New Wineskins

Correction and How Translations Work

The “his house” of 2:15 was Levi’s house. This is clarified by Luke 5:29.

Word for Word and Thought for Thought

Acts 17:10-11 - Bereans examine the Scriptures | 2 Tim. 3:16-17 (teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness; complete and equipped for every good work) Ps. 119:105

My own mortification - 2 Tim. 2:15

Praise God for: Congregation that loves and cares for the word

Recall: Jesus Eats With Sinners and Tax Collectors

Structure

Jesus Eats with Sinners and Tax Collectors

Jesus Gives 3 Images/Analogies (Bridegroom, Cloth, Wineskins)

Jesus Questioned About Sabbath Practices (Saved for Two Weeks From Now)

Imagery: Outgrowing

Outgrowing the First House (Mattress on the Wall)

Outgrowing the Car (Prius)

Outgrowing Clothes

Outgrowing TV Shows

Maturation is Good | Change can be Hard

Key is to respond to realities with actions that align with realities at hand.

Three Images: The Bridegroom, The New Patch of Clothing, and the Wineskins

Bridegroom

V. 18-19

John’s disciples and the Pharisees/disciples of the Pharisees are fasting

Required in the Old Testament once a year on the Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:29), but evidence indicates that at some point during the exile, fasting became a regular act of Jews. In Zechariah, the prophet makes mention of fasting not merely once a year, but in the 4th, 5th, 7th, and 10th months of the year (Zech. 7:5, 8:19) This is present in Luke 18:12 when Jesus contrasts the behavior of the Pharisee and the tax collector. (Also present in the Didache)

The logic of the Pharisees fasting so much was likely to hasten the day of the Lord. Hence, Jesus’s statement was actually pretty direct: “My disciples don’t fast because the bridegroom has come, and I do not demand a fast!”

Connect here with John 2:1-12 |

When Jesus speaks of the bridegroom being taken away, here is often received as a reference to Good Friday when Jesus is taken away and is crucified for sins.

Jesus’s statement here would not have been understood until afterwards.

(Principles)

You modify your behavior based upon new realities.

If you are a groomsman and are giving your attention to the bridegroom, your attitude and behavior is shaped by the realities of your situation

Jesus is the new and better bridegroom

John 2:1-12

He is about to usher in a new reality which does not deserve asceticism, but joy.

Jesus is pressing the disciples of John and the Pharisees about this new reality.

Unshrunk Cloth on an Old Garment

Calloway Wrestling Shirt

The integrity of the old garment cannot stand up to the pressure and pulling of the new reality.

Sowed an unshrunk cloth onto the Calloway Wrestling Shirt, put it into the wash, and the patch was fine, but it destroyed the shirt

(Repeat of the Image with Wineskins)

Old wineskins have expanded to their limit (much like the high school wrestling shirt)

Don’t put new wine into those wineskins because when the new wine starts fermenting, building pressure, and expanding the wine skin…the old skin won’t be able to hold it.

Question: What is the “old wineskin” that cannot stand up to the pressures of the “new wine?”

Legalism v. Salvation by Grace Through Faith?

Old Life Under the Law v. New Life According to the Spirit?

Living as Lord of Your Own Life v. Living With Christ As Lord?

Likely

Living as if Christ has not come v. Living with the knowledge that Christ has come

The new wine is that the deliverer is on the scene. It is thus inappropriate to act as if that is not the case. In the least it shows an ignorance of the active, Kingdom realities at play.

Question: How Ought We To Be Challenged By This Text?

Christians

Do you needlessly live as if the realities of Christ are not true?

Do you needlessly live as if you don’t have victory over sin, death, and the enemy?

Non-Christians

Do you needlessly live as if the realities of Christ are not true?

Do you needlessly live as if you don’t have victory over sin, death, and the enemy?

Press into this: How ought the realities of Christ impact my life, perspective, joy, etc.?

These realities ought to produce in you a joy of every kind.

2 Corinthians 10:5 and Romans 8:28

You don’t know the challenges of my home.

I’m facing real battles with sickness.

People in my home — people I care about are dying.

I’m surrounded by difficult people all day.

My work is draining the life out of me and I don’t have anything left for my family when I get home.

How does the reality of Christ’s coming impact me when these are the things that I am wrestling with?

The coming of Christ allows you to live with an eternal perspective.

Having an eternal perspective reminds you that your suffering and battles, though they feel never-ending, will be done and through with in moments. This life is a short breath in light of eternity which you have before you. Christ purchased eternal realities for you so that you can take a breath and be reminded that the sufferings of this present time will not last.

2. The coming of Christ reminds you that God does intervene and act in history for His people. Even now, if you are a child of God, He is working in your afflictions for your good and the salvation of many others.

3. The coming of Christ reminds you that God’s program for the world is not suffering, but joy.

(Cont.) Removing Old Wineskins

Survey your life and ask: “What are the thoughts, structures, attitudes, behaviors, and things of my life that are leveraged against the Kingdom of God?”

There are beliefs, attitudes, and practices that make sense in a God-less world, but don’t make sense in the Christ reality.

Lust and addiction don’t belong in the Christ reality.

Anger and resentment don’t belong in the Christ reality.

Pride and arrogance don’t belong in the Christ reality.

Etc.

Crucify and Abandon the things which kill you and your family. Replace them with a confident life in Christ.

[Test Case: Pulling Heads of Grain on the Sabbath

Setting Mark 2:23 - Jesus’s disciples are walking through the field on the sabbath and pulling heads of grain for themselves

Conflict Mark 2:24 - Pharisees challenge Jesus over His disciples behavior

Zero in on this conflict

Response Mark 2:25-28

Old Testament Case Study

Principle

Supposition

Question: What Is the real issue at play here? What is the wineskin?

Problem beneath a problem

Parenting: When our kids are out of whack, and we see a spike in behavior problems we ask: “has this child received enough direct attention?”

The problem on the surface (misbehavior) needs to be fixed and addressed. However, the problem will persist unless the parents identify what the issue at hand is.

Wineskin —> Is the problem that you have new wine or that the skin is too old to contain the new wine?

Garment —> Is the problem that the cloth you have for patching is new and unshrunk, or that your first garment is old and in need of repair?

What is the real issue here?

Jesus has come, and the foundation of his ministry is unmerited favor.

Jesus has come, and the message he delivers is true rest and not the sort of “rest” which is actually a burden to everyone around.

Practical Application]