The New and the Old: Changes in the Life of God
“Then John’s disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples don’t fast?”  Jesus said to them, “The wedding guests cannot mourn while the bridegroom is with them, can they?  But the days are coming when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and then they will fast.  No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, because the patch will pull away from the garment and the tear will be worse.  And no one pours new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the skins burst and the wine is spilled out and the skins are destroyed.  Instead they put new wine into new wineskins and both are preserved.” Matthew 9:14-17
One of the great mysteries of philosophy and theology, and this goes all the way back to the ancient Greek philosophers, is whether or not it would be possible for God, or a Supreme Being, to change. Â The Greeks mostly established the idea that a Perfect Being could not change because change would imply improvement. Â This is, I suppose, a very logical thought but it is not helpful at all when thinking about the God of the Bible. Â Much of Christian theology has continued to struggle with this concept with a majority of Western theologians agreeing with the Greeks that God could not change (divine immutability).
The average person who hasn’t read a lot of theology is probably shocked to imagine a concept like this.  If God never changes than how does God ever act?  The problem is obvious and, in my opinion, the choice is whether to accept the possibility of the God who acts in the Bible or the God of the Greek philosophers.  They cannot be made into the same being.  Early Christian theologians had a hell of a time trying to unite Jesus with the Platonic ideals of a Supreme Being.  God interracts with human beings and the creation in the Bible; God does not in the case of classic Greek philosophy.
Here we have a story of Jesus while spending time with his disciples.  Some of their old friends from John the Baptists ministry come to see them.  For whatever reason, they find reason to have disagreement with Jesus and his followers.  What is the problem?  Apparently Jesus and his friends are having too much of a good time.  Why don’t they fast more?  They sound like downers who don’t like seeing others enjoy themselves!
In the period between the Old and New Testaments, about 400 years, many religious rules and practices had been added to the Jewish religion.  Quite a few of Jesus’ conflicts with religious leaders stemmed from him disregarding these newer rituals and norms.  At this point in history Pharisees fasted two days a week.  Jesus apparently wasn’t fasting enough and the disciples of John were quick to point this out. Â
It’s interesting to see how, in the life of Jesus, he is not focused on negativity or imposing difficult religious standards on people.  To be sure he is calling people to a revolutionary, pacifist lifestyle of love that is difficult enough.  But this is a love that comes out of joy, desire and concern for the neighbor.  There is no self-imposed misery placed on the religious person.  Yet there is something about churches of all kinds and a self-loathing, self-harm aspect that seems to seep in.  Jesus is just not into it.  There will be enough suffering when the person lives out love in radically unjust, competitive societies.
Why would they fast when they are in a time of celebration? Â This is a unique time in history, both in the life of God and humanity, where divinity has united with creation in a way never before lived out. Â The purpose of the life of Jesus is to fully experience life within a specific culture, time and place. Â People fast for reasons of clarity and prayer. Â But this was a time of relation between Jesus and the Jewish nation. Â It was a time for joyous unity.
Jesus then tells the famous illustration of new wine in old wine skins.  If you put new wine into old wineskins then the skin will burst.  Jesus is completely confronting the religious system that just wasn’t working any more.  Does this mean that God’s plan change?  Did God change?  The obvious implication is…yes!  A certain way of relating can work in one time and not in another.  There was a new way that Jesus was introducing and it had to do with the kingdom of heaven right now on earth.  This kingdom had no relation to power structures as we know them.  In fact, this kingdom was a rejection of power itself.
In the kingdom of heaven, with the new wine, the call of faith is to active love and commitment in this world right now.  This culture is founded on one principal: love.  Love God, love the neighbor, love the self.  Everything is permitted in love.  Desire, decision, relation, spirituality: it’s all rooted and directed through love.  This love is not self-seeking but always pointed towards the other but also returned to the lover because love is Gift and originates in God.  Love does not run out.  It is not possible to give too much love or to fear it’s running dry.  Only you can stop love by actively choosing to not give it. Â
One idea that I have encountered lately that I find deeply inspiring is that the life and death of Jesus is also an Event in the history of God. Â This was something that God never fully knew. Â Through Jesus divinity and materiality is blurred forever. Â God experiences the lack in the unique way that only a person can know. Â There may very well be a lack in the being of God as well but it would probably be different from what we experience. Â And then, of course, there is the most monumental moment in the history of God where God is broken away from God. Â This is the cross where God experiences destitution; abandonment. Â From this moment men and women can never claim that God does not understand their pain. Â God knows this depth of loneliness and despair. Â This is the new wine that would not fit the old religious practices and laws that attempted to apply a wage system to spirituality. Â The Christian religion finds its identity in the cross where abandonment is lived out by God. Â This is only accomplished through love.
