Jesus is famous for telling stories to explain the truths of the new Kingdom He had come to launch. One such mysterious illustration was about the need for new wineskins.

And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins.

~Luke 5:37-38 ESV

Old Wineskins

Fermented foods such as sauerkraut, yogurt, kombucha, and sourdough bread are good for our health. The people of Jesus’ day were familiar with fermenting wine. They understood the process of crushing the grapes and the need for new wineskins, pliable enough to stretch as carbon dioxide was released through fermentation.

Jesus told the parable after answering critics who questioned why His disciples didn’t fast. In His typical way, He spoke about more significant issues. Therefore, I imagine few understood His teaching about the radical changes coming.

From our perspective, looking back, we can see the cross. Jesus died there as the Lamb of God, a once-and-for-all sacrifice for all the sins of the world. On that day, the Temple veil was torn supernaturally from top to bottom, opening the Holy of Holies. The sacrificial system (old wine) became obsolete, although the destruction of the Temple by the Romans finalized it. Through these signs, God spoke clearly that the old covenant of the law had been replaced by faith in Jesus Christ (new wine). Nothing could have been more radical to the Jews.

New Wineskins

Over two thousand years later, every generation of believers must come to know, believe, and rely on this shift from works to gain righteousness to trusting God’s provision of His Son. Like the wineskins, we must stretch to receive the completed work of Christ on our behalf.

Although we don’t have the old system of sacrifices to get over, the gift of Jesus can still seem too easy or good to be true. However, God understood our need to become humble enough to look at His Law and say, “I can’t do this.” He wanted each of us to come to the end of self-effort.

But no one earns God’s righteousness. It can only be transferred when we no longer rely on our own works but believe in the one who powerfully declares the ungodly to be righteous in his eyes. It is faith that transfers God’s righteousness into our account!

~Romans 4:5 TPT

Wherever old covenant ways crop up, God invites us to become new wineskins, able to stretch and receive our childhood through what Jesus did for us. Religious behavior is natural, but to accept and walk in the grace of God by faith is not. It takes spiritual revelation and a humble, thankful heart.

Ask God to help you to be a new wineskin each day.

Father, thank you for providing everything I need to have a happy relationship with You. Jesus, I worship You because You fulfilled the law perfectly and took my penalty at the cross. Holy Spirit, I ask You to complete the righteousness of Christ in my life. In Jesus’ name and by His Blood, I pray, amen.

 

Genre: Non-fiction

Copyright 2025: New Wineskins: Caroline Powers: All Rights Reserved