HOFC Sermon Archive: Gospel of Mark Part 14: Of Wine and Wineskins

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SERMON TIMELINE

1. Introduction

2. John the Baptist

3. The Baptism of Jesus

4. Temptation of Jesus

5. The Preaching Ministry of Jesus I

6. The Preaching Ministry of Jesus II

7. The First Disciples

8. A Teacher with Authority

9. At the Home of Simon and Andrew

10. Jesus Cleanses Leper

11. Jesus Heals the Paralytic

12. Jesus and the Tax Collector

13. Jesus Questioned About Fasting

14. Of Wine and Wineskins

Today is Sunday. April 6^th, 2025

INTRODUCTION

Last week we read about Jesus being questioned about fasting. We saw that the disciples of the Pharisees, and the disciples of John the Baptist (who apparently still remained in John’s teachings and had not converted to Jesus’, both practiced the standard twice a week fasting, while Jesus and His disciples did not.

Jesus basically responded with, they are with the bridegroom, so it is time to feast, but the time for fasting will come, when Jesus would be taken away from them.

Jesus referred to placing new patches on old garments, and placing new wine in old wineskins.

Most remember the illustration of the new wine in old wineskins.

The reason Jesus used these illustrations was to show how incompatible the Jewish system was with His gospel. Some try to teach things beyond what Jesus did, using these verses, which happens often when things in scripture are taken out of context, or when the collapsing on context, or cherry-picking of text is used.

But in-context, Jesus used these illustrations to show how the practices of the Old Covenant were not compatible with the New, and those who were under the New, were no longer under the Old.

When Jesus began His ministry, preaching repent, and place your trust in the Gospel, things had drastically changed in the world, and would never be the same.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE

Mark 2:22

“22 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost and the skins as well; but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins.”

I. THE ILLUSTRATIONS IMPLICATIONS

a. New Wine implies the New Covenant with its New Blessings

i. Jesus implies His teachings are like new wine, which require new wineskins

ii. This “new wine” includes blessings for those who believe in Him

iii. Example: true forgiveness of sins through His sacrifice

1. Hebrews 10:10-12

iv. Also, the blessing of the Holy Spirit in a new way

1. John 7:37-39

New Wine: New blessings for those who would be His disciples

b. New Wineskin implies the New structure (container) the blessings came in

i. Jesus says His blessings, His new way, (new wine) would be packaged in new wineskins

ii. Why? By illustration, the old structure cannot contain the new wine

1. By design, the Old Covenant does not hold the blessings of the New Covenant

2. The things that come with the new cannot be kept or held within the old

iii. This new wineskin (New Covenant) would be the means by which blessings are presented to His disciples, and preserved

1. Example: Through baptism instead of circumcision

a. Colossians 2:11-13

2. Also, through a spiritual tabernacle instead of a physical one

a. Hebrews 9:9-11

iv. Jesus gave His apostles the “structure” by which He wanted all blessings to be presented and shared. We find this in the Apostoclic Doctrine

1. Acts 2:42

2. 1 Corinthians 4:17

3. 1 Corinthians 11:2

4. 1 Corinthians 14:33-37

New wineskins: the new structure by which the blessings would be enjoyed

Once we understand Jesus’ illustrations in context, and why He used wine and wineskins, we will be less likely to misuse or misinterpret, take what Jesus said and apply it where it was never meant to be applied.

II. EXTENSIONS OF HIS ILLUSTRATION

a. Some try to put new wine in old wineskins

i. This is what Jesus said would be inappropriate in regards to fasting

ii. In otherwords, it’s inappropriate to try and force Jesus’ “wine” into the wineskins of the Old Testament

EXAMPLES:

· Separate priesthood instead of the priesthood of all believers

o 1 Peter 2:5,9

· Infant baptism, based on the old testament rite of circumcision

o Colossians 2:11-12

From the very beginning of Jesus’ ministry, many have tried to enwrap Jesus’ wine with old testament wineskins.

b. Some even try to put Jesus’ wine in their own wineskins

i. Taking Jesus’ words and trying to repackage them with the wineskins of modern concepts

ii. They “respect” the aged wine of the teaching, but re-package it for their own gain

EXAMPLES:

· Denominations, sponsoring churches, “local church membership” as opposed to being added to the “Body of Christ”

· Church worship, praise teams

· Purpose of the church, social programs, family entertainment

· Church leadership, popes, metropolitan bishops, priests, apostles, team leaders

· Youth groups/ teaching kids in church

o It’s not biblical

o It is OK if you do this, but it is not required. And its NOT the churches responsibility to teach your kids about the Lord, its YOURS.

o Father’s to teach their children – Ephesians 6:4

o Timothy was taught by his mother and grandmother – 2 Timothy 1:5; 2 Timothy 3:14-15

o Older women are to train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, and pure – Titus 2:3-5

o We are called to train up our children in the way they should go – Proverbs 22:6

o Mothers especially for teaching the children – Luke 2:41-50

I ran into a women who used to attend church years ago, but no longer, and she blamed the church for not teacher her daughters to be good Christians.

I corrected her, because it is NOT the churches responsibility to train children, but the parents.

Trying to place the wine of Jesus into a new wineskin (a new way of doing things) is not appropriate.

This attitude fails to appreciate the value of the original wineskin.

c. Some try to place their own wine in Jesus’ wineskins

i. Some believe the Spirit of God is guiding them to “new revelation”

ii. Though they respect the New Covenant, they try to place their own wine into the wineskin.

iii. They call to “update” the teaching in the church with;

1. New doctrines, social gospel, liberation theology (where freedom from oppression, and social justice and liberation is given to the poor), health and wealth gospel.

2. New lifestyles, filled with all the sins of the flesh imaginable.

This attitude fails to appreciate the value of the original wine of Jesus.

d. And some even put their own wine into their own wineskins

i. These are the truly bold, who not only invent their own wine from their own vain imaginations, but also create a new winwskin in the form of a religion, denomination or belief system, to hold it.

1. Mormons

2. Jehova’s Witnesses

3. Seventh Day Adventists

4. Parachurch organizations

a. Working along with churches, but without the church structure and leadership of the bible, which then leads to their own “wine” and “wineskins,” usually operating as;

i. Humanitarian aid

ii. Evangelism and outreach

iii. Missionaries

iv. Bible translation organizations

v. Social justice

vi. Addiction recovery

b. These, usually non-faithful, though religious, programs operating outside of a biblical new testament church often mis-represent scripture, do not focus on the real ministry of the church (preaching repentance and salvation through trusting the gospel), and should be avoided.

5. There are great organizations within church organizations that are biblical.

a. The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association

b. Franklin Graham’s Samaritan’s Purse

c. Jimmy Swaggart Ministries Family Worship Center

d. John MacArthur’s Grace to You

e. MacArthur’s Master’s Seminary & Master’s College

6. All offering humanitarian aid, evangelism, outreach, missionaries, within the biblical church structure for accountability.

Our own wine in our own wineskins is not what Jesus taught. It is not biblical.

CONCLUSION

Today we see all kinds in the “religious” culture. So many discard not only Jesus’ wine, but His wineskin as well.

Some believe they can “repackage” Jesus’ wine as they see fit

Some even try to replace His wine with “new” wine, or their own wine

How dare anyone believe they can improve on anything Jesus gives to us.

His blessings which are all sufficient to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3)

His wineskins (the structure of the New Covenant) which He presented and preserved these blessings (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Jude 3)

After over 2,000 years, Jesus’ once New Wine, is now Old

And just like real wine, the old is much better than the new because of our growing understanding

Best served from the container n which it has been preserved, the New Covenant

Rather than inventing new wine and new wineskins (like what is done with passing fads and traditions of men) we must seek the wine and wineskins given by Jesus and His Apostles. Listen to the words of Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 6:16

“Thus says Yahweh, “Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths,

Where the good way is, and walk in it; And you will find rest for your souls.

But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’

And I set watchmen over you, saying, ‘Give heed to the sound of the trumpet!’

But they said, ‘We will not give heed.’

18 Therefore hear, O nations, And know, O congregation, what is among them.

19 Hear, O earth: behold, I am bringing evil on this people, The fruit of their plans,

Because they have not given heed to My words, And as for My law, they have rejected it also.

20 For what purpose does frankincense come to Me from Sheba And the sweet cane from a distant land?

Your burnt offerings are not acceptable, And your sacrifices are not pleasing to Me.””

Even in times of old, the Lord told us to walk the narrow path, and heed His words in obedience.

There are those who refuse to walk the narrow path, and find no rest for their souls.

God then says, keep your sacerifices. Without obedience, offerings and sacrifices are not pleasing.

1 Samuel 15:22

“22 And Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, xto obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.”

Hosea 6:6

“6 For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.”

NEXT WEEK: “Part 15: Lord of the Sabbath”

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