Title: You must change your mind
Contents
You must change your mind (Matthew 9:14-17)
When dogs and cats meet, they growl and fight. Why? Because they can't communicate with each other. The reason the conversation doesn't work is because the signatures they send are different. When a dog is happy, it raises its tail and wags it. And if you feel bad, you lower your tail. But cats are just the opposite. When a cat raises its tail, it's time to fight. And when it feels good, it lowers its tail. The signatures are different. But the dog wants to be friendly with the cat, so he comes with his tail and wags. So how do cats understand? I understand that we are fighting. Conversation doesn't work.
1. There is a disconnection in this dialogue between Jesus and the disciples of John appearing in today's text. Today's text is a structure of confrontation and conflict as a whole.
This is when Jesus and his disciples are eating at Matthew's house. The disciples of John the Baptist come. Who was John the Baptist? He is the one who prepared the way for Jesus to come. In other words, he is the last prophet of the Old Testament, who is just before the beginning of the new age of the New Testament. It is the closest thing to the New Testament, but it is a person who has not yet passed the time of the Old Testament. Those disciples were also people who did not escape from the shadow of the Old Testament. If there is an idea that represents the Old Testament, what would it be? It is legalism. What is legalism? It is the spirit of having to do something to meet God. You have to work on something and stick with it. So the overall atmosphere of the Old Testament is dark and heavy.
Jesus and his disciples signify the New Testament age, the new age. What is the spirit of the New Testament era? It's not the law, it's faith. It emphasizes grace rather than effort and action. So the atmosphere of the New Testament is something bright. Gratitude and joy freedom is such an atmosphere. Disciples of Jesus who believe and follow Jesus are people living in a new age.
These ideas that represent the Old and New Testaments appear in today's text as well. It is fasting and feasting. Fasting means the hard work and pain of human beings to meet God, while the feast means the joy and joy of enjoying God's grace in meeting God. It shows the ideas of the Old and New Testaments well. But the disciples of John, who represent the Old Testament, ask Jesus. “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” I mean you don't understand.
First, let's talk about fasting. According to the rules of fasting in the Old Testament, men in Israel were obliged to fast once a year during the Great Atonement. Other than that, there are no special fasting rules. However, after that, in Israeli society, a tradition of fasting was created by those who tried to live a godly life. This tradition became an essential rule for those who tried to live godly, so they fasted exactly twice a week. But the disciples of Jesus did not fast, but enjoyed eating every day. So, in the eyes of fasting people, it seems incomprehensible and frivolous. So I ask. <Why don't you fast? >
Then Jesus answers them (verse 15). Looking at Jesus' answer, he did not deny or say that fasting itself is bad. Fasting is a good tradition depending on what you use it for. But the Lord has pointed out something. Now is not the time to fast. Fasting is necessary, but now is not the time to fast, it is the time to feast.
It's like the guests who went to the wedding to celebrate, having a party with the groom. If you're with your groom and you're not eating and you're making an impression, something's wrong. There are times when you need to fast. It's something to do when you lose your groom or when something sad happens. But now, you have to have a feast with the groom. Who is the groom? Jesus.
The Bible describes God and us in a marriage relationship, saying that we are the pure bride of the Lord. The long-awaited bridegroom, Jesus, has come to this world. So what should we do? Should I be impressed and not even eat? no. We should welcome, welcome, and feast with joy. So the Lord and his disciples had a feast with everyone he met. Let's enjoy that joy together. Heaven is a feast. Party. So, the present feast is a taste of eternal heaven.
But John's disciples and the Pharisees do not know this. Even though the groom is right in front of him, he is impressing and is fasting without eating. Why can't we recognize the groom even though the groom has arrived? Because the consciousness of these people has not changed. Because they still have the Old Testament thinking.
2. The difference between the New Testament and the Old Testament
The Bible is divided into the Old Testament and the New Testament. There is a difference. The Old Testament is the Old Promise, and the New Testament is the New Promise. If the Old Testament introduces the coming Jesus, the New Testament is the coming Jesus. If the Old Testament is a shadow, the New Testament is the substance. If the Old Testament is the promise, the New Testament is the fulfillment. If the Old Testament is the law, the New Testament is the gospel. If the atmosphere of the Old Testament is fasting, the atmosphere of the New Testament is a feast.
In particular, the Old Testament constantly promises that the Messiah will come. So Jesus came. But people don't know that. I still understand everything in the Old Testament framework. What will happen if we do not abandon Old Testament thinking?
One
) do not understand the actions and teachings of Jesus. So John's disciples questioned Jesus. <Why do you act that way? I don't understand.> My thinking doesn't change, so I never understand.
2) There is no joy. You still have to do hard fasts twice a week. These people went to crowded places to show that they were doing this, loosening their hair and showing their faces emaciated. That I work so hard. There is no real joy in their hearts. It is compulsory.
3) Only conflict. They are so different from each other that conflicts keep happening (16-17). Conflicts arise with each other, just as if you put a piece of raw cloth on old clothes, there will be side effects, and if you put new alcohol into an old bag, it will cause a conflict. fight. Because they are completely different in nature. When new values collide with old values, neither does this nor that. Changing your consciousness first will change your life.
We must also change our thinking in our religious life. If your thinking doesn't change, your life doesn't change. The most difficult people to change are those whose thinking has not changed. Old churches, churches boasting history and tradition, rarely change people. They know that what they have been doing is the best. I know you are absolutely right.
What will happen to our faith if our thinking does not change? The same thing happens.
First, I don't understand.
Why the hell are you behaving like that? I can not understand. I don't understand what this means. Why are you fasting? Why are you acting and talking like that?
The same thing happens in marriage. What causes conflict with each other? Because their thoughts didn't change. I've been thinking like this all my life, but after I got married and lived my life, the other person thinks differently and has lived a different life. So you don't understand. Some couples fight over why the toothpaste is shaped strangely when squeezed from the top when squeezing it from the bottom. Because the cultures we live in are different. So they don't understand each other. So conflict arises.
In my religious life, my point of view must also change. You have to change from God's point of view to understand it. You must see it through God's eyes. We need to change all our thoughts in the same way as what Jesus would do. That way you will understand.
Second, there is no joy. It should be a joyful faith like a feast given by the Lord. However, if you do not change your thinking, coming to church is heavy and there is no joy.
Third, there are always conflicts. Even when I go to church, there is no true peace and rest. Why? Because my body is in the church and my mind is still stuck in the past. Thinking must change.
3. Changes in religious life
So how can you change your mind? You must believe in Jesus.
1) Believing in Jesus here means not just believing, but believing in Him as the Lord of my life. Many people say they believe in Jesus, but I still live as the master of my life. Then there will be no change. Change comes only when you believe in Jesus as the Lord of your life.
Why? Jesus is the Creator. So you are the master of everything. When I believe in Him, the Lord becomes Lord and King of my life. If he doesn't become the king, then I will be the king of my life. Because I do everything on my own terms, at least in my life, I am the absolute monarch. No one can say anything. The king must change. The Lord must be king. Then everything changes.
2) To believe in Jesus is to believe in what He has done. He came into this world and died on the cross for my sins. If you believe in Him, all sins are forgiven. I do not receive it by my own strength, but by His grace. So we become grateful for His grace.
When you believe and accept this
First, the life of faith is understandable.
What I didn't understand is starting to make sense. What is faith, what is grace, everything begins to work out. Jesus is the master key of faith. If you open it with him, everything will open.
Second, you will know joy.
There is no joy or fun with the church, but it is fun once you believe in Him. The life of faith changes from the fasting life to the feast life. Even if I go to church, I want to go again. I want to keep praying. I want to see Jesus often and have conversations with him. It's fun. It happens when you believe.
Third, conflict disappears and peace comes.
Before believing in Jesus, worldly values and Bible values collide with each other like raw linen and old clothes. When they come together like a new wine and an old leather bag, they collide and conflict arises. Just as new wine must be put into new bottles, the gospel cannot accept God's grace with the old lifestyle and way of thinking. So conflict arises. However, when you believe in Jesus and accept Him as your King, conflicts disappear and peace comes. Everything goes quiet.
Please believe in Jesus. Only then will we be understood, we will find joy and peace. If you look at the Gospels, who is the best at absorbing the thoughts and teachings of Jesus? These are not people with strong religious traditions or ideas, but poor people, sick people, and sinners who don't care much about such things. They accepted the gospel like a sponge sucking water. However, people with strong traditions and strong self-esteem were not accepted.
So says the Lord. <Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven> Those who are poor in spirit and humble accept God. Heaven will come to your heart.
Do you want to change your life? First you have to change your mind. When that happens, your behavior will naturally change. The surest way to change your mind is to make Jesus the powerful King of your life. When that happens, everything in my thoughts and actions changes. New wine must be placed in a new bottle. Stop dwelling on the thoughts, habits, and lives of the past. Accept new ideas. Change your mind with the mind of Jesus. So live a changed new life.