September 28 – To Fast or Not To Fast?

John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting; and they came and said to Him, "Why do John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?" And Jesus said to them, "While the bridegroom is with them, the attendants of the bridegroom cannot fast, can they? So long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day.”  Mark 2:18-20 (Similar to Matthew 9: 14-15) NASB

To fast or not to fast? Jesus’ disciples weren’t disciples of John or of the Pharisee—so they weren’t in mourning for John, who had just been taken prisoner by Herod. Nor were they doing the twice weekly pious fasting of the Pharisees. Jesus’ disciples were joyous because He was with them. The Jews were only required to fast three times a year: on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), the day before Purim, and the 9^th of Ab commemorating the fall of Jerusalem.

Fasting was a solemn time. Jesus’ disciples were feasting on His words—just what we should be doing, too. These red letter words are tasty to our souls. Jesus was telling the Pharisees—and anyone listening—that He was the bridegroom. The bridegroom has such a wonderful custom attached to that title in Hebrew history and customs. The bride and bridegroom were “betrothed” to each other—but not married until the bridegroom had built a house for them to live in. Generally this was an additional room or rooms on his father’s house. The father was the inspector of the new home and it wasn’t ready until he said it was completed. Then and only then did the father send for the bride to come to that new home—and then the wedding celebration began! I love that whole concept. So Jesus is the bridegroom—and His bride is the church. When He was “taken away” or crucified, died and buried you can be sure that the disciples were fasting—they must have been pretty upset that Jesus was killed. They likely feared for their own lives, too. Too scared to eat—that would be fasting. Then when Jesus rose from the dead, they could hardly believe it—who would? Who could believe it at first? But when He appeared to them, and ate with them by the Sea of Galilee, they had a feast on the fish He provided. No fasting then. I rarely fast now, but I do believe that it is a useful exercise to help me focus on Jesus and His power and it is then that I truly feast on His Word—especially the red letter words.

Dear Jesus—help us to know when to fast and when to feast. We look forward to that ultimate feast in Heaven with You when the Heavenly Father calls us all to our new home that You are preparing for us.   

© 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.