Luke 5

     5:1-11. Gennesaret (1) is the district on the Sea of Galilee south of Capernaum.  Mark’s brief telling of the calling of Peter and his brother Andrew, and of James and John, may leave the impression that Jesus called perfect strangers, who dropped everything and followed him.  But John 1:35 ff. tells us that these four, and several other disciples, were already committed to Christ from shortly after his baptism by John.  And here in Luke, we see Jesus greatly strengthen the faith of these fishermen, both by his preaching and by this awe inspiring catch that they clearly perceived to be by divine authority (8, 9).  They had good reason to put their trust in him.

     5:12-39.  The scribes and the Pharisees had good reason to believe in Jesus also, but the rest of this chapter tells instead of their growing suspicion.  They were like old maids who came to the wedding only to grumble.

     Jesus’ parable to them (36-39) has always perplexed me, and I don’t seem to be alone.  Not that the various views are not useful ideas, but they have never put me at ease that they are the right ideas exactly.  By itself, v.36 seems plain enough.  The old order of legalism is like a worn out garment, but no sensible person would ruin a new garment to patch it, and even if he did, it wouldn’t work.  But the parallel analogy about the wine and wineskins isn’t so simple.  Jesus seems to value both old and new, and perhaps even hints that the old is better (39).  Or, perhaps those are correct who see v.39 as an ironic remark aimed at those who reject “the new wine of the gospel” and stubbornly hold to the old ways.

     But I do not think Jesus is ready to cast out the old.  “Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a head of a household, who brings forth out of his treasure things new and old.”  (Mt.13:52).  And in Song 7:13, the Bride of Christ pledges to give her love to him, and says, “And over our doors are all choice fruits, both new and old, which I have saved up for you, my beloved”.  Thus we are to value and preserve all the graces of the Spirit, both new and old, for the pleasure of the Bridegroom.  Nothing useful should be lost or ruined.  See the address of the father to the elder son in the parable of the prodigal (Luke 15:31-32).