Mark 2:20-22 - New wine

2:20

But while now was a time for feasting, a time for fasting would come. We do have a terrible habit of making traditions, and then laws, out of anything. We also have an equally terrible habit of ditching things that are meant to be for all time. John’s disciples needed to recognise what was happening, to discern the times. Indeed, to fully grasp what John was actually teaching. A teacher’s disciples are often the worst proponents of the teaching. The same could be said for some Calvinists!

2:21

Jesus was the fulfilment of the Law, the gospel is the continuation of the Old Testament, ie the two are completely in harmony. However, we also need to recognise that the New also takes us into a radically new phase. In one sense the Old is highlighting the nature of the problems, the New unveils God’s solution. John’s disciples needed to appreciate the nature of the new. The gospel is definitely more than a repair job on mankind. It is about being born again and about a new creation. Indeed, if we treat it as a mere repair job on humanity we will cause nothing much trouble.

2:22

Jesus then uses another analogy. Wine was kept in wine skins, and if one poured new wine into an old wine skin, far from containing the new wine it would burst. The new wine needs new wine skins. Likewise, the gospel requires a new paradigm.