NEW WINESKINS

Matthew 9:16-17 - “No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch tears away from the garment, and a worse tear is made. Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled and the skins are destroyed. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.”

John the Baptist had a few disciples left, and though he had baptized Jesus and called Him, "The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world," (John 1:29), John still wasn't quite sure whether Jesus was the Messiah. So he sent his disciples to Jesus asking, "Why is it You and Your disciples don't keep all the Jewish laws?" (Matthew 9:14, paraphrased) Despite knowing all he did about Jesus, he was unsure of Him because He didn't follow all the rabbinic laws like all the other "good Jews."

Jesus uses a word picture to answer them. "No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch tears away from the garment, and a worse tear is made." (Matthew 9:16) He went on to say the entire piece of clothing needs to be replaced. He said the same about putting new wine into old wineskins - a new wineskin must be used.

Jesus is saying He is the new garment, or the new wineskin. He has come into the world to provide for people what the old, rigid and stale ways can no longer provide. If Jesus was required to live by the same old rules about prescribed eating, washing, fasting, and praying, He would not be able to complete the task God had given Him.

Today we may wonder about new ways in the Church, new liturgies, new hymns, and new expressions of worship. We must take care not to think the old cloth or old wineskin is the only one we can use. The important thing is that the message, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, is present. HOW the Gospel is packaged is far less important than what is in the package. The Good News of Jesus can be explained in many ways. Jesus makes everything new, and for that we thank Him eternally.

Jesus, help us worship and serve You in all kinds of ways. Thank You! Amen.