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The Scriptorium

Think: New

The newness of Jesus astonished and amazed. Luke 5

Luke 5 (7)

Pray Psalm 40.1-3.

I waited patiently for the LORD;
And He inclined to me,
And heard my cry.
He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,
Out of the miry clay,
And set my feet upon a rock,
And established my steps.
He has put a new song in my mouth—
Praise to our God;
Many will see it and fear,
And will trust in the LORD.

Sing Psalm 40.1-3.
(Dix: For the Beauty of the Earth)
I waited patiently for God; He inclined and heard my cry,
lifted me up above the sod, set me on a Rock on high!
New songs in my mouth He gave; may He through me many save.

Read Luke 5.1-39; meditate on verses 36-39.

Preparation
1. What contrast does Jesus hold up in these verses?

2. To what does Jesus compare Himself?

Meditation
The words “astonished” or “amazed” frequently occur in connection with Jesus and His ministry (cf. 4.32, 36; 5.9, 26). And when the words themselves aren’t used, their presence is indicated by the reactions of the people – talking about Jesus to everyone (4.37; 5.15); seeking Him wherever He went (4.40, 42; 5.15, 17ff.); leaving their old lives behind to follow Him (5.11, 28); and glorifying God (5.25, 26). How shall we explain this?

Jesus was new. He Himself hinted as much in the two parables He spoke at the end of Luke 5. Jesus wasn’t just a new patch on an old garment; He’s a new garment, the garment of salvation and righteousness. And He wasn’t just a new wineskin; He’s the new wine, aged from of old, which we drink down with joy (Ps. 116.12, 13). Jesus came to the world to fulfill the promised new covenant of God (Jer. 31.31-34), to lead those who believe in Him to the knowledge of God and new life. He gives us a new heart so that we can see His Law in a totally new light and embrace and obey it gladly (Ezek. 36.26, 27).

Jesus is all about new. New life. New callings. New health. New friends. New priorities. A new world regime. New news – Good News.

He has brought His newness to us – astonishment! And He has entrusted His new message to us – amazement! Luke 5 picks up on themes introduced in chapter 4 and shows them in their bright, astonishing, amazing, newness. And out of that glorious newness, Jesus calls to us, “Follow Me” (v. 27). To be in Christ is to be a new person. Old things have passed away; all things are becoming new (2 Cor. 5.17). How will the newness of Jesus astonish, amaze, and transform you today?

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
The beautiful newness of Jesus is, as He consistently reminded us, rooted in the old and holy Law of God. Yes, we His people are saved in a completely new way. Keeping the Law perfectly was impossible, so Jesus was sent to earth to keep it for us perfectly, and to overcome our inability to do so. He Himself said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (Jn. 10.10).

In Luke 5.14 Jesus told the man full of leprosy, whom He healed, to tell no one, “But go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as a testimony to them, just as Moses commanded.”

In other words He was saying that this new life, this complete healing, was something to shout from the rooftops; but before you do, do not neglect to keep the Law of Moses. Some things have changed, of course (cf. Heb. 7-9), but not everything. In Luke 5.39 He said speaking of the wine, “The old is better”, and He was again referring to the Law. There is the blessed new, but there is also the faithful and wise old. We must enjoy and keep both to live obediently and abundantly. The new of Jesus brings the old of God’s covenant and Law to full ferment and power.

Jesus never came to abolish the old ways, as He taught His disciples, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (Jn. 14.15; cf. Matt. 5.17-19), and “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you” (Jn. 15.14).

The new is solidified by its rooting in the old. Without the old there is no reason for the new. As Paul stated, “Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law” (Rom. 3.31). And “just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6.4).

The life and words we bring into our Personal Mission Field will be much more palatable when we do it the way God has commanded, living in the forgiveness of the new while being always guided by the old, because “Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but such as keep the law contend with them” (Prov. 28.4). Rejoice in the new, live guided by the old. “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments” (1 Jn. 2.3).

For reflection
1. Augustine explained that the Old is by the New revealed, while the New is in the Old concealed. What did he mean by that?

2. We need both the Old Testament and the New Testament to realize full and abundant life in Jesus. Why?

3. How do you experience the newness which is in Jesus?

We ought to live for him because we have been made into something different. We now have a new life. John Chrysostom (344-407), Homilies on the Epistles of Paul to the Corinthians 11.4

Pray Psalm 40.9-17.
Believers and unbelievers alike need to hear the Good News of Jesus. Today, with whom will you share the new life we have in Him? Use your time of prayer to seek the Lord’s help for the day ahead.

Sing Psalm 40.9-17.
(Dix: For the Beauty of the Earth)
Lord, Your truth will I proclaim to Your people gathered ‘round.
Nor will I my lips restrain – let Your precious ways resound!
Of Your saving grace and Word I would speak, most loving Lord.

Keep Your mercy not from me; let Your love and truth prevail.
Evil and iniquity make my trembling heart to fail.
Lord, be pleased to rescue me! Let my shelter with You be.

Bring to shame my ev’ry foe, all who would my life destroy;
bring them down to scorn and woe who at my hurt sing for joy.
Let them come to grief and shame who heap scorn upon my name.

Let them shout for joy and sing who in saving grace delight!
Let them praise to Jesus bring, though affliction be their plight.
Christ, our help, our Savior He! Of us ever mindful be!

T. M. and Susie Moore

You can listen to a summary of last week’s Scriptorium study by going to our website, www.ailbe.org, and clicking the Scriptorium tab for last Sunday. You can download all the studies in our Luke series by clicking here.

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (Williston: Waxed Tablet Publications, 2006), available by
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T.M. Moore

T. M. Moore is principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He and his wife, Susie, make their home in the Champlain Valley of Vermont.
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