New Covenant

And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. Luke 22:20

New covenant. What does that mean for the old covenant? What is the significance to this New Covenant and how does it change our interaction with God? What are possible pitfalls when trying to understand the difference between the new and the old covenants?

Man’s human nature along with what the scriptures define as the ‘flesh’ or ‘old man’ tend to be a pulling factor away from the ‘spiritual’ back to more physical aspects of religion, rules, and rituals. Jesus uses an example of wineskins to describe the difference between these two covenants in the context of fasting and connection with Himself.

“Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled and the skins are destroyed. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.” Matthew 9:17

So what is the ‘new wine’? Luke 22:20 IS… the “new” covenant.

Paul reaffirms this perspective …

For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 1 Corinthians 11:23-25

So what does that mean for the old covenant? It is an old wineskin – that can’t hold the “new wine”. It is only a reminder that it was a covenant that could not be ‘kept’ by the people. This New Covenant is ‘kept’ by Jesus Himself (in His blood). The old religious system (old covenant) would no longer bring ‘life’ to the people. What are characteristics of the old covenant? Moses law, Temple, synagogues, priests, sacrifices and all the other added rules.

As humans we naturally gravitate towards ‘old covenant’ religion – because it’s physically tangible. Where as the New Covenant is about bringing real worship in Spirit and Truth that transcends time and space. We all struggle with the tendency to be pulled back in to religious ‘forms’, as we still want to ‘build’ physical edifices to “honor” God. When we should be learning to live within a new ‘space’ with the Holy Spirit that brings us into a new understanding of the Spirit and Truth.

Jesus said …

“But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:23-24

The more ‘religious’ an individual is …the more they prefer the law over love, rules over trust, and ceremony over Spirit and Truth. So what are we to do? Go in the direction Jesus guided us to … into relationship with Him. How exactly is that done? By the Holy Spirit who is given by God to make our bodies His temple by inhabiting our physical being. This brings the tension between the physical and the spiritual dimensions. How do we learn to lean into the spiritual? This is what the Holy Spirit was sent to us to do … to teach us how. How would you rate your relationship with the Holy Spirit? Does it need improvement?

Simple Prayer:

Holy Spirit I want to know you better! Please speak louder to me so that I can know it is You! I want to do what you want me to do, even though what you ask me to do sometimes is very scary for me. Help me have courage to obey you quickly which really is my worship of you. Jesus be with me today – give me your words as a reminder of which way to go. I want to worship you in Spirit and Truth!