Jesus on Fasting, pt 3

(This is the third on a series of posts regarding Jesus and fasting.  It follows a series of posts on the Muslim month of Ramadhan).

The third of four times that Jesus encounters fasting in the New Testament is probably one of the most confusing.  I have a better sense of this story than the other three passages on fasting because I was privileged to preach on this passage at our church this last summer.  Here is the text:

Mark 2:18-22 (in Arabic)  ¹⁸ Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and asked Jesus, “How is it that John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not?”  ¹⁹ Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them. ²⁰ But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast.²¹ “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse.²² And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins.”

Typically, I've given a sentence or two about the context, but I'm actually going to do that later on.  This passage can be split into two parts.  First, the part that is about NOT fasting.  Second, the part that IS about fasting.  

The Part that is about NOT Fasting - Joy in Jesus

Its important to realize how many of Jesus' listeners (and Mark's readers) would have understood fasting.  They would have most likely understood it from an Old Testament context.  In the Old Testament, a majority of verses on fasting can be put into three categories:  fasting as mourning, fasting as seeking God's forgiveness, fasting as seeking God's mercy after sinning.  Generally, when people were fasting, they were not happy.  

In this particular passage, I think it might be helpful to replace "fast" with "be sad" to give us an idea of what was being discussed. 

" ' How is it that John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are sad, but yours are not?' Jesus Answered, 'How can the guests of the bridegroom be sad while he is with them?' "  

Jesus' analogy of a wedding (him being the groom) is poignant.  No one is sad at a wedding (unless you're the old boyfriend still in love with the bride). 

The point of this passage seems to be that, since Jesus is with his disciples, it is impossible for them to be sad.  But why is this true?  Why should people be so joyous by Jesus' presence that they simply can't be sad?  The answer comes from the preceding two stories.  I'm not going to go into these two stories in detail here, but here is the main point of each story: 

1. Jesus HIMSELF has the authority to forgive sins. (Mark 2:1-12)
2. Jesus has come to spend time with sinners! (Mark 2:13-17)

And then our current story - we have joy in the presence of Jesus!

The Part that IS About Fasting

However, Jesus was to leave at some point.  We know that he died on the cross, was raised and is now in heaven with our Father.  We have joy because our sins are forgiven.  We have joy because our shame is taken from us.  We have joy that someday we will be reunited with Jesus and God the Father.  However, right now, we still live in a sinful world.  There is sadness. 

And so we fast.  Here are three ways that I think Fasting helps illustrate this (these are not based on this passage, but my own experience and thoughts) 

1. When we fast, our hunger reminds us that we long for the presence of God - who satisfies our deepest desires.  
2. When we fast, our hunger reminds us that we don't live on bread alone

In reality, followers of Jesus live in an in-between state.  We have been saved from our sins by Jesus' death on the cross.  But we are in the process of becoming more and more like Jesus as the Holy Spirit changes our hearts. 

And What About That Last Part?

Ok - so this wasn't part of my original structure, but I'm going to be honest - I don't know what to make about this part of the story.  I read four different commentaries, all saying completely different (and sometimes opposite) things.  At the very least, it has to do with the place of fasting in the context of Old Testament traditions.  The Jews of the Old Testament times had lots of rules and ideas on fasting, and Jesus seems to be saying that its not important to follow all of those rules.  But I'll let you work that out for yourself. 

What we learn about Fasting

1. We fast because we want Jesus to come back.  We want to be in his presence, and in God's presence.  We are sad because we are not, and Fasting is a sign of that in our lives. 
2. All the rules and regulations of fasting (whatever those were) aren't required by those who follow Jesus now. 
3. When we join Jesus in heaven with God, there will be no more fasting.  We will be too happy.