THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 2:18-22
“No one pours new wine into old wineskins.” (Mark 2:22)
What does Jesus mean about new wine and old wineskins?
The wine is the substance, the object of desire… not the wineskin, which is just a container.
Jesus is comparing religious rituals to the container, and Himself to the object of their desire.
But not just religious rituals; the whole old covenant (what we call ‘Old Testament’) of Moses.
The Jews were placed under this covenant for a specific time period, until the coming of Messiah.
“Why, then, was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come.” (Galatians 3:19)
“So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.” (Galatians 3:24-25)
Jesus did not come to add Himself to the Jewish Law; He came to replace it with Himself, and a new covenant.
The Jewish Bible is a part of our Story, but it is the old covenant/testament; we don’t live there anymore.
We are not accepted by God by our obedience to rules, or our practice of rituals.
God loves us, whether or not we fast, go to church, give our offerings, or pray on our knees.
Everything we do is a love response to Jesus, an act of gratitude.
I may not judge you on how you show your love for the Lord, nor you me (‘how come you don’t fast?’).
“Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.” (Colossians 2:16-17)
Jesus is the new wine, and our hearts and lives are the new wineskins… not religious rules and rituals.
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, everything I do can be a response to You. How I drive, how I talk, how I spend my leisure time, etc. My heart is the wineskin, You are wine. Fill me to overflowing, that I may overflow with love for You.