November 7, 2001

Reading: Mk: 2:18-22

 

“New wine must be put into new wineskins” (22)

 

There was a time when the old wineskin was new and was fit to receive new wine. High quality wine had been poured into it and for centuries it held its contents without cracking or bursting. The old wineskin speaks of the Old Covenant that contained the Law of God. There was nothing wrong with the Law or the Old Covenant because God gave both. The Law was given to give the Children of Israel a guide for behavior. It laid out how God wanted His people to behave and, as long as they obeyed it, all would be well with them. The flip side of the coin was that disobedience to the Law would incur the wrath of God because disobedience is sin: “For by the law is the knowledge of sin” (Rom: 3:20). “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them” (Gal: 3:10). There was nothing wrong or inadequate with the law, it accomplished that for which it was given: “The law was out tutor (schoolmaster – A.V) to bring us to Christ” (Gal: 3:24).

The reason why the Law brought us to Christ was “that we might be justified by faith” 3:24). The Old Covenant was useful in that it has brought us to the New Covenant. “No one is justified by the law in the sight of God, for the ‘just shall live by faith’” (3:11). “Therefore, by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight” (Rom: 3:20). The New Covenant, brought about by Jesus Christ, is exactly that – NEW. The gospel is new wine made up of salvation, justification, sanctification and every other benefit bestowed on those who believe.

The principle of new wine in new wineskins is why Paul wrote: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Cor: 5:17). “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor Uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation” (Gal: 6:15). At the moment of our conversion we were made a new creature. The old creature could never have the Holy Spirit living in it. The old creature has not been made over, replenished, restored or changed to accept the new wine of the gospel. In order for God’s new wine to be received, He creates new wineskins.

The biggest battle the early church faced was the resistance of the Jews to the New Covenant. The Old Covenant was given to them exclusively to the exclusion of the gentiles. The reason why Paul was beaten, imprisoned and placed in the arena with lions was because he preached a new thing – that gentiles were now included in the plan of God: “Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the gentiles? Yes, of the gentiles also” (Rom: 3:29). “For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace” (Eph: 2:14,15). For preaching this new concept Paul was severely persecuted. To this day, Jews refuse to accept God’s new wine and continue to drink from the old wineskin.

Under the New Covenant Jesus speaks of Himself as the “True Vine.” I am the Vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit” (John 15:1,15). Is there any wonder that Jesus chose to liken His blood, that which ratified the New Covenant, to wine? (Matt: 26:26-29).