Parables: Mark 2:19-22, Parables of the unshrunk cloth and wineskins

This morning we are going to work our way from a couple of shallow principles to the deep mystery found in the parables of Mark 2.

I say shallow because principles are secondary to the theological truths contained in the Bible. Unfortunately too many people focus on presenting the shallower principles from these specific parables and neglect to present the meaning that serves as the foundation for practical application.

So, we are going to work backwards. Why? Because the practical principles from today’s parable are the kind that people will leave talking about and often want to follow up on. And, I believe the deeper truth deserves to be the truth we end on rather than the spring board to the practical.

Mark 2:19–22 (ESV)

“19 And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. 20 The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day. 21 No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the patch tears away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. 22 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins—and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins.”

These parables are part of a section here in Mark where there is a contrast between the way Jesus’ disciples are handling traditions built on the law versus the Pharisees. As I said, we will finish our time in the deeper truth that these parables and accounts present… But before we do that I want to point out some practical principles that I believe will help all of us think better and more biblical about the church in the present and the future.

Principle: When Christ is at the center of the church, eventually some methods and traditions will change.

There is a deeper theological mystery being revealed here. But, the practical application of the unshrunk cloth and the new wine in new wineskins can help many members and churches move forward together for the glory of God.

There comes a time in every church when things change for the sake of the future rather than at the expense of the future.

I have heard many times in my life how change spells the doom of the church. And, I think there are some changes that do spell doom for the church. But, almost all of those changes are related to the teaching and application of the Word… the Gospel. Things like denying the Trinity, denying the authority of Scripture, affirming sin, or affirming other religions as true. But, there is a difference between changing what we believe and changing how we do some things because it helps us continue to be faithful to what we believe for the coming years and decades.

I am not saying that there comes a time when a church should change what it believes or what it is teaching… unless what it was teaching was unbiblical. Though…

It’s my experience that when you teach a church things it didn’t know were in the Bible, it can feel similar to changing what we believe.

I experienced that a lot… and I do my best to make sure that we regularly consider truths and Scripture that help us know what we believe and who we are…

Foundations Series, BF&M Series, Topical Series, Etc.

There is a lag between implementation of new methods and the results you are looking for.

In the education world this is called the implementation dip… in the Bible its usually referred to as pruning.

What this means is that it takes time to see the fruit that comes from the changes that some people won’t like.

Not every change in a church is aimed at the same result, but the sum of the changes should result in healthy growth.

Healthy growth includes spiritual maturity, evangelistic and mission increase, and a greater focus on the glory of God in the church, at home, and in the world. (Selflessness, sacrifice, multiplication, etc)

Everything in the church cannot be based on happiness

Everything in the church cannot be based on numbers

Everything in the church can be based on the gospel

Principle: Rigid refusal to change to stay in step with the Spirit will destroy a legacy and forsake the future.

A church can forsake the future by refusing to change when it’s necessary for the continued advance of the gospel. When this happens, both the past and the future are torn or destroyed.

I have spent my entire ministry serving in what you would call the traditional church. I know that is hard for some to believe, but it’s true. And, throughout my ministry I have been privileged to see the Lord bring life to struggling ministries or churches and extend the life of healthy churches. In both the healthy church that looks forward and the struggling church that can’t quit looking backwards, there is a need to hold on to methods and traditions loosely while holding tightly to Christ and His Word.

The struggling church that always looks backward to the past will eventually tarnish the legacy of what was once good by dying a slow and painful death as a church.

The healthy church will one day be the struggling church if it can’t keep its eyes up and make its decisions for the sake of the advancement of the gospel. It requires a regular remembrance of all that was good, but a present day acknowledgment that each day is a new day and that requires to be in the present with a mind for the past but our eyes set forward to the future.

All of this to say… Eventually the traditions and methods in a Christ-centered church will change, we must work to make sure our hearts and minds stay flexible so we can continue to be faithful.

What’s old and familiar is good and often inflexible.

What’s worn has been useful and productive but cannot handle what is coming, and that’s ok. What is now worn was once new and fresh.

But, while all of that is helpful for the overall organizational life of the church, and I do hope it helps to provide a framework for thinking about what we do as a church. The best thing we learn from this parable is not principles… Its the mystery revealed through this simple exchange and set of parables.

Mark 2:19–22 (ESV)

“19 And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. 20 The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day. 21 No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the patch tears away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. 22 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins—and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins.”

Truth: Jesus is the promised Christ, and New Covenant cannot be contained in the Old Covenant.

Jesus reveals in this parable that He is the promised Messiah.

"In the Old Testament God had pictured himself as the husband of his people Israel (Isaiah 62:4f.; Jeremiah 2:2; 3:20; Ezekiel 16:8; Hosea 2:19f.). Now his Son, the Messiah, the long hoped-for one, has come and he claims to be the Bridegroom—that is, the husband of his people, who will be the true Israel (cf. John 3:29)." - Piper

Jesus says that those with ears will hear… and I have found that you can also say in today’s church, those who are looking to see God at work will see it. But, if you are only looking for something to criticize then that’s probably all you will see.

Jesus teaches that what He is doing will fulfill and replace the Old Covenant God made with Israel.

In fact, Jesus goes so far as to say that if you try to blend the two, the new will destroy the old.

Cloth

Wineskin

This is consistent with what the writer of Hebrews says in Hebrews 8:13 (ESV)

13 In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

Jesus establishes the New Covenant through the cross and confirms it through the empty grave.

Gospel- Sin, Solution, Conversion, Sanctification, and glorification.

New Covenant traditions and practices are grounded in the grace of God rather than the law.

Our salvation is by grace through faith, not through our traditions and rules, therefore our lives and our churches should resemble that truth with how we live and operate.

Under the Old Covenant they were looking forward with hope to God’s promise… under the NC we look forward with faith from faith. We have seen the promise kept, we now wait for it to be fulfilled.

Jesus compared his coming to that of wedding feast. Revelation uses the same imagery to talk about the 2nd coming of God’s people.

God’s people are to be characterized by Joy at what God is doing, not criticism.

Why didn’t they fast? Because the groom was present…

God’s people are characterized by a commitment to truth more than tradition

God’s people are characterized by flexible and willing hearts, not rigid and stubborn ones.

The promise of the OT was that God would remove the heart of stone and replace it with one of flesh… that would beat to do the will of the Lord. When I say flexible, I am referring to the heart that will say yes to the Lord over and over again, not the heart says yes to the Lord as long it is exactly like we have done it before.

Why? Because God is going to grow you, and that requires faith. Think about Moses… God first told him to hit the rock to get water, then later God told him to speak to the rock to get water… Moses let his heart grow hard, and resisted taking that next step of faith and it cost him and his entire generation entrance into the promised land.

What about you?

Is your heart flexible and willing to follow the Lord? Or is your heart rigid and stubborn and will only go so far?