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Mark 2:21-22
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.
A relationship with Jesus is fresh. Jesus calls us to leave the old and embrace the new. We cannot drag our past sin or worn out beliefs along behind us. Jesus makes us new creations. He allows us to begin again.
Using the illustrations of a garment and a wineskin, Jesus explains this new life we have in Him. No one sews an unshrunk cloth on an old garment to repair a tear. When the new cloth becomes wet it will shrink and pull away. New wine in a worn out wineskin is a recipe for disaster. When the new wine ferments and expands it will burst the old wineskin, which has lost its elasticity.
A relationship with Jesus is fresh. Is there any past baggage you are dragging along? Are you trying to fit Jesus’ teaching into an old belief system? Are you willing to embrace the new life that Jesus has for you? If anyone is in Christ the new has come; the old is gone (2 Cor. 5:17).
Father, help me embrace this new life with Jesus. By Your Spirit, help me cut ties with my past baggage which is dragging me down. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Today on The Journey Broadcast:
I have heard this parable many times, today I wondered…what happens to the old wineskins. After some quick searching, nothing deep or scholarly, I found an answer. Apparently, the old wineskins can be made fresh again. What a wonderful picture of a renewal and reconditioning to allow something old to be made fresh again so that it can receive the new!
Thanks for your comments, Brandi!