They said to him, “John’s disciples often fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours go on eating and drinking.”
Jesus answered, “Can you make the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast.”
(verses 33-35)
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Fasting is a gift given by God. It’s a discipline of the spiritual life that can be used in repentance, intercession, worship and seeking guidance. We see Paul and Barnabas and other leaders of the Antioch church engaging in worship and fasting that led to new insight and direction from the Lord. What a gift.
In the Old Testament, fasting was mandated annually on the Day of Atonement. Later, other regular days of fasting were added, for the sake of repentance, prompting a fresh turning to the Lord. How good.
The benefit of fasting is its physicality – it’s an outward expression that effects our body (and comfort level) as we experience the craving for food. Hunger becomes part of our spiritual connection with the Lord.
But that physicality can also become fasting’s danger. Since it’s such a tangible, obvious discipline, it’s possible to pridefully see it as spiritual achievement, embracing it as a sign, for ourselves and others, of the depth of our religious commitment. This seems to be what happened to the Pharisees. They had taken up the practice of twice weekly fasts, allowing themselves to look wan and unkempt so others would know. They legalistically established it as the expected standard of spirituality. It was part of their ongoing sense of rigidity.
Further, they seem to have embraced fasting in hopes of hastening the coming of Messiah and establishing God’s Kingdom. Certainly this was the perspective of the rabbis in succeeding generations – they thought if the nation would make itself ready by religious observance, fasting included, Messiah would come. So, mournfully, they fasted week by week.
And they wanted everyone to do the same.
But Jesus bursts through this rigid, mournful gloom. When asked why his disciples don’t fast like those of the Pharisees, he joyfully responds, “The bridegroom is here!” Of course. You don’t fast at a wedding feast! It’s time for celebration, not mourning.
We’ve had weddings for two of our kids so far. Both were amazing celebrations. One was far away, so we had a vacation. The other was close at hand, so people travelled to us! Both involved good food, music, excitement, and lots and lots of visiting. There were family and new in-laws, plus important friends from both sides. There were speeches and joyful tears and raucous laughter.
But neither event would have been anything at all without the bride and groom. Amid all the joy, they were the centre. Their presence made the party. Without them, it would have been a bust.
Jesus is the bridegroom. His presence makes all the difference. He welcomes us into relationship – we share his joy. He calls us friends. How could we head back into gloom.
Oh, there would come a time when the disciples would experience grief from his absence – the cross brought that cruelly to pass. But, as Jesus told his disciples in advance, “after a little while you will see me … and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy”(John 16:17, 22).
When, in later days, the early church engaged in fasting, it was infused with a new awareness – the joy of his presence.
The bridegroom has come. The Kingdom is breaking in.
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Lord Jesus, I receive the joy of your presence. Thank you for drawing me into your circle, into your gladness.
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Reflect:
“The joy of the Lord is your strength,” says Nehemiah (8:10). Remind yourself throughout the day of his continuing presence – renew the joy.
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Photo by Al Elmes on Unsplash
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