March 27, 2026

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“And NO ONE after drinking old wine wants the new, they will say, ‘The old is better.’”

(Luke 5.39)

TODAY’S REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:

Is Jesus speaking of the inability of His detractors to change when it comes to receiving the revelation of God in Jesus Christ? Some interpret this passage of scripture in this way. Those who drink “old wine” have no desire for the new wine, but they will say, “The old is better.” How old is too old? Most winemakers agree that 99% of produced wine should be consumed within five years. There are very few wines that will survive aging beyond 20-30 years; they are usually red and burgundy wines. Many wines, such as white and blush wines are meant to be consumed within a year or so. The richness of this imagery, for me, speaks to the cup which Jesus lifted in the Upper Room and declared, “This cup represents my blood to be poured out for the sins of many.” It was dark, rich and full. It was not new wine. It was not aged wine. It was the wine of the ages from everlasting to everlasting. It was poured from the cup of life derived from the fruit of the Tree of Life. It turns away the wine of the world which is made fresh with the intention of serving the needs of the people in the moment. It is transitory, it is briefly intoxicating but soon tastes like vinegar such as that which was offered Jesus on the cross by the Roman Centurion. The sponge was akin to the hyssop used in the Passover Meal dipped in wine vinegar to remind the people of the tragedy of Egyptian bondage and the struggles of generations to remain obedient in the wilderness and suffered the consequences for it. It was unsatisfying and ultimately defeated the purpose for which it was thought to exist. It did not sate one’s thirst, such as that when Jesus called out from the cross “I thirst.” Instead, it caused the mouth and the throat to seize up and exacerbated the dying process of suffocation. What a stark contrast to the taste of what seemed to others to be new wine but was in fact, “old wine.” The call was not about changing to the latest theology and ideology of the times, nor of that which had become tradition in the past distorted to serve the needs of leadership over the people. Instead, it was ancient as “deep calls to deep,” and satisfying. I hear Jesus saying, “Once you have tasted this wine, the wine which is poured and offered in the cup and a renewed covenant preceding all others, you will not want anything else!” And mighty ones of God, this is true. And how fitting we have come to this point in the faith calendar of Christianity with Holy Week being invoked on Sunday! It is time we remember the true covenant and purpose of our lives which Jesus renewed to our memory and made us as a new people believing again in Him who was the lamb that was slain to atone for our sins that we might be the righteousness of God as He intended and restore peace, hope and love to the world and to all the earth.

Note, however, the sadness which can be heard in the scripture for today: “NO ONE, not one, will want the new after drinking the old sensing the old is better.” What is the sadness? Remember the words of Paul recorded in his words to the faith community in Philippi, “That on that day, at the name of Jesus, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He alone is Lord.” (Philippians 2.10-11) Yes, everyone will say the words with their mouths but Jesus will know their hearts the truth of those words. He will know because they will or they won’t be said by the ones who tasted new wine and decided the old is better.

TODAY’S PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING:

Father, in these days we are finding the need to believe even more than ever before. We all have known trouble, some in greater ways than others, but You are offering us the assurance that we will not be consumed by it forever. Regardless of the “time” we are in and the “time” we have been given, we ask for Your Holy Spirit which Jesus asked You to share with us, to lead and guide and direct us in the paths we should go. Teach us what we still need to learn. Empower us to put that learning into action. Bless our actions not as a works righteousness but as righteous works of faith, hope and love in Jesus’ name. AMEN.