Here we at the end of February, and still facing a bit of Corona Virus craziness here in Melbourne, but it is a New Year, and a new season of Covid-normal, and for us, here in Australia, we are now in full swing of the working year. The summer holidays are over. Listening to a lot of church themes for the year, and realising that we have by no means gone back to a normal pre-Covid lifestyle, I am confronted with themes such as, 'all things new', 'breakthrough', and 'overflow'. And in my personal life, I am hoping for / expectant of a significant shift/ change in 2021.
What does it mean to receive 'New Wine' both individually and as a community of Christians? Wine is symbolic of life (and the fullness of life), the Blood of Christ, the Holy Spirit, Joy, Celebration, and
prosperity / blessing.
Newness brings the idea of new life - that the old has gone, but it also brings with it (in a round about way) the ideas of stretching (wineskins capable of holding the new wine as it ferments), death / mourning and being humbled or brought low. Is this what Jesus was talking about when he preached the sermon on the Mount to the masses? I have heard the Beatitudes talked about before as a means by which we approach God, but if we think of new wine as bringing new blessings, the characteristics we need to carry the blessings are quite clear here. As much as I love the Beatitudes, it all sounds a little costly and maybe uncomfortable....
Matthew 5:3-12
He said:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
This last 12 months has been trying for a lot of people to different degrees. As much as we have felt sluggish, a little fearful, caged in and limited in our ability to get on with things, it has also given us space to slow down and recalibrate and reconsider what is important in life. As does the Hillsong song, 'New Wine'. In the pressing, we surrender, so that New Wine may come....
So I yield to You into Your careful hand When I trust You I don't need to understand
Make me Your vessel Make me an offering Make me whatever You want me to be I came here with nothing But all You have given me Jesus bring new wine out of me
'Cause where there is new wine
There is new power
There is new freedom
And the Kingdom is here
I lay down my old flames
To carry Your new fire today
There are a few mentions of wine in the Gospels. Jesus' very first miracle was turning water into wine on the third day of the wedding. It was in some ways, a foretelling of his resurrection on the third day, and it spoke of something extraordinarily good to come. We can also look to the passover meal Jesus shared with his disciples before going to the cross. In the wine, we remember the ultimate and pure sacrifice that Jesus made (his blood poured out for the forgiveness of sin) that came from of the love that God has for us - that we might rightfully receive this new wine/ blessing. We remember this each time we take communion. And there is also the parable of vine and the New wineskins:
John 15: 5 - 9
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.
Matthew 9:17 (TPT)
"...And who would pour fresh, new wine into an old wineskin? Eventually the wine will ferment and make the wineskin burst, losing everything—the wine is spilled and the wineskin ruined. Instead, new wine is always poured into a new wineskin so that both are preserved.”
I like this idea of new wine. A fresh start, a new outpouring of God's goodness through the Holy Spirit and the ideas of breakthrough (a fancy 'Christianese' term meaning a turning point or a God encounter that changes the direction of life). It calls for celebration, creates prosperity and brings healing, wholeness, peace and right relationship with God. So I am open and even though the interim may seem uncomfortable and God's promises might seem a little far fetched, far away and easy to doubt, that is exactly where I intend to set up camp. Humble, open, ready to pour my own life out for others, expectant, and one step closer to the seemingly impossible. I wrote in a previous post about Peter's willingness to jump out of the boat when Jesus appeared in the middle of the sea, in the middle of the night, frightening all who were on board. He had childlike faith, hope and trust, and knew the love of God through his relationship with Jesus. This stuff is real, as much as it sounds like a fairy tale, and the fruit of a supernatural lifestyle is kind of fun and somewhat heady. A bit like a good glass of the best red with an amazing meal really!! Bring it on.
I am preaching to myself here in many ways. I am not super happy (but thankfully, neither am I super unhappy) in my career or in my personal life right now. I think I am just ready for something to change. In the verses prior to verse 17 in Matthew 9 (the new wine / wineskins verse), the religious leaders were quizzing Jesus as to why his disciples didn't fast, and this was his (somewhat puzzling) response. Jesus was suggesting that the discipline of obedience and putting God first (ie fasting) was not needed when the very son of God, himself, was in their midst. But what is needed in this new covenant, is a new mindset, child-like faith and curiosity, some flexibility, a willingness to be stretched and a trust that goes almost beyond reason. Jesus ushered in a new covenant; some new ideas / new t &c's about walking in relationship with God. The old wasn't made redundant (we can and should still fast today), but rather Jesus fulfilled the law in a new (and maybe less legalistic) way. He showed us love and grace. Jesus came declaring that the Kingdom of God had come near, and he brought some pretty spectacular things with his ministry. It remains near to us today, if we call ourselves his disciples.
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