WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.320 Welcome to Ontario Community Church, where we are encouraging, equipping, and engaging lives for Christ. 00:00:06.320 --> 00:00:14.740 ! I'm Pastor Patrick Daly, and each week I share sermons that balance the grace and love of Jesus Christ with the truth of the Word of God. 00:00:15.359 --> 00:00:21.179 Together, we'll explore Scripture using observation, interpretation, and application. 00:00:21.839 --> 00:00:26.039 This helps us discover practical ways to live out our faith every single day. 00:00:26.460 --> 00:00:29.039 Let's dive in together into God's Word. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:33.340 So how many of you have read that parable before? 00:00:33.939 --> 00:00:35.899 It's kind of a confusing one, isn't it? 00:00:35.980 --> 00:00:40.439 Let's be honest here. Even in preparation, there's a lot of debate on what's going on. 00:00:40.519 --> 00:00:50.159 There's this kind of very strange language that's going on about cloths and wine and wineskins and fasting and all of these things that are going on. 00:00:50.620 --> 00:00:58.460 Like any parable that we've been going through, there is a lot of simplicity, but there's also a lot of depth in it. 00:00:58.460 --> 00:01:07.519 We've been going through the parables of Christ, and we've been seeing that there's a lot of hidden meanings that is in there. 00:01:07.519 --> 00:01:19.019 And it helps us not only understand the grand narrative within Scripture, the grand story, but it also helps us see there's more than what meets the eye, as it were. 00:01:19.659 --> 00:01:24.340 And so in verses like this, it's like, okay, there's a lot to unpack here. 00:01:24.340 --> 00:01:28.320 So what I'd like to do first and foremost, there is a video, as Mark was mentioning. 00:01:29.100 --> 00:01:32.020 Before we play that, I want to kind of give you a disclaimer here. 00:01:33.240 --> 00:01:37.980 How many of you, you might get a little overwhelmed with how quick technology is changing, right? 00:01:38.040 --> 00:01:39.420 You can raise your hand on this one. 00:01:39.460 --> 00:01:41.760 Even for me, it's a little overwhelming. 00:01:41.760 --> 00:01:49.280 With the rise of technology and artificial intelligence and all of these things that are happening in the world, 00:01:49.280 --> 00:01:56.140 it gives us as Christians the opportunity for us to utilize them as a tool for Christ. 00:01:56.840 --> 00:02:01.680 And so for those of you here last week, you saw the Children in the Marketplace video. 00:02:01.939 --> 00:02:05.200 That was entirely created by artificial intelligence. 00:02:05.880 --> 00:02:08.480 And I'm thinking in my mind, that's insane. 00:02:08.479 --> 00:02:14.359 Now we can go on about like, well, what are the limitations of what it can and cannot do? 00:02:14.739 --> 00:02:20.459 But it's important for us, much like when cell phones came out, when the internet was rising, 00:02:20.459 --> 00:02:26.679 and all of these databases is that they are tools that we can use for good or for evil. 00:02:27.459 --> 00:02:33.639 And in seeing what this technology can do, we can use it for ministry. 00:02:33.639 --> 00:02:40.099 And finally having available, putting to life stories within scripture. 00:02:40.919 --> 00:02:44.159 And so the Children in the Marketplace video was kind of the first test. 00:02:44.639 --> 00:02:47.299 And I want to go ahead, let's watch this together. 00:02:47.679 --> 00:02:50.299 You'll see some of this parable come to life. 00:02:50.359 --> 00:02:51.079 So let's go ahead. 00:02:51.080 --> 00:03:21.060 Let's go ahead. 00:03:21.080 --> 00:03:26.080 The old is good. 00:03:26.080 --> 00:03:26.080 00:03:30.860 --> 00:03:38.720 So you have just 40 seconds here, kind of showing part of the symbolism and the representations of what's going on in this parable. 00:03:38.920 --> 00:03:43.480 You have this guy here who's drinking the wine. 00:03:43.479 --> 00:03:52.120 And just as it says right out of the text here, let's go ahead and turn there, turn your Bibles to page 1024 in your ESV Pew Bible. 00:03:52.120 --> 00:04:00.020 It was really great to have the guy say, the old is good, just as it was saying in scripture here. 00:04:00.020 --> 00:04:09.379 And we're seeing kind of in the beginning, you have this first clip where there's wine that's being poured into a new wineskin. 00:04:09.500 --> 00:04:13.260 You see kind of this wedding feast as the second scene. 00:04:13.259 --> 00:04:19.899 And then the third thing is you see what looks like someone who's putting together clothes, kind of patching something together. 00:04:20.120 --> 00:04:27.879 And then finally, you have this gentleman who's sitting there and is drinking this wine saying the old is good. 00:04:27.879 --> 00:04:36.839 In order for us to even begin to understand, I had Mark read verse 33 onwards. 00:04:37.219 --> 00:04:42.860 But I want to invite us to go even further back to help us understand the scene here. 00:04:42.860 --> 00:04:53.520 Let's go to page 1023 and we'll begin in verse 27 here where Jesus calls Levi. 00:04:54.639 --> 00:05:03.699 And it says, after this, he went out and he saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax booth. 00:05:04.300 --> 00:05:06.680 And he said to him, follow me. 00:05:07.060 --> 00:05:10.340 And leaving everything, he rose and followed him. 00:05:10.339 --> 00:05:13.060 And Levi, what did he do? 00:05:14.439 --> 00:05:17.699 He made a great feast in his house. 00:05:18.099 --> 00:05:21.739 And there was a large company of tax collectors and others. 00:05:22.079 --> 00:05:23.839 Oh, those sinners, right? 00:05:24.579 --> 00:05:25.519 Sitting with him. 00:05:25.679 --> 00:05:28.959 And the Pharisees and the scribes, what did they do? 00:05:29.000 --> 00:05:30.479 Were they happy about this? 00:05:31.000 --> 00:05:31.759 No, they grumbled. 00:05:32.159 --> 00:05:37.839 They grumbled his disciples saying, why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners? 00:05:37.839 --> 00:05:40.439 Well, first off, who invited them to the party here? 00:05:40.659 --> 00:05:44.419 You know, it sounds kind of like a downer at this party. 00:05:45.019 --> 00:05:52.379 But Jesus answers them saying, those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 00:05:53.199 --> 00:05:58.539 Well, the implication for this is, well, just in the same way that we're all in sinners need of a savior. 00:05:59.039 --> 00:06:00.699 We need the great physician. 00:06:01.139 --> 00:06:02.919 We need the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:06:02.920 --> 00:06:08.400 And it goes on in 32, I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. 00:06:09.879 --> 00:06:11.860 That's when it goes into this scene. 00:06:12.800 --> 00:06:17.080 The disciples of John fast often, and they offer prayers. 00:06:17.640 --> 00:06:19.480 And so do the disciples of the Pharisees. 00:06:19.480 --> 00:06:27.819 Now, it's interesting to see, right even before this parable, you're seeing kind of this separation with those who follow John the Baptist, 00:06:28.000 --> 00:06:31.980 those who are the disciples of the Pharisees, that they are fasting. 00:06:32.140 --> 00:06:34.640 They have more restriction in their life. 00:06:35.300 --> 00:06:35.400 Right? 00:06:35.500 --> 00:06:39.340 The disciples of John, John the Baptist, fast often and offer prayers. 00:06:39.680 --> 00:06:43.220 And so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink. 00:06:43.840 --> 00:06:46.300 Does this sound familiar from what we had last week? 00:06:46.300 --> 00:06:46.740 Right? 00:06:47.480 --> 00:06:54.300 Where the children in the marketplace, they weren't happy whether there was joy and dancing or whether there was a time of mourning. 00:06:54.420 --> 00:06:58.740 It's very similar language here where they're saying, come on, Jesus. 00:06:59.540 --> 00:07:01.800 Your disciples are party animals. 00:07:01.920 --> 00:07:03.340 We can't have that going on. 00:07:03.860 --> 00:07:05.500 That's essentially what's happening here. 00:07:06.879 --> 00:07:12.840 And Jesus said to them, can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? 00:07:13.000 --> 00:07:15.460 And I want to take a moment for us to understand that. 00:07:15.459 --> 00:07:16.839 The fasting, right? 00:07:16.879 --> 00:07:23.079 We have the dietary restrictions, but also why they would fast during that time. 00:07:23.399 --> 00:07:28.139 You see, fasting was for a time of mourning and a time of grieving. 00:07:28.339 --> 00:07:38.039 So what's fascinating about this is Christ is asking, when you're at a feast, a wedding feast or a wedding celebration, right? 00:07:38.040 --> 00:07:39.680 Are you really going to be mourning? 00:07:40.220 --> 00:07:42.460 Are you really going to not be eating? 00:07:42.600 --> 00:07:47.780 Or are you going to be in the present moment celebrating the bride and the bridegroom? 00:07:48.439 --> 00:07:51.439 That's why I had this question that was asked in the beginning. 00:07:51.600 --> 00:07:55.480 When was the last time that you joined in a celebration? 00:07:55.480 --> 00:08:04.540 Now, you don't have to raise your hand, but I hope you get invited every once in a while to an anniversary or a job, work promotion or a birthday party, at least. 00:08:04.860 --> 00:08:07.740 And maybe you should have a birthday party if you haven't in a while. 00:08:07.780 --> 00:08:08.960 It's really cool to have. 00:08:09.259 --> 00:08:12.600 But what's really great about this is it's a time of celebration. 00:08:12.600 --> 00:08:22.740 It's a time for us to not mourn necessarily, but it's a time for joyful reflection, just like what you saw in the scenes of that video. 00:08:24.620 --> 00:08:30.560 Sometimes there are people that are kind of invited to a party and they're not really participating. 00:08:30.900 --> 00:08:33.139 And that's kind of what you're seeing here. 00:08:33.139 --> 00:08:42.840 And so Jesus is then saying the day the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them and then they will fast in those days. 00:08:42.960 --> 00:08:49.279 So this is very interesting because the bridegroom is a representation of Christ. 00:08:49.279 --> 00:08:53.779 And we have found this in the parabolic language throughout Scripture. 00:08:53.779 --> 00:09:02.340 If you remember the parable of the ten virgins, they were all waiting for the return of the bridegroom. 00:09:02.340 --> 00:09:05.420 To come back for the celebrations. 00:09:05.639 --> 00:09:12.160 Now, if you remember that parable, some had oil that was filled in their lamps in preparation and some did not. 00:09:12.519 --> 00:09:16.660 And it's very similar language here where you have the bridegroom. 00:09:16.740 --> 00:09:18.160 That's representing Christ. 00:09:18.480 --> 00:09:23.220 How many of you have heard the language that the church is the bride of Christ? 00:09:24.200 --> 00:09:27.720 You don't have to raise your hand, but just understand, right? 00:09:27.820 --> 00:09:30.680 So therefore, the bridegroom is Christ. 00:09:30.679 --> 00:09:37.979 And it's about this time of, there's a time of celebration and which is representing the first coming. 00:09:38.599 --> 00:09:41.519 Christ will go away and he will return. 00:09:41.799 --> 00:09:50.739 And that time period is a representation of the time that God gives to us to turn to him, to prepare for him, 00:09:51.139 --> 00:09:54.659 to prepare our minds and our hearts for Christ. 00:09:54.659 --> 00:10:00.039 Some of us may know that language of, it is now the day of salvation. 00:10:00.839 --> 00:10:05.879 We have to think in this, that's what Christ is speaking about. 00:10:06.039 --> 00:10:11.879 The days will come when the bridegroom is away from them and they will fast in those days. 00:10:11.879 --> 00:10:14.259 So then it's going on here. 00:10:15.700 --> 00:10:20.480 So you have, think for a moment, there's a great feast that's happening. 00:10:20.939 --> 00:10:25.740 You have these Pharisees and these scribes who are confronting Jesus. 00:10:26.500 --> 00:10:33.100 Now, very often when we see these kind of questionings that's happening from the scribes and the Pharisees, 00:10:33.259 --> 00:10:34.860 it's a heart issue. 00:10:34.860 --> 00:10:37.560 Why don't you follow this tradition? 00:10:37.820 --> 00:10:40.220 Why don't you do what you're supposed to do? 00:10:40.980 --> 00:10:44.879 And they're missing the point of what Christ is going for. 00:10:45.320 --> 00:10:47.800 Of course, they didn't approve of the eating and drinking. 00:10:49.080 --> 00:10:52.220 And so, as I mentioned, the bridegroom equals Christ. 00:10:52.560 --> 00:10:56.779 And the eating and drinking is a representation of celebration. 00:10:56.779 --> 00:10:57.220 Right? 00:10:58.279 --> 00:11:01.759 So it says, the bridegroom represents Christ. 00:11:01.959 --> 00:11:03.740 So fasting represents mourning. 00:11:04.059 --> 00:11:06.159 Feasting represents celebration. 00:11:06.579 --> 00:11:11.439 And wine, then, is a representation of life. 00:11:11.779 --> 00:11:13.459 New versus old. 00:11:14.480 --> 00:11:16.139 When you take communion, 00:11:17.360 --> 00:11:22.459 the bread is a representation of the body of Christ. 00:11:22.579 --> 00:11:22.759 Right? 00:11:22.759 --> 00:11:29.019 It's also a representation of the manna that was provided for the people of God. 00:11:29.679 --> 00:11:35.460 The wine is also a representation of the blood that was poured out from Christ. 00:11:35.740 --> 00:11:41.500 It is also a representation, just as Christ said, this is the new covenant. 00:11:42.319 --> 00:11:48.080 So it's the life that is being poured into the new wineskin, as it were. 00:11:48.080 --> 00:11:55.220 So now we're starting to see that there is, the wineskin is a representation of a covenant. 00:11:56.639 --> 00:12:00.900 And so in this, then, Christ is speaking of an old and new garment. 00:12:02.400 --> 00:12:08.180 I want you to remember this thing, this whole notion of celebrating and mourning. 00:12:09.000 --> 00:12:12.879 It's not, Christ is not saying that you should never mourn. 00:12:13.700 --> 00:12:16.259 Christ is not saying you should never celebrate. 00:12:16.259 --> 00:12:20.899 But each of these things should happen at their proper time. 00:12:21.220 --> 00:12:27.419 Much like how Scripture speaks, there is a time for, well, in Ecclesiastes, right? 00:12:27.480 --> 00:12:30.200 There's a time for everything under the sun. 00:12:31.259 --> 00:12:35.779 And we have to think that when it comes to Christ being present, 00:12:36.659 --> 00:12:40.460 when it comes to the opportunity for us to turn to salvation, 00:12:40.460 --> 00:12:44.460 that is a time for us to celebrate in Christ. 00:12:44.460 --> 00:12:49.160 And so Christ is speaking of the old and the new garment. 00:12:49.280 --> 00:12:50.720 I want to turn back there real quick. 00:12:51.879 --> 00:12:53.460 He also told them a parable. 00:12:53.620 --> 00:12:58.120 No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old garment. 00:12:58.340 --> 00:13:00.660 What in the world is Christ saying here? 00:13:01.120 --> 00:13:03.060 Now, some of you, you might have patched clothes. 00:13:03.180 --> 00:13:08.660 You might be thinking for a moment, wait a minute, Lord, I've patched my jeans that had a hole in them 00:13:08.659 --> 00:13:09.879 and put that in there. 00:13:10.279 --> 00:13:16.839 What Christ is talking about here is that the old and the new garment are incompatible. 00:13:16.939 --> 00:13:22.399 In fact, in the Gospel of Mark, it actually gives us a little more detail. 00:13:22.399 --> 00:13:29.340 In saying that the new cloth will shrink and it will tear the old cloth. 00:13:29.559 --> 00:13:31.480 That actually helps us a lot more. 00:13:31.959 --> 00:13:38.799 It's not to say, you know, don't ever put new cloth with your clothing. 00:13:38.959 --> 00:13:41.819 It's talking more in the sense of covenants. 00:13:41.820 --> 00:13:50.580 Now, when we're talking about back then, patching, there's going to be this shrinking that can ruin the garment here. 00:13:50.740 --> 00:13:54.000 So it's a little hard for us to understand nowadays, 00:13:54.460 --> 00:14:01.640 but it's something that is explained even further with the wine and the wineskin. 00:14:01.639 --> 00:14:07.580 And so you have then in verse 37 and 38, 00:14:09.039 --> 00:14:12.080 no one puts new wine into old wineskins. 00:14:12.480 --> 00:14:17.500 If he does, the new wine will burst and it will be spilled and the skins will be destroyed. 00:14:17.899 --> 00:14:21.000 But new wine must be poured into fresh wineskins. 00:14:21.059 --> 00:14:24.679 I had to look this up to see what exactly is going on here. 00:14:24.679 --> 00:14:28.720 When you pour the new wine into the new wineskin, 00:14:28.819 --> 00:14:31.480 there is the fermentation process that happens. 00:14:32.240 --> 00:14:35.779 And there's this, the wine is basically active, right? 00:14:35.779 --> 00:14:39.899 When we think of bread, for example, that it's basically living, it's working. 00:14:40.139 --> 00:14:45.120 It's the same thing with wine in the fermenting process that it will expand. 00:14:45.679 --> 00:14:52.120 Now, if you put that into an old wineskin, very typically back then, a wineskin was used once. 00:14:52.879 --> 00:14:55.480 That helps us understand a lot better. 00:14:56.399 --> 00:14:58.439 And I think, well, we don't really use wineskins. 00:14:58.600 --> 00:15:01.340 I mean, has any of us used wine and wineskins? 00:15:01.340 --> 00:15:03.960 Don't raise your hand if you do, right? 00:15:04.720 --> 00:15:07.740 But it's to show, okay, that was something that was more cultural, 00:15:07.899 --> 00:15:14.000 is that it's about the fermenting process that happens within wine to make it suitable for drink 00:15:14.000 --> 00:15:16.340 at these feasts or whatever. 00:15:16.340 --> 00:15:26.040 And so in this, we think, okay, the new wine is alive. 00:15:26.480 --> 00:15:30.899 It is being poured out into the new wineskin then. 00:15:30.899 --> 00:15:33.519 It ferments and it expands. 00:15:33.519 --> 00:15:41.600 So putting new wine into old wineskin in that place, it would cause them to burst. 00:15:41.679 --> 00:15:47.799 And you saw that imagery in that video where it kind of was just in there and then it just kind of cracked. 00:15:47.799 --> 00:15:53.219 And then the wine starts seeping out to kind of give you a visual of what that would look like. 00:15:53.279 --> 00:15:57.019 And you can look on YouTube for any further things on this. 00:15:57.059 --> 00:16:04.099 It's just very interesting when we're talking about wine going through that fermentation process. 00:16:04.100 --> 00:16:10.560 And then finally then, you have that verse 39. 00:16:10.800 --> 00:16:14.980 Now, this was a very interesting one because let's go there. 00:16:15.080 --> 00:16:16.000 Verse 39. 00:16:16.340 --> 00:16:21.680 And no one after drinking old wine desires new, for he's saying the old is good. 00:16:22.040 --> 00:16:25.500 This person is not saying the old is best. 00:16:25.600 --> 00:16:29.240 In fact, the language is actually saying the old is enough. 00:16:29.240 --> 00:16:38.139 So Christ is saying, you know, we may get into our habits of drinking a certain type of wine, as it were. 00:16:38.139 --> 00:16:45.259 But what Christ is offering is something that is young, something that is alive, and something that is expanding. 00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:53.779 That sounds very similar to what we have seen in other parables with the seed being planted into the ground and expanding. 00:16:54.019 --> 00:16:58.820 Or like it mentions in Daniel 2, the stone that expands into the mountain. 00:16:59.240 --> 00:17:14.380 It's about what Christ is providing, newness of life into the new covenant, because the old system, the old wine in the old wineskin, is representing the old covenant. 00:17:15.200 --> 00:17:20.319 So what Christ is offering here is something that is new. 00:17:20.519 --> 00:17:23.940 And we can see how consistent this is within Scripture. 00:17:25.079 --> 00:17:27.599 That God makes things new, amen? 00:17:27.599 --> 00:17:33.139 That God is the God of transformation, of healing and comfort and of joy. 00:17:33.139 --> 00:17:41.379 And we find that, okay, that helps us understand what Christ is going for when it comes to wine and wineskins. 00:17:41.380 --> 00:17:59.480 And so, it's very interesting to see that the Pharisees and the disciples of the Pharisees and the disciples of John the Baptist were following this more old, rigid system. 00:17:59.480 --> 00:18:11.960 We think of the old covenant and the old, rigid system being a sort of list of rules that you could never fulfill completely. 00:18:11.960 --> 00:18:15.360 Now, how many of you have signed a contract? 00:18:15.360 --> 00:18:16.640 Do not raise your hand, please. 00:18:17.200 --> 00:18:22.059 You signed a contract before and you didn't understand the terms and conditions, right? 00:18:22.160 --> 00:18:27.620 Or if you downloaded a new game on your iPhone and you're like, what is this? 00:18:27.660 --> 00:18:30.400 You just scroll past it and you click accept, right? 00:18:30.819 --> 00:18:33.120 Some of us have done that before, right? 00:18:33.259 --> 00:18:34.720 You download new software. 00:18:34.900 --> 00:18:37.740 You sign a contract and you're like, I don't understand this. 00:18:37.740 --> 00:18:40.980 And you're being bound by these rules and these regulations. 00:18:41.240 --> 00:18:47.400 I like to joke about HOAs as being another system that constantly is changing, right? 00:18:47.480 --> 00:18:52.500 When the enforcement of all of these rules we can think of in our own life. 00:18:52.859 --> 00:18:56.839 Well, that's one way that we can see the old covenant then. 00:18:57.779 --> 00:19:01.839 That it was so many rules and restrictions that you couldn't fulfill them. 00:19:03.000 --> 00:19:03.480 What is it? 00:19:03.519 --> 00:19:07.359 The over 600 laws that was provided to the Jewish people? 00:19:07.359 --> 00:19:08.539 Who could fulfill that? 00:19:08.719 --> 00:19:13.219 But it was to show that you couldn't do it on your own. 00:19:13.459 --> 00:19:16.119 That you needed the Lord for guidance. 00:19:16.799 --> 00:19:21.659 And that new way was provided by the new wine. 00:19:21.939 --> 00:19:23.299 The new covenant. 00:19:23.879 --> 00:19:25.079 The new wineskin. 00:19:25.299 --> 00:19:32.000 And we even think very much about how this Sunday is Pentecost Sunday. 00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:41.339 We think of the pouring out of the Holy Spirit, which is very similar in language to the pouring out of the new wine. 00:19:42.099 --> 00:19:45.539 So there's a kind of a nice connection that happens there. 00:19:45.539 --> 00:19:53.500 And so the bridegroom is pointing symbolically to Jesus as the Messiah. 00:19:54.079 --> 00:19:55.539 There's a verse in Isaiah. 00:19:55.720 --> 00:19:58.240 It's actually in your notes if you want to turn there real quick. 00:19:58.460 --> 00:20:03.019 And it's a very beautiful one because we see it in Revelation. 00:20:03.460 --> 00:20:06.399 We see it in Isaiah and a couple times in the Gospels. 00:20:06.400 --> 00:20:14.560 As the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you. 00:20:15.259 --> 00:20:26.680 And it's this very, very commonly we find within Scripture this feast, this wedding feast and celebration language, this preparation for God. 00:20:26.680 --> 00:20:31.860 And so the bridegroom is shown in John and Revelation, the garment. 00:20:32.039 --> 00:20:33.519 There's a lot of verses in there. 00:20:33.580 --> 00:20:39.140 But what I found the most fascinating is how it is tied in with Pentecost Sunday. 00:20:40.440 --> 00:20:42.000 How awesome is that? 00:20:43.380 --> 00:20:45.299 And so this leads us then. 00:20:45.420 --> 00:20:52.840 It's still like a lot to think about because you have like it's so this parable is so jam packed in here. 00:20:52.839 --> 00:21:04.059 That we have to look at it from the perspective of a time to celebrate and a time to mourn and that God is providing a new way in him. 00:21:04.459 --> 00:21:07.679 That would be the easier way for us to understand that. 00:21:08.179 --> 00:21:11.419 And so then it comes to the interpretation. 00:21:16.039 --> 00:21:21.079 Jesus' presence and promise calls for celebration. 00:21:21.079 --> 00:21:32.319 The very idea that Christ came to the earth and fulfilled prophecy should help us not only believe in him, but know that God is consistent. 00:21:33.319 --> 00:21:34.659 It is the change. 00:21:34.779 --> 00:21:41.799 It is transformation going from the mystery that was hidden in the Old Testament to the revelation of Christ. 00:21:42.220 --> 00:21:49.439 In other words, meaning that God had a plan all along, even though human beings may not have seen it. 00:21:49.440 --> 00:21:54.759 And how blessed we are to know that Christ was born in that manger. 00:21:54.920 --> 00:22:04.240 And he performed these miracles and he taught these very amazing, but very thought provoking parables, lessons. 00:22:04.240 --> 00:22:13.299 The death, the burial and the resurrection of Christ, all of that being a fulfillment of the scriptures is the foundation of our faith. 00:22:13.559 --> 00:22:19.579 And this should be a cause for us to celebrate and to join in the celebration. 00:22:20.440 --> 00:22:28.380 I don't know about you, but there's no way that I can fulfill the over 600 laws that was provided for God's people. 00:22:28.380 --> 00:22:31.060 I can't do it on my own. 00:22:31.060 --> 00:22:33.420 And let's be honest, you can't either. 00:22:34.740 --> 00:22:36.200 That's for us to consider. 00:22:36.400 --> 00:22:39.760 We need Christ as our Lord and our Savior. 00:22:41.500 --> 00:22:51.600 Let us respond then in joining in the celebration by believing in the Lord, believing in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. 00:22:51.599 --> 00:22:59.379 First, understanding the new covenant that whosoever believes shall not perish, but have eternal life. 00:23:00.159 --> 00:23:04.779 And understanding the new wine or in essence, the new life that is in him. 00:23:05.019 --> 00:23:09.480 The second thing that's kind of all connected is that the new covenant changes everything. 00:23:10.339 --> 00:23:13.719 Just as I said, try following those 600 laws. 00:23:13.779 --> 00:23:15.379 I'm not going to hold you accountable to them. 00:23:15.380 --> 00:23:17.920 But it's very difficult. 00:23:18.400 --> 00:23:22.480 I mean, it's very difficult for us to even obey traffic laws at times, right? 00:23:22.940 --> 00:23:25.220 We see people that cut us off all the time. 00:23:25.340 --> 00:23:27.660 And it's like, you can't even follow the speed limit. 00:23:27.660 --> 00:23:28.560 What's going on here? 00:23:29.000 --> 00:23:33.880 If you're going and driving into Boise, no matter how fast you drive, there's someone that still passes you. 00:23:34.200 --> 00:23:36.000 Let's be honest here, right? 00:23:36.740 --> 00:23:37.920 That's just one law. 00:23:38.040 --> 00:23:40.900 I mean, let's try having hundreds of them to follow. 00:23:40.900 --> 00:23:49.600 And so in that, we have to think what God has provided in this new covenant changes everything. 00:23:50.080 --> 00:23:52.740 That it is not about what we do. 00:23:52.880 --> 00:23:55.519 It is about what has been done for us in Christ. 00:23:56.860 --> 00:23:59.660 That salvation being available for everyone. 00:24:00.280 --> 00:24:02.860 Look, it doesn't matter what it is you have been through. 00:24:02.960 --> 00:24:05.360 It doesn't matter what you are going through. 00:24:05.460 --> 00:24:07.019 It doesn't matter who you are. 00:24:07.019 --> 00:24:10.960 But salvation is available for everyone who believes in him. 00:24:11.279 --> 00:24:13.740 And that is incredible. 00:24:15.279 --> 00:24:19.900 How many of us are so used to the world where it's checklists? 00:24:20.619 --> 00:24:23.740 You do X, Y, and Z, and you get your job promotion. 00:24:23.960 --> 00:24:30.819 You do A, B, and C, and you go from first grade to second, and so on and so forth. 00:24:30.940 --> 00:24:35.539 It makes logical sense for us to think, well, that's how salvation should work. 00:24:35.539 --> 00:24:45.740 But to think of how Christ is offering salvation to everyone, regardless of income, regardless of height, regardless of if you're good looking or not. 00:24:46.019 --> 00:24:48.379 All of this for everyone. 00:24:49.200 --> 00:24:52.159 Now that is the God that I believe in. 00:24:53.240 --> 00:24:56.339 That is the God that we worship and love. 00:24:56.339 --> 00:24:59.639 We see in here. 00:25:00.639 --> 00:25:04.319 The old religious system is one that is of works. 00:25:04.919 --> 00:25:05.539 And it cannot. 00:25:05.779 --> 00:25:09.919 Remember when we're thinking about this imagery of wine and wineskins. 00:25:10.599 --> 00:25:16.879 The new covenant being wine cannot be contained in the old system. 00:25:16.880 --> 00:25:21.980 Because like the old wineskin receiving new wine, it would break. 00:25:23.140 --> 00:25:28.160 And that imagery makes us think for a moment, that's how Christ changes everything. 00:25:28.840 --> 00:25:33.360 It changes our understanding of the law, the Old Testament law in that. 00:25:34.440 --> 00:25:39.440 And so, like an old wineskin, the new wine will burst it. 00:25:39.440 --> 00:25:49.539 And it's also important for us to, us as human beings, we try to make rules and make more rules and add upon those rules. 00:25:49.620 --> 00:25:51.700 That's no different than what the Pharisees used to do. 00:25:52.000 --> 00:25:57.360 Let's not try to restrict our newness of life that exists in Christ. 00:25:58.240 --> 00:26:03.519 Now, some of you, this may be a little bit more difficult, that you may know people who, 00:26:03.519 --> 00:26:06.960 they are saved by grace through faith, and then they add a bunch of rules. 00:26:07.759 --> 00:26:09.440 And it keeps adding and adding. 00:26:10.359 --> 00:26:11.859 That's what we have to be careful of. 00:26:12.619 --> 00:26:16.859 So it goes both ways, that we have to understand we're saved by grace through faith. 00:26:16.920 --> 00:26:18.079 There's this newness of life. 00:26:18.139 --> 00:26:20.720 And certainly, we're called to the higher things. 00:26:21.240 --> 00:26:27.359 But it is not putting us in this ever-growing list of rules and restrictions here. 00:26:27.900 --> 00:26:29.000 And I know that's very difficult. 00:26:29.079 --> 00:26:32.139 Even for a person like me, when I hear that and I think about it, I'm like, 00:26:32.140 --> 00:26:35.620 well, there's a lot of things that God speaks to. 00:26:35.860 --> 00:26:42.440 Certainly, there's a call for us to become more like him, to put on the new self, to exhibit living and loving like Christ. 00:26:42.680 --> 00:26:46.420 But that's very different than living under the Old Testament law. 00:26:48.000 --> 00:26:50.620 So that's something for us to think about. 00:26:51.560 --> 00:26:58.000 In other words, it is about us going from darkness into light, being molded by the Lord. 00:26:58.000 --> 00:27:01.160 Not being bombarded and thinking if you're good enough. 00:27:02.380 --> 00:27:02.740 Right? 00:27:02.819 --> 00:27:11.220 For some of us, you may have come from a religion or a faith tradition or even a denomination where it was all about the rules. 00:27:12.940 --> 00:27:13.500 Right? 00:27:13.500 --> 00:27:18.700 And how many times you prayed and what direction you faced or whatever it is. 00:27:19.460 --> 00:27:24.839 When we think about Christ, it's we're saved and we're called to do good in the name of Christ. 00:27:24.940 --> 00:27:26.680 We're not saved by what we can do. 00:27:26.799 --> 00:27:28.799 We are saved so that we can do good. 00:27:29.220 --> 00:27:30.599 There's a big difference there. 00:27:33.400 --> 00:27:37.720 Being molded, going from mourning to dancing, as it were. 00:27:37.720 --> 00:27:43.000 And so, the gospel is to transform us. 00:27:43.660 --> 00:27:45.079 Everything that we are. 00:27:45.539 --> 00:27:46.920 To become more like him. 00:27:48.220 --> 00:27:56.660 And finally, you have this third one that says, let's go back to the interpretation. 00:27:57.720 --> 00:28:01.000 Is that people sometimes resist Christ's new way. 00:28:01.660 --> 00:28:06.400 How many of you, you've shared in the gospel, you've shared in your testimony, and they're just not ready? 00:28:06.400 --> 00:28:06.900 Right? 00:28:09.180 --> 00:28:10.920 You don't have to name anybody. 00:28:11.060 --> 00:28:11.620 Please don't. 00:28:12.400 --> 00:28:17.240 But in that, I'm sure there have been situations where you've shared in the gospel. 00:28:18.060 --> 00:28:22.340 People may gravitate to what makes logical sense. 00:28:22.460 --> 00:28:25.240 It makes logical sense for us to follow a bunch of rules. 00:28:25.240 --> 00:28:30.599 But what God is offering is something that is beyond that. 00:28:31.220 --> 00:28:32.620 Beyond our understanding. 00:28:32.819 --> 00:28:37.859 Much like how it says in scripture, to trust in the Lord with all of your what? 00:28:38.420 --> 00:28:39.240 Your heart. 00:28:39.779 --> 00:28:42.019 And lean not on your own understanding. 00:28:42.740 --> 00:28:47.299 In all your ways, acknowledge him, and he will make your path straight. 00:28:47.299 --> 00:28:53.059 But, well, how many of us trust in our own understanding? 00:28:53.200 --> 00:28:55.779 Or we trust in a system, as it were? 00:28:56.799 --> 00:29:01.299 God has something that's much greater and something that's much higher than that. 00:29:02.799 --> 00:29:07.700 And just like in verse 39, there will be people who say the old is good. 00:29:08.579 --> 00:29:10.680 Some translations say the old is better. 00:29:10.680 --> 00:29:16.140 Well, I'm not talking about, you know, whether you like old cars versus new cars. 00:29:16.360 --> 00:29:21.360 I'm certainly not talking about whether you like old-fashioned things or new-fashioned things. 00:29:21.519 --> 00:29:27.160 We're talking specifically about the old covenant versus the new covenant. 00:29:27.680 --> 00:29:35.820 And in that scene where someone is saying the old is good, thinking about the law that once existed. 00:29:35.819 --> 00:29:52.299 And so, when we think of spiritual growth, doesn't it require us to lay aside the former things and the former life for us to grow in him? 00:29:53.039 --> 00:30:01.399 There is the leaving behind of what once was, beginning on a journey in Christ. 00:30:02.919 --> 00:30:05.059 It's all about that transformation. 00:30:05.819 --> 00:30:14.200 We finally have the application piece, then, which shows us what should we do about this. 00:30:15.000 --> 00:30:17.319 Well, number one, church, can we read this out loud? 00:30:18.240 --> 00:30:23.819 Join in the celebration of Christ's presence and promise that God is consistent. 00:30:25.000 --> 00:30:28.839 It's a call for us to respond to the gospel. 00:30:28.839 --> 00:30:34.299 And we celebrate in what God has done for us by sending his son, Jesus Christ. 00:30:34.299 --> 00:30:36.059 And we believe in him. 00:30:36.559 --> 00:30:38.720 We get saved by grace through faith. 00:30:38.839 --> 00:30:39.839 We grow in him. 00:30:40.559 --> 00:30:43.879 And we continue to pour into people. 00:30:44.680 --> 00:30:47.779 We represent Christ in what we say and in what we do. 00:30:48.139 --> 00:30:51.139 We serve the church much like we serve the community. 00:30:52.139 --> 00:30:55.940 Being salt and light, now is the time of salvation. 00:30:56.480 --> 00:30:58.419 It's a call for us to respond. 00:30:58.420 --> 00:31:02.440 So may you join in the celebration. 00:31:03.360 --> 00:31:07.259 And the second thing, then, is to be open to what? 00:31:08.800 --> 00:31:11.500 The Spirit's leading and guiding. 00:31:11.500 --> 00:31:26.000 And how appropriate is it when we think of Pentecost and we think of the new wine and the new wineskin about this pouring out of wine, as it were, much like we think of the pouring of the Holy Spirit. 00:31:26.000 --> 00:31:30.980 That God works in some incredible ways. 00:31:31.099 --> 00:31:36.000 And we have the direction, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, as it were. 00:31:37.460 --> 00:31:39.539 May you consider your life. 00:31:40.420 --> 00:31:42.359 May you consider your trajectory. 00:31:43.559 --> 00:31:45.319 Consider how you are living. 00:31:45.440 --> 00:31:47.460 Are you resisting the change? 00:31:48.099 --> 00:31:49.380 Are you resisting the Spirit? 00:31:49.380 --> 00:31:49.460 Let the Holy Spirit. 00:31:50.040 --> 00:31:50.860 Here's the thing. 00:31:50.960 --> 00:31:57.480 Not only does God call you to salvation, but he calls you to move and to grow and to put away the old self. 00:31:59.480 --> 00:32:01.980 It's part of the transformation process. 00:32:02.740 --> 00:32:05.220 Let the Holy Spirit move in your life. 00:32:06.420 --> 00:32:08.900 Let God work in and through you. 00:32:09.940 --> 00:32:13.940 And the third one is to let the wine overflow to others. 00:32:13.940 --> 00:32:19.779 Just like I'm mentioning this outpouring of the Spirit, we continue the process. 00:32:20.980 --> 00:32:22.840 We pour into others. 00:32:23.380 --> 00:32:25.580 We proclaim the good news of the gospel. 00:32:25.759 --> 00:32:29.080 We allow Christ to transform us and to work. 00:32:29.220 --> 00:32:35.920 Just like how there's the fermentation process, the working within the wine. 00:32:36.360 --> 00:32:38.299 May God work within you. 00:32:39.340 --> 00:32:40.960 Shape you and transform you. 00:32:40.960 --> 00:32:45.759 And let this overflow impact those around you. 00:32:45.880 --> 00:32:49.440 Friends, families, students, co-workers, whoever. 00:32:51.319 --> 00:32:56.079 And consider, how can Christ overflow in my life? 00:32:56.539 --> 00:32:59.740 And how can I pour into others in the same way? 00:33:00.680 --> 00:33:06.120 And so when we think of this, as we close our time together here, 00:33:06.119 --> 00:33:17.319 how we remember this parable is understanding there was a time of celebration and the Pharisees were not participating. 00:33:17.319 --> 00:33:25.699 They were more focused on fasting, not recognizing that there was the entire party to begin with, 00:33:25.699 --> 00:33:29.219 but also the presence of Christ being there. 00:33:29.859 --> 00:33:31.899 That was the more important thing. 00:33:32.000 --> 00:33:34.639 They were not responding to that. 00:33:34.640 --> 00:33:38.140 And in the same way, we have to think, 00:33:38.920 --> 00:33:44.360 Christ, right now he's away, but he will come back. 00:33:44.540 --> 00:33:50.280 It is a time for us to prepare and to respond to God's presence, 00:33:50.420 --> 00:33:52.140 to God's call for salvation, 00:33:52.140 --> 00:33:56.560 and to God's call to mold us to be more like him. 00:33:56.559 --> 00:34:00.779 So don't settle for the old. 00:34:01.720 --> 00:34:03.059 Go for the new. 00:34:04.200 --> 00:34:05.539 Respond to Christ. 00:34:06.139 --> 00:34:08.279 Join in that celebration together. 00:34:08.400 --> 00:34:13.400 Don't be like those Pharisees that are so focused on mourning and fasting. 00:34:13.940 --> 00:34:23.299 Let us respond in celebration to Christ and let Christ work in and through our very lives. 00:34:23.300 --> 00:34:24.760 Let's pray together. 00:34:25.820 --> 00:34:34.840 And Father, what a challenging parable this is about cloth, wine, and wineskin. 00:34:35.620 --> 00:34:39.800 May we understand we look at the big picture of this. 00:34:39.800 --> 00:34:43.200 You make all things new. 00:34:45.580 --> 00:34:49.080 That you offer newness of life. 00:34:49.720 --> 00:34:54.140 You offer salvation and transformation for our very lives. 00:34:55.140 --> 00:34:57.800 May we put away the former self. 00:34:58.300 --> 00:35:01.700 May we not cling to the old wine or the old wineskin, 00:35:01.699 --> 00:35:06.519 but rather may we cling to you in the new covenant and the new wine. 00:35:07.399 --> 00:35:13.679 May the Holy Spirit fill this place and fill our lives, leading and guiding us. 00:35:14.059 --> 00:35:15.799 May you transform us. 00:35:15.939 --> 00:35:22.599 And Father, I pray that we may not be like those Pharisees with hardened hearts. 00:35:22.599 --> 00:35:26.679 If we have hardened hearts or hardened minds or whatever, 00:35:27.500 --> 00:35:28.839 may you work on our heart. 00:35:29.980 --> 00:35:32.860 Soften it so that we can respond to you. 00:35:33.159 --> 00:35:41.099 And may we understand that your salvation is about what you have done through Jesus Christ. 00:35:41.980 --> 00:35:45.360 The way, the truth, and the life. 00:35:46.799 --> 00:35:48.239 And so, Father, we just pray. 00:35:48.239 --> 00:35:52.359 May you continue to work in and through us, 00:35:52.519 --> 00:35:56.759 even if that means working through us to come to believe in you. 00:35:57.259 --> 00:36:01.699 May you work in and through us in our spiritual journey of transformation, 00:36:02.299 --> 00:36:03.319 becoming more like you. 00:36:03.399 --> 00:36:06.479 It is in the name of Jesus Christ that we pray. 00:36:07.099 --> 00:36:08.459 And we all say together, amen. 00:36:09.119 --> 00:36:09.559 Amen. 00:36:11.619 --> 00:36:15.299 Thank you for listening for this week's message from Ontario Community Church. 00:36:15.300 --> 00:36:20.080 I pray that you are encouraged and strengthened in your walk with Christ. 00:36:20.640 --> 00:36:25.440 For more sermons and resources, visit OntarioCommunityChurch.org. 00:36:25.840 --> 00:36:30.440 May God bless you as you live out his grace and truth every single day.