When We Miss What God Is Doing Right in Front of Us
In Luke 5, Jesus says a short phrase that carries a big warning for our spiritual lives:
“Then they will fast.” (Luke 5:35)
It comes in a moment of criticism. The Pharisees and scribes look at Jesus and His disciples and basically say:
“John’s disciples fast. Our disciples fast.
Why aren’t your disciples doing what we do?”
They don’t see what God is doing, because they’re fixated on what He’s not doing.
Here’s the heartbeat of this passage and this message:
We should celebrate the spiritual fruit we see,
rather than complain about the man-made expectations we don’t see.
Let’s unpack what that means for us.
1. God Is Working… Even When It Doesn’t Look Like We Expected
If you zoom out in Luke 4–5, Jesus has been:
- Declaring Himself as the promised Messiah
- Preaching the good news of the kingdom
- Casting out demons
- Healing the sick
- Calling disciples
- Saving and transforming “untouchable” people like tax collectors
In other words: God is clearly at work.
And how do the religious leaders respond?
“Why don’t your disciples fast like we do?”
The problem isn’t that they care about fasting. Fasting is a good spiritual practice.
The problem is what they’re missing while they’re nitpicking.
They’re so focused on their expectations that they completely miss the Messiah sitting at the table.
That’s not just a “Pharisee problem.” That’s a me and you problem too.
- God is saving people… but not through our preferred method.
- God is growing a ministry… but not in our favorite style.
- God is changing lives… but not in the way we imagined it.
If we’re not careful, we end up grumbling about what God isn’t doing according to our grid, instead of worshiping Him for what He is doing all around us.
For This Week:
- Name where God is at work.
Take 5 minutes and literally list ways you’ve seen God moving—people saved, prayers answered, growth in someone’s faith, stories from missions, healing, restoration. - Thank Him out loud.
Turn that list into praise. Make gratitude louder than grumbling. - Ask Him to open your eyes.
Pray: “Lord, don’t let me miss You because I’m looking for You in the wrong way.”
2. Man-Made Expectations vs. God’s Word
The Pharisees accuse Jesus’ disciples of not fasting “like we do.” What’s going on there?
Under the Old Covenant, God’s law required fasting one day a year: the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur).
Over time, religious leaders added layers of their own rules. By Jesus’ day, Pharisees were fasting twice a week—on Mondays and Thursdays—and treating that man-made rhythm as the standard for everyone.
So when they say, “Why don’t your disciples fast?” they’re not appealing to Scripture.
They’re appealing to tradition.
Jesus isn’t against fasting. He says clearly:
“The time will come when the groom will be taken away from them; then they will fast.” (v. 35)
He’s saying: There’s a proper time and reason to fast—when I’m gone, not while I’m physically with them.
The problem is this:
They held people to the standard of their rules, not the standard of God’s Word.
We do the same thing when we:
- Treat certain styles of music as “more holy”
- Make dress codes feel like commandments
- Argue about coffee, donuts, lights, or secondary preferences as if the Holy Spirit depends on them
- Elevate our theological hobby horses above the clear commands of Jesus
It’s not wrong to have preferences. It is wrong to turn preferences into tests of spirituality.
When we do that, we’re in real danger of doing exactly what Jesus accused the Pharisees of in Matthew 15:
“You nullify the word of God because of your tradition.”
And here’s the tragic result:
They were so attached to their religious system that they missed the Savior their system was supposed to point to.
For This Week:
- Check your “inner Pharisee.”
Where are you more bothered by someone breaking your preference than by someone missing Jesus? - Let Scripture, not culture, be your standard.
Before you react, ask: “Is this about God’s clear Word, or my personal expectations?” - Encourage, don’t nitpick.
Instead of critiquing every method, look for evidence of real fruit—repentance, faith, love, obedience—and affirm it.
3. Freedom in Christ: Not a License to Sin, but Power to Serve
When Jesus talks about new cloth and new wine, He’s making a huge point:
You can’t patch grace onto a system of religious performance.
You can’t pour the new covenant into old covenant containers.
Salvation is not:
Jesus + fasting
Jesus + your rules
Jesus + your politics
Jesus + your preferences
Salvation is:
Jesus + nothing = salvation by grace.
You don’t bring anything to the table except the sin that made the cross necessary.
That doesn’t mean we’re free to live however we want. Scripture is crystal clear on that.
Paul anticipates the question:
“Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply?”
“Absolutely not!” (Romans 6:1–2)
And in Galatians 5:13:
“You were called to be free, brothers and sisters; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love.”
Here’s the balance:
- You are free from trying to earn God’s approval with rules.
- You are free for a life of loving, joyful obedience and service.
Freedom in Christ isn’t an excuse to coast.
It’s the power to pour yourself out for others without the weight of religious fear on your back.
For This Week:
- Ask how you’ve been using your freedom.
Is it mainly for comfort and convenience… or for serving others in love? - Take one concrete step of service.
- Visit someone who’s hurting.
- Write a note of encouragement.
- Help a new believer take their next step.
- Volunteer where there’s a need.
- Return to grace.
If you’ve been trying to patch your rules onto the gospel—repent of that. Rest again in what Jesus has already finished for you.
Don’t Miss Jesus Because of Your Expectations
The Pharisees had the Scriptures, the prophecies, the promises… and they still missed the Messiah when He stood in front of them.
Why?
Because He didn’t fit their system.
The danger for us is the same:
We can be so wrapped up in our man-made expectations that we miss the movement of God.
So this week, let this be your prayer:
“Lord, help me see what You’re doing,
rejoice in the fruit You’re producing,
hold tightly to Your Word,
and release every expectation that gets in the way of Jesus.”
Then go live like someone who really believes:
God is working. People are being saved. His kingdom is advancing.
And you’re invited to be part of it.