New Wine, New Wineskins: Embracing Change with Jesus – Mark 2 v 18-22

Verse 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?'”

Fasting is a practice where believers abstain from food, and sometimes other activities, for a specific period of time. In those days it was a way of expressing repentance and seeking God. So, people are scratching their heads, wondering why Jesus’ and his disciples aren’t fasting like everyone else. Is it a legitimate question or another case of the Pharisees trying to catch Jesus out?

Verse 19-20: “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. But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast.'”

In answer, Jesus says, “Fasting can wait.” He uses pictures that everyone can understand which is why he talks about a wedding. At a wedding we celebrate, we don’t fast and while I am here let’s enjoy the celebration. When I’m gone, that’s when fasting makes sense. He keeps hinting throughout Mark that he won’t be here all the time. The disciples and those around him didn’t understand what he meant. Don’t worry, if you don’t understand, as we read on Jesus makes it clearer.

Verse 21-22: “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. 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.'”

And now Jesus uses another picture that all will understand. It might be difficult for us to pick up on what Jesus means with the wineskin. It is usually made from animal skin (usually sheep or goat) and is sewn together to create a flexible pouch. You can imagine the mess that would be made if you pour wine into an old skin and it splits. You wasted your wine.

So what is the point. Jesus is talking about change. Jesus uses the analogy of cloth patches and wineskins to talk about change. You don’t patch old clothes with new fabric, and you don’t put new wine in old wineskins. Why? Because change is disruptive, and if you try to contain new things in old ways, it doesn’t work. It’s like trying to fit the latest smartphone into a case meant for the first-ever cell phone.

Contrary to what you might see in some churches, Jesus is not about rigid traditions, he wants us to enjoy his presence, he is the one who brings joy and celebration. Jesus is saying there is a time for fasting and a time for celebration. Change and tradition can co-exist… but we need to understand and get the timing right.

But even when the time is right, we need to recognise that change can be disruptive. Encouraging others to fully embrace the new, when they simply want to hold on to the old can be difficult. But we all need to be thinking of new ways of thinking and doing things.

So, let’s be people that know how to celebrate with Jesus, understands the timing of change, embraces the disruptive nature of transformation, and is ready for new wine in new wineskins. Because with Jesus, the celebration is just beginning!