The Parable of the New Wineskins

The Parable of the New Wineskins Mark 2:21-22 Richard Leslie Parrott Friends: The parables for this week are short and challenging. There are several options suggested in this resource packet. The lessons open up three thoughts: Joy Because Jesus is the Bridegroom who has come to us, is joy our Christian duty witness? Discernment When do we need to stop patching the old, discard the worn garment, and put on the new? Flexibility Am I willing to protect the new wine, even if it means giving up my favorite wineskin? You may find it best to focus on one of these lessons rather than all three. The background material on the historical context of the text will provide help in preparing an introduction to the lesson. Also, I have included resources that will help you bring the lesson to a meaningful close and time of prayer. Dr. Parrott

SUNDAY, JULY 12 - ERIC AND JOY PAUL HERE THE PARABLE OF THE NEW WINESKINS Key Idea - Consider how the new movement of the Holy Spirit in our day with our fast- changing world requires new frameworks, just like the New Covenant did in Jesus' day. Focus on Mission - especially Hawaii (Paul's) and Kenya (our partnership) and apply to our church and our lives. Mark 2:21-22 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. INTRODUCTION Consider the origin of this old cliché: 'Hit the ground running' is a phrase found first in a whimsical story which was syndicated in several newspapers, including The Evening News, 23rd April 1895, in a piece headed 'King Of All The Liars' (and should their readers have not got the picture from the text, they were kind enough to provide one): "I turned to run and figured to a dot when he shot. As he cracked loose I jumped way up in the air and did a split, just like what these show gals does, only mine wasn't on the ground by six foot. The bullet went under me. I knew he had five more cartridges, so I hit the ground running and squatted low down when his gun barked a second time." There are many references to the term in the early 20th century. These all use hit the ground running in its literal sense and relate to the various ways people might do this, for instance, hobos jumping from freight trains, troops being dropped by parachute etc. The first figurative use that I've found so far, that is, a usage where no actual ground or running is involved, is from The Hayward Daily Review, October 1940: "It sometimes seems to me that the young idea nowadays wants to hit the ground running and to tell the old editors how to run things." So the phrase carried two meanings: 1- dodging bullets and 2- taking over. Not a bad description of the beginning of the ministry of Jesus. Jesus declared God s 2

Revolution in full force. People were astonished, annoyed, and angry. In response, Jesus used the illustration of the Groom, declaring himself to be the Groom, a role reserved for God, himself. Jesus then shared two short parables, the new patch and the old wineskin, to open our thinking to the vastness of God s revolution, the Kingdom of God at hand. We will especially STUDY the context of these two parables as they relate to the opening of the ministry of Jesus. Then, we will THINK about the two of them with the addition of a third similar parable, the old and new treasures. Finally, we will PRAY for an attitude of joy, a mind that is flexible, and discernment concerning God s work in the world. 1- STUDY the historical context of the parable. Jesus hit the ground running as described in the opening of Mark s Gospel: At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased. 12 At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, 13 and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him. 14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 The time has come, he said. The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news! (Mark 1:9-15) God s revolution has come into the world. This is the meaning of the message of Jesus, The time has come. The kingdom of God has come near! The revolution is on is what the people would have heard and understood. Following the announcement, Jesus demonstrated the kingdom at hand: Mark 1:21-28; he exercised the demons. The revolution had taken on the fight with evil and Satan. Mark 1:40-45; he cleansed the unclean. The revolution had taken on the fight with sickness and death. Mark 2:1-12; he forgave a man s sins. The revolution had taken on the fight with sin and unrighteousness. 3

Mark 2:13-17; he ministered to the outcasts. The revolution had taken on the fight with prejudice and tradition. The people responded with astonishment to this new thing that was happening: Mark 1:27; The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, What is this? A new teaching and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him. Mark 2:12; This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, We have never seen anything like this! The religious leaders responded with anger and disdain: Mark 2:7-8; Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7 Why does this fellow talk like that? He s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone? Mark 2:16; When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners? With all this revolution aimed at sin, death, and the devil, the sticking point for the religious leaders was the tradition of fasting. In Old Testament law, there was only one day of compulsory fasting, the Day of Atonement, the day the nation confessed its sin and was forgiven. However, the stricter Jews fasted two days each week, Monday and Thursday. The fast lasted from sun up to sun down. In the late evening, normal eating was allowed. The Pharisees and the followers of John the Baptist followed the pattern of fasting two days a week. The Pharisees were the holiness people of their day; they were the separated ones who sought to separate themselves from evil and evildoers. Jesus ranked them at the top of the list of religious righteousness (Matthew 5:20). Jesus also said it would take more (something different) from their religious righteousness to join the revolution, to enter the kingdom of heaven. The followers of John the Baptist followed the same pattern of fasting. John himself was austere and disciplined (Matthew 11:18; Luke 7:34). The followers of John the Baptist had close connections with the disciples of Jesus. This made it all the more difficult when Jesus departed from the fasting tradition. The critics of John and Jesus went as far as calling John a demon and accusing Jesus of being a glutton and a drunkard (Matthew 11:19). THE POINT: In God s Revolution, the coming of the kingdom, critics latched on to one issue as a point of criticism. We would call it a minor issue, a sticking point, not even mentioned in the 4

Old Testament law. The two- day- a- week- fast was a tradition and pattern that became a contentious battleground. QUESTION: (This is a fiery question; use it only if it is appropriate for your class.) What are the sticking points that serve as criticism for greater changes and advancements in God s kingdom? It is this context that serves as the background for the parables of the cloth and wineskin: 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? (Mark 2:18) Jesus answers the question with a startling reference to the Old Testament image of God coming as the Bridegroom. He illustrates his answer with the parables of the cloth and wineskin. 2- THINK about how the parable changes our perception. Jesus answers the question, How is it that John s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not? 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 (Mark 2:19-20). We think of a wedding as a religious service in a church followed by a meal. In the day of Jesus, the meal was the ceremony. On the appointed day, friends would arrive at the groom s home. The groom would go to the house of the bride, claim her, and bring her back to his home that signaled the wedding feast. Jesus was teaching that during his time on earth, it is not right for his disciples to fast because the Groom was with them; this was the time of the wedding feast. The marriage tradition has deep roots in the Old Testament. The Old Testament looked for the day when the revolution would come, the day God would destroy death and wipe away all tears as the Kingdom advanced. On that day, God would prepare a feast for his bride, his people. For example, Isaiah 25:6: On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine the best of meats and the finest of wines. 5

Here is the shocker! Jesus is comparing himself to the Groom; he is comparing himself to God! Indeed, when Jesus healed the paralyzed man and forgave his sins (Mark 2:1-12), the authorities declared it blasphemy. Who can forgive sins but God alone (Mark 2:12). You are catching on! Jesus is God in flesh. Jesus answer has little to do with Christian piety (fasting). It is a declaration that God s revolution, the Kingdom, is here. God is leading the revolution in Jesus. Rejoice! QUESTION: (Use this one if you sense it is a question your class needs to discuss.) This passage is often taken as a discussion point on fasting. However, that is not the point. The point is that Jesus is with us and we should rejoice. Is an attitude of JOY a Christian duty? Is an attitude of JOY a Christian witness to the world? Are we, as followers of Christ, living a life of joy? What can we do to be more joyful? Jesus continues his point the kingdom is here, rejoice with two parables; the new cloth and the old wineskins. A- The New Cloth Mark 2:21 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. This story only makes sense if we understand that new cloth was unshrunk until it was wet/washed and dried. If you patch an old garment with new cloth, the stronger, newer cloth will shrink and pull apart the older, weaker fabric. The garment will be in worse shape than before the patching. QUESTION: When is patching the old ways the best option? How do we know the time for patching past? Apply A) in our practical living; B) in our spiritual lives; C) in our families; and D) in our church? B- The Wineskins Mark 2:22 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. Wine was placed in the skin of an animal. The wine would ferment. Thus, the skin had to be flexible enough to adapt to the give and take of the new wine. 6

Also, the skin (like a barrel for other types of drink) give the wine a certain flavor. The flavor would become familiar to the owner. To use a new wineskin protected the new wine, but also require the user to give us a particular taste. QUESTION: From this simple parable, two important elements can be teased out for discussion. Identify what is truly the new wine and what is the old wineskin that cannot hold the new wine. PROCESS: Divide the class into small groups. Give each group a pad of Post- it notes. Ask each group to write everything they can think of that is part of our community of faith. (KEY: one item per post- it note!) For example: hymns, offering, Sunday School, God s Spirit, the Word, 9:30 starting time, missions, orchestra, etc. (each item on a different post- it note.) Then, have the groups place the Post- its in the appropriate column. DISCUSS: You will have plenty to discuss. Why are items placed in one column or another? What is it about that item that makes it wine or skin? At some point in the discussion, you may want to intrude with the idea of the familiar flavor the wineskin brings to the wine. Do we really want to keep old wineskins or are we just reluctant to give us the flavor of the wine? CLOSE THE DISCUSSION: Here is a positive and challenging way to conclude the discussion. Emphasis the personal application of the parable: I need to be flexible and open to what God has for me. He called Abraham to a far country and Abraham left all to follow (Genesis 12:1-4). I need to be open to his call and ready to turn loose and follow. This parable especially calls us to be flexible in your thinking, to keep looking for what is the greatest treasure, and to protect it at all costs (even our favorite flavor from the old wineskin). I am rather certain you will not reach a conclusion to this discussion, at least not a conclusion that will satisfy all your class members. This is a good place to remind your class: The parables of Jesus are designed to challenge our perspective. It is our task to apply them. This takes us to prayer. 3- PRAY for an understanding of how to respond. From Jesus answer about the wedding and his two parables, we can derive three lessons for the Christian life: joy, discernment, and flexibility. Here are prayers and thoughts for each. Joy. Lord, fill me with your joy so that I may be a living example of God s revolution, the Kingdom of God at hand. 7

The out- and- out Christian is a joyful Christian. The half- and- half Christian is the kind of Christian that a great many of you are~~~little acquainted with the Lord. Why should we live halfway up the hill and swathed in the mists, when we might have an unclouded sky and a radiant sun over our heads if we would climb higher and walk in the light of His face? ~ Alexander Maclaren What I am anxious to see in Christian believers is a beautiful paradox. I want to see in them the joy of finding God while at the same time they are blessedly pursuing Him. I want to see in them the great joy of having God yet always wanting Him. ~ A. W. Tozer Discernment. Lord, teach me to know the time for patching up the old and the time when patching is over and I need something new. Discernment is God's call to intercession, never to faultfinding. Corrie Ten Boom Faith is the divine evidence whereby the spiritual man discerneth God, and the things of God. John Wesley God does not exist to answer our prayers, but by our prayers we come to discern the mind of God. Oswald Chambers Flexibility. Lord, teach me to be a flexible wineskin in order to hold your new wine. One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. Romans 14:5-6 For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Philippians 2:13 And he said to them, The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. Mark 2:27 8