Scripture

“No one puts new wine into an old wine skin. For the old skin would burst from the pressure, spilling the wine and ruining the skin. New wine is stored in new wine skins so that both are preserved.”

Observation

Some disciples of John the Baptist ask Jesus why His disciples don’t fast like they and the disciples of the Pharisees do. Jesus replies that this is a wedding feast and not a time for fasting. It is time for new wine and new wine skins, so the old seasons are passing away.

The leader of a synagogue comes and pleads with Jesus to raise his daughter who has just died. As Jesus is going to his house, a woman who has suffered prolonged bleeding comes and touches the hem of his garment. Instantly, she is healed.

At the synagogue leader’s house, Jesus removes the mourners. He then takes the girl by the hand and she stands up alive.

Application

The kingdom of God is a new age, a new era. The new wine, representing the Holy Spirit, is poured out on all who will receive it.

To contain this new wine, a new wine skin has been created. It is called the church.

The people of the Holy Spirit, the followers of Jesus, are birthed into a new way of living, a new way of relating to the Father that was not available in the old ways.

Religious practices such as prayer and fasting are repurposed. In the old age, people prayed and fasted to impress God, but now we pray and fast to draw near to God. Worship was once to a God “out there”, but now it is to the God who is “in here.”

In the past, the Holy Spirit was only available to a few people. But now He is in all of us.

We are the people of the new wine! Drink in all that He wants to give you.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, please forgive me for old wine skin thinking. Thank you for the Holy Spirit who gives me new life in all its fullness. Amen.