 When Jesus is near, joy takes the lead over ritual.
👉 His presence changes the purpose of spiritual practices.
This passage isn’t just about fasting —
it’s about how Jesus creates a new kind of relationship with God.
💍 Jesus Declares Himself the Bridegroom
In Jewish tradition, weddings were celebrations filled with joy, not mourning or fasting.
Jesus was saying:
✨ “My presence is a celebration. I bring joy, hope, and new life.”
His disciples were not ignoring devotion —
they were living in the joy of God’s promise standing right beside them.
There will be times for fasting — after He is taken away (pointing to the cross).
But for now?
It was a moment to celebrate the arrival of salvation.
🪡 The Patch and the Garment — Change That Stays Changed
Jesus gives a second image:
A new patch cannot fix an old garment.
Meaning:
• You can’t sew His teachings onto an old life
• You can’t just add Jesus to your habits
• You need transformation from the inside out
Jesus isn’t offering life improvement — He’s offering new life.
🍇 New Wine and New Wineskins — A New Way of Living
Wine expands as it ferments.
Old wineskins became rigid and would burst if new wine was poured in.
So Jesus teaches:
✨ New life requires new structure
✨ A renewed heart requires new habits
✨ Relationship replaces religion
This is more than symbolism —
it’s a call to release what cannot stretch into God’s new work.
Jesus didn’t come to repair the old covenant —
He came to fulfill it and bring something entirely new.
🔥 What Does This Mean for Us Today?
Following Jesus isn’t just:
✔ Adding a weekly prayer
✔ Visiting church when convenient
✔ Trying to be “a better person”
It’s so much deeper:
✅ A new purpose
✅ A new mindset
✅ A new identity
✅ A new heart
Ask yourself:
• What “old wineskins” am I still trying to carry?
• Where is God calling me to grow, stretch, and trust?
• Am I holding onto routines instead of embracing Jesus fully?
Freedom comes when we release the old…
so that the new can thrive.
🌟 Joy Is a Sign of a Changed Life
One of the most powerful messages here:
Jesus brings joy where religion brought pressure.
Living for Him shouldn’t feel like chains —
it should feel like celebration.
Not because life is perfect —
but because He is present.
🙏 Prayer
Jesus, thank You for bringing new life, not just a new set of rules. Help me let go of old patterns that can’t hold Your new work in me. Renew my mind, refresh my heart, and fill me with the joy of Your presence every day. I want to live fully in the freedom You provide. Amen. ✨
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