e people.

Jesus said nothing to the disciples about the events of the evening in
Symeon's house. But two days later, while buying food, Andrew and John
heard a rumor which they discovered later came from Symeon. "Should we
tell the Master?" wondered John.

"We must." Andrew was positive. They made a quick trip to Simon's home,
left their food, and hurried out to the shore of the lake. As usual, a
large group of listeners surrounded Jesus. "We shall have to wait until
we can talk to him alone," said Andrew.

A man whom the disciples had never seen before was questioning Jesus.
"Rabbi, why do the Pharisees and the followers of John the Baptizer fast
while your disciples pay no attention to the fasting rule?" Andrew and
John exchanged startled glances; this was it!

Jesus answered very clearly. "Tell me," he asked, "do the friends of
people who are getting married fast on the wedding day?"

"Of course not. That is a time for rejoicing, not fasting."

"Right," answered Jesus. "While the bridegroom is with his friends they
are not sorrowful. But a time comes when he leaves them. There is time
enough then to fast."

"But, Rabbi," protested the man, "the Pharisees say it is a serious sin
not to fast."

"Listen to what I say," said Jesus. "If you have an old coat with a hole
in it, do you patch it with a brand-new piece of cloth?"

"No, of course not."

"Why not?" asked Jesus.

"As soon as the new piece is wet by the rain," answered a woman very
quickly, "it shrinks and tears the cloth of the old coat."

Jesus said, "If you try to add something new to the old, the new
destroys the old, doesn't it?"

"What do you mean by that?" asked the first man after a moment's
thought.

"Listen again. When you make new wine, do you pour it right into a dry,
stiff wineskin that has been used before?" The people stored wine in
whole goatskins, tied up tightly at the legs and neck.

"Of course not."

"Why not?"

"Because as soon as the wine begins to ferment it stretches the skin
tight. New wine is powerful enough to rip an old bag to pieces!"

"Do you understand now what I am telling you?" asked Jesus. "Never try
to put new wine in old skins. The old cannot hold the new. The gospel of
the Kingdom of God asks you to do much more than just keep the fasts."

"The Pharisees don't say that," said the man doubtfully. "I don't know
who is right. It is a serious thing not to keep the Law of Moses."

"Do you know what you rem