Luke 5
And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me. 28And he left all, rose up, and followed him.
29And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them. 30But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?
31And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. 32I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
33And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink?
34And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? 35But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.
36And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old. 37And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish. 38But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved. 39No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.
Interesting how it seems that Jesus identifies his ministry while on earth as new stuff, but concludes that the aged, older stuff is better. As I read this passage, I think He is telling us that while there is nothing wrong with us enjoying those temporary events that might come our way in life, we shouldn't expect them to last, nor cloud the deeper values. In fact, what is new and fresh and happy and stimulating now will start to mellow and soak in and become part of the living history and fabric of our being. He's telling us how to look at our lives and appreciate what's happening from cradle to grave.
There's Levi, fresh from a lively life of worldly action. Big house, successful job, lots of money, lots of friends; but obviously something is missing and gnawing at him at how all this is going to waste in the grave and he won't really mean anything in the long run. Not that there's something wrong with any particular element, it's just that a key ingredient has left all the parts without perspective and lasting purpose. So what good is it to "have it all" when you can already taste the sour rot it's all infected with? When you can feel the powdery dust of age and decay developing on the fine furniture? It's all empty without that ..., what is it? What's missing?
We're not told in Luke what Levi saw in Jesus. Obviously he was primed and ready though. In keeping with the attributes that made him a good businessman, he jumped on the opportunity when it came his way. He saw in Jesus the answer; all the pieces of the puzzle. Now it all made sense, and he jumped in with both feet.
Levi immediately put all his stuff to good use. If it's all gonna burn, he's gonna make a torch out of it, and light the way as best he can so others can find their way to the Answer. Feast and furniture will bring friends over to become exposed to the Truth. I don't want to waste my stuff. It's best use is to joyfully show off Him whom we love.
A new Christian, or a newly revived, often shows a bit of intoxication and stupor to us crusty, dusty, oldies. They sing interminable "I love you Jesus" choruses, arms softly swaying. They hug you and every neighbor with hippy flair. Years later, nearly to a man, they've either left the church altogether or taken on a moderate, peaceful calm with touch of cautiousness. They've either moved their foolishness to another venue, or they've seen their happiness turn to a wise joy.
Jesus tells the jaded and prideful, using leaders that the Levis of this world should be expected to have a bit of a comparatively shallow approach, all dancy and happy. How often does the perfect storm of Truth and Goodness and Love and Joy touch down right in front of you? Life will soon enough knock them down. John and all the old dead guys more deeply and accurately saw the larger picture, so fasting and prayer had become permanently mixed into their blood. Both are right. Neither should be rejected, but you will see the lighter duty become deeper and more solid with time.
Old farts need to give space to and have patience with the excited new guys who've just discovered the world. Maybe we can regain and remember a piece of what this whole thing is about. And the charismatic, frenetic lovers ought to occasionally put some energy into sitting down with and exploring the perspective of some of the wise old lords.
