New Wine and New Ways
Notes
Transcript
Spiritual Discipline
In "Karate Kid," Daniel learns karate from Mister Miyagi (pronounced: mee-YAH-gee) through seemingly mundane chores like painting and waxing cars. Initially frustrated, Daniel discovers that these repetitive tasks teach him essential defensive skills. The lesson emphasizes that mastery comes from practice and submission to a mentor's guidance, paralleling the pursuit of godliness.
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1001 Quotes, Illustrations, and Humorous Stories: For Preachers, Teachers and Writers, p 266
Our scripture reading is followed by a couple of Sabbath encounters.
Mark 2:27–28 “27 Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.””
Mark 3:4 “4 Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent.”
In our scripture reading today, Jesus discusses the significance of fasting in light of his ministry.
The coming of the Messiah changes the expectations surrounding religious practices.
18 Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and asked Jesus, “How is it that John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not?”
19 Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them.
20 But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast.
21 “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse.
22 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins.”
Fasting Transformed (verses 18-20)
Rituals vs Presence
Joy replaces Mourning
Transform over Tradition
Law = Day of Atonement or National Emergency
Personal = supplication, mourning, or repentance
Pharisees = twice a week - a show of fasting, prayer, and alms-giving - proved their piety
Christ's presence disrupts traditional fasting practices.
Pharisees' rigid rituals vs. the joyous presence of Jesus
Christ's grace invites us into an intimate, vibrant relationship with God.
This joyful fellowship is like a celebration with Jesus as the bridegroom.
Redemption is joy replaces mourning.
Transformation over tradition in spiritual practices.
Patchwork Won't Prosper (verse 21)
Newness is not Patched
Not Superficial
Not an Add-On
St. Mark (Vol. I) (Chapter 2)
“An old garment, if it be torn, should be mended by a patch of old material; for if a patch of new material is used, its strength or fulness takes away from the old garment to which it is sewn; the old and the new do not agree, the new drags the old and tears it, and so a worse rent is made.”
Christ calls for newness in our lives that cannot be patched onto the old
Jesus uses the unshrunk cloth.
The gospel's transformative power is new within our hearts not superficial adjustments.
The challenge for our faith is not treat it as an add-on but as a change demanding regeneration and a deeper embrace of grace.
Wine of Grace (verse 22)
Grace, not Ritual
Moved, not Checkbox
Christ Reshapes
Imagery of new wine in old wineskins
Faithlife Study Bible (Matthew Chapter 9)
wineskins Leather pouches used for storing wine.
Old wineskins have already been stretched to capacity by the fermentation process. If unfermented wine is placed in these skins, the gases produced by fermentation can cause them to explode. Conversely, new skins have not been stretched and are slightly elastic. During fermentation, new skins expand to accommodate the pressure from the gases and do not burst.
Jesus’ message of grace is a contrast to old, rigid forms of religious practice.
Discard legalism and be moved by how God is working.
The new wine of grace cannot be contained by old structures.
Allow our lives and practices to be reshaped powerfully by the Jesus.
6 Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.
Jesus upset the apple cart with the Pharisees - they didn’t like that he wasn’t like them.
We as Christians should reevaluate our spiritual practices.
We should seek a deeper relationship with God that transcends external ritual and embraces the life-giving power of grace.
Internal transformation in Christ is needed over external observance.
Genuine faith and a relationship with Christ deepens our understanding of spiritual practices.
May we endeavor to make sure our spiritual practices align with the newness of life we have in Jesus.
This Is The Story that Changes Everything
