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Jesus was challenging the status quo, and he used a parable to do so. (The word "parable" occurs 26 times in Luke—5:36 is the first time.) Goatskins often held wine and other fluids in Palestine, but new wine would burst a rigid old skin. Through Jesus, God was establishing new ways of working in the world that would burst old cultural norms. The response to Jesus’ Sabbath healing showed that his message could burst old, rigid spirituality, too.

• Old ways of doing things aren’t necessarily bad, but they aren’t necessarily good, either. With the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, God was establishing new ways of working in the world—new wine that required new wineskins. Think back on your own spiritual journey: how has God transformed you from old ways of living to new ways?
• There were 12 tribes of Israel. So when Jesus chose, not 6, 8 or 10, but 12 of his followers as "apostles," the symbolism was clear—he was creating a new Israel. (Scholar Robert Mounce wrote that the word "apostle" meant "an emissary of God … with special authority and status in Christ for the sake of the gospel.") Luke said Jesus spent an entire night in prayer before finalizing the choice. Do you make prayer as important when you face a significant decision as Jesus did?