New Wine Requires New Wineskins. Are Yours Ready?

We Must Know and Understand the Times and Seasons!

In Matt. 9:14-17 Matthew describes a curious exchange between Jesus and the disciples of John the Baptist.

John's disciples were asking Jesus why His disciples didn't fast. When I read this scripture I imagine that John's disciples were a little perturbed by the fact that Jesus was not teaching (or requiring) his disciples to fast because they fasted (possibly reluctantly or out of duty and obligation) and even the Pharisees (who everyone liked to vilify) did their duties of fasting. 

Instead of answering their question with a simple answer, or explaining to them that fasting was more that a simple discipline, duty or obligation to be fulfilled, Jesus decides to talk to them about Bachelor Parties, Clothing and Wine. Wait. What? 

It's true. Jesus uses three seemingly strange and extremely profound analogies to explain to them why his disciples were not fasting and in the process, he teaches us three cool things about the importance of understanding the times we are living in.

The Batchelor Party

1. Jesus basically told John's disciples that His own disciples were pretty much His groomsmen and that since He (the bridegroom) had not yet departed, it would be improper for them to fast. You cannot fast and celebrate at the same time. Duh!

To understand this better, it will be helpful to know that in Jewish tradition, it was customary when young men were getting ready for marriage that they set themselves apart for a season in order to work, save and prepare a home for their bride. The season for socializing and doing life the way they had always done before was over. After the preparation had been made, the bridegroom would return for his bride, marry her and take her to the home he had prepared.

In John 14:3 at the last supper Jesus uses this same analogy to comfort His disciples when He is sharing with them what is about to happen to Him. He explains to them that He is going to His Father's house to prepare a place for them. Culturally, they would have understood by that statement that He intended to return as the bridegroom coming back for His bride.

Now back to the scripture in Matthew, Jesus was in the pre-departure season. It was a time of fellowship with his disciples and a time of doing life together and celebration. He was modelling for us (His church) what life could be like when we believe.

Jesus was basically telling John's disciples that His intention for this short season was to hang with his boys and enjoy this time of mentoring and teaching them about His kingdom. Soon, the time would come for them to grieve the loss of having Him there every day doing life with them, but right now that season had not yet come.

In the first of these three analogies we understand that Jesus was likening this non-fasting period to His bachelor party. Why, because He knew that He came in fulfilment of every single prophetic promise written in the law of Moses and the Prophets. His life on earth was a celebratory season. There was more to do yet at this stage but He knew that He and His disciples were busy about the doing.

This season was not a time to fast.

The Clothing

2. When Jesus died and went to His Father both He and His Bride (the church) entered a season of preparation. 

Just like tradition dictated, Jesus our bridegroom left His bride (us) for a season to go to His Father and prepare a place for us. We know He is coming back and we are making careful preparation for that day.

It is up to us to make ourselves ready, to be waiting for Him and watching for His return. There are way too many scripture references for this posture of preparation and waiting to list here but we know that this is the season the church is currently in.

It is not a lazy waiting were we sit on the couch eating bon-bons. It is a season of active preparation.

He is coming back for a bride without spot or wrinkle. He is coming back for a bride that knows Him and also knows herself. He is coming back for a bride who is united and adorned in her glorious wedding attire. 

In His absence as we are preparing, maturing, growing and stretching to become the prize of our beloved, fasting is appropriate and beneficial. 

When Jesus departed, He left Israel (His beloved) with a rent veil. The church wants to sew a new fabric on to an old garment but Jesus warned us that the shrinkage of the new fabric when washed would cause the original tear to become significantly more pronounced.

This season of preparation and fasting and washing and renewal is necessary so that when we finally are sewn back together there is a beautiful unity that will not cause harm to either the old fabric or the new. 

I believe Jesus is teaching here that just because something is new and seems adequate for the job at hand, doesn't mean that we can just add it to the old and expect everything to work seamlessly. The two fabrics behave differently and unless the new fabric has undergone a thorough cleansing process, it will hinder rather than enhance the precious garment we want to affix it to. It could even damage it beyond repair. 

Unity has been the heart's cry of so many for so long. The time is coming and the spirit is drawing us together. It was Jesus' heart's cry too. In John 17:21 Jesus prays, "I pray for them all to be joined together as one even as you and I, Father, are joined together as one. I pray for them to become one with us so that the world will recognize that you sent me."

The Wine

3. As we are working on preparing our hearts, making ourselves ready and are working towards a corporate unity in the body of Christ, Jesus is preparing the New Wine. 

He warns us though that if we try to pour new wine into an old wineskin the wine will ferment and cause the old brittle wineskin to burst. If that happens both the wine and the skins will be ruined and wasted. 

Jesus is waiting for us, as His Bride, as His Church, as His Body, as His Beloved, to prepare the new wineskin so that the New Wine can be poured in to it. 

Jesus will not pour the new wine, giving birth to the next season, if we are not ready to contain it. It doesn't matter how much we cry out for it, we must be ready for it.

So often we live life only for the present moment and only for the desires and lusts of our flesh. Jesus needs His whole church to hunger for the next season and to become prepared to host His presence in the new way He wants to show up. 

Are we ready for this new outpouring? 

We see in Rev. 19:7 that it is up to the bride to make herself ready. Rev. 22:17 tells us that when we are finally ready, we will join with the Holy Spirit in a beautiful duet and lift our voices in unity to call for our Bridegroom to "come!" Just as He faithfully supplied the wine at the wedding in Cana, He will come again bringing with Him the new wine for the new season.

Let's pray for wisdom and understanding to make our wineskins ready so that we can call confidently for our Bridegrooms return. 

I would love to hear your thoughts on this week's teaching. Please take a moment to write to me and let me know how the Spirit spoke to you. 

Remember to also send me any and all prayer requests and testimonies you have. I love to stay connected with you.

Always know that you are loved and deeply cherished by Jesus and by me.

Photo by Rohit Tandon on Unsplash