Fasting was a well-liked spiritual apply within the time of Jesus. The truth is, Mark 2 reveals us that when Jesus and his disciples feasted as a substitute of fasting, they drew some questioning seems. How might such an incredible spiritual instructor not participate in such a sacred self-discipline when different religious Jewish figures dedicated themselves so faithfully to fasting?
When Jesus answered the gang’s challenges, he supplied a brand new lens, a New Covenant lens, for making sense of the right goal and the suitable time for fasting.
On this article, we’ll have a look at Mark 2:18–22 and conform our personal understanding and apply of fasting into Jesus’s mildew.
Questions on fasting start festering (2:18)
Fasting is “voluntary abstinence from meals for non secular functions.” Whereas there are cases within the Outdated Testomony of fasting to achieve knowledge (e.g., 2 Chron 20:3), the first theme surrounding the apply was mourning, and particularly mourning over sin (1 Sam 7:6; Jonah 3:5–10; Joel 2:15; Ezra 10:6). As an example, the Outdated Testomony commanded just one obligatory quick, and that on the Day of Atonement (Lev 23:27–28), the solemn day annually that every one of Israel would make sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin (Lev 16).
After the shut of the Outdated Testomony and with the rise of Jewish asceticism, fasting grew to become considered “as a mark of spiritual devotion.” As such, the Pharisees, being themselves dedicated to the looks of devotion, fasted twice every week (Luke 18:12; see additionally Mark 2:18). Likewise, disciples of John the Baptist, who had attracted fairly a following along with his wilderness ministry (Mark 1:5), additionally adopted fasting as a non secular self-discipline (Mark 2:18).
However Jesus, this new instructor on the scene, who “taught … as one who had authority” (Mark 1:22) and had change into well-known “in all places” (Mark 1:28), didn’t require fasting from his disciples. Some individuals seen variations and requested, “Why?” (Mark 2:18). Maybe onlookers have been questioning, “Does this man know one thing we don’t?”
The groom is right here—so rejoice! (2:19–20)
In fact Jesus is aware of that fasting and mourning usually maintain palms within the Outdated Testomony. But Jesus additionally is aware of that since he’s on the scene, mourning wants to provide option to rejoicing.
So Jesus solutions by asking, “Can the marriage friends quick whereas the bridegroom is with them? So long as they’ve the bridegroom with them, they can’t quick” (Mark 2:19). A marriage is not any place to weight loss program. Males piously fasting make depressing marriage ceremony friends. The dinner, cake, drinks, and the enjoyment that the bridegroom brings are wasted on the fasting friends.
Jesus sees himself because the Bridegroom, and thus his presence is a trigger for celebration, not mourning (see Isa 62:5). The skies have been “torn open” and God has spoken (Mark 1:11); God’s redeeming love has are available Jesus Christ. Jesus is casting out demons (Mark 1:21–28), therapeutic many (Mark 1:29–34), and forgiving sins (Mark 2:1–12). Now’s the time for rejoicing, for feasting.
Jesus sees himself because the Bridegroom and his presence is a trigger for celebration, not mourning.
Jesus emphasizes that his presence creates an epoch of pleasure when he says, “The times will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, after which they may quick in that day” (2:20). There’s a day for fasting, however now is just not that day. When Jesus is right here, it’s a day of celebration.
Like a brand new patch or wine (2:21–22)
As a marriage marks a starting for husband and spouse, so the incarnation marks a brand new starting for the individuals of God. Jesus’s arrival requires us to rethink every thing in mild of his ministry, particularly the way in which we method our transgressions and fasting. This Jesus illustrates, talking of wine and patches (Mark 2:21–22).
I do know nothing about wine, however Jesus is aware of. He is aware of you can not put new wine into outdated containers (Mark 2:22). Nor can you set a brand new patch on an outdated pores and skin (Mark 2:21). The brand new patch and the brand new wine are stronger and much superior, so out with the outdated and in with the brand new. Schnabel summarizes the which means of the analogy by saying, “Combining the brand new with the outdated could have disastrous penalties.”
Jesus proclaimed the excellent news in his first Markan sermon, “The time is fulfilled, the dominion of God is at hand” (Mark 1:15). Every little thing promised to Israel, all of the redemption assured by means of prophets, had arrived within the individual and work of Jesus Christ; now, the dominion of God had arrived. A brand new period had begun.
If you happen to attempt to match Jesus into the outdated molds, or the invented Pharisaic molds, they may burst. The outdated hid the brand new, however the brand new will burst the outdated. Jesus’s reply, consisting of a single query and a double illustration, successfully says, “Every little thing you’ve considered fasting should now be reconsidered due to me.”
Jesus reshapes every thing—together with fasting
The time is fulfilled and the second of the long-awaited redemption has dawned in Jesus Christ. He fulfills what has come earlier than and inaugurates a brand new period of regarding the Father (Heb 8:6–13). Thus Jesus’s presence (Mark 2:19) should reshape the way in which his individuals take into consideration every thing (e.g., see additionally Jesus’s remedy of the Sabbath within the very subsequent passage; Mark 2:23–28)—together with fasting.
If the first catalyst for fasting within the Outdated Testomony was mourning over sin, a apply woven along with repentance and eager for passable atonement, Christians contemplating fasting should acknowledge that Jesus made the as soon as and for all sacrifice for sin (Heb 10:10). Keep in mind that the Outdated Testomony commanded just one quick, on the Day of Atonement. The Day of Atonement has come and gone (1 John 2:2). The Bridegroom has come unto his individuals and given himself to sanctify and purify a bride for himself (Eph 5:25–27).
Jesus’s presence should reshape the way in which his individuals take into consideration every thing—together with fasting.
So it is smart that Jesus’s phrases on fasting Mark 2:18–22 level forward to that hill distant and its outdated rugged cross. Discover his language. He says that when he’s “taken away,” then there shall be a time for fasting (2:20). The phrase “taken away” signifies “elimination by pressure fairly than by pure causes.” Jesus knew that as a way to redeem his individuals from their sins over which they mourned and fasted, he can be “taken” to his loss of life (Mark 8:31; 9:30–31; 10:33).
Jewish leaders—little question dedicated to pious fasting, but sin-sick of their hearts—arrested, accused, after which “led him out to crucify him” (Mark 15:20; see Mark 14:43–49, 53–65; 15:1–5). There, these sinful males, aided by Roman troopers, nailed Jesus to the cross and “they crucified him” (Mark 15:25). On the cross Jesus, the New Wine, was provided “wine.” Based on Mark, although, Jesus didn’t drink (Mark 15:23). The time for wine had come to a detailed; the Son of Man “breathed his final” (Mark 15:37).
But, along with his final breath, the identical energy that ripped the heavens open at Jesus’s baptism (Mark 1:9–11) tore the temple veil which symbolized humanity’s separation from God (Mark 15:38). Jesus’s blood, the brand new wine (Mark 14:24), was poured out as a delightful providing to rescue mankind misplaced in sin (Col 1:14).
New covenant fasting
But, as Jesus says, there nonetheless stays a day for fasting, for selecting to abstain from foods and drinks for non secular causes. The Lord is just not current with us, and in order that day is now (Mark 2:20).
But when the treatment for our sorrow over sin is met in Christ’s cross (Rom 3:21–26), why then will we proceed to quick? How does Jesus’s life and ministry reshape this non secular self-discipline?
This “excellent news,” proclaimed by Jesus (Mark 1:14–15) and achieved by his loss of life, should form the way in which we, his disciples, think about fasting as we speak. We should method fasting with a give attention to the brand new fairly than the outdated, for the outdated is fulfilled and the brand new is revealed. A covenant written within the blood of the Son of Man should form our ideas and causes for fasting, not a covenant written in legal guidelines.
Use Logos to find each occasion of phrases like “fasting” (noun) and “quick” (verb) throughout the New Testomony
As an example, not as soon as within the New Testomony is fasting related to Christians mourning over sins dedicated or as a response to their failure to reside righteously. Moderately, Christians quick as we await the day when the Bride and the Groom shall be reunited (Rev 21:1–8) and to hunt knowledge within the midst of our ready (Acts 13:2; 14:23). Realizing that Jesus’s presence remains to be with us by the ministry of the Holy Spirit (John 14:15–17), we embrace non secular disciplines that assist us enact the need for the ultimate consummation of all issues. We lengthy for the ultimate feast day on the marriage supper of the Lamb, when the presence of Jesus will fill the longing in our hearts and we’ll by no means quick once more (Rev 19:6–10).
Fasting within the New Covenant, then, is a response: a response to a need to have Christ, to behold his face, to be wed to him ceaselessly. It’s a response to our want for his divine knowledge in our lives proper now (Acts 13:2–3) even whereas we search for his coming once more. Don Whitney will get to the purpose:
Fasting typically appears the one option to reply the ache in our hearts for the consummation of all issues, for the time once we are ultimately with God and all issues are restored, made new, and made proper. Till the Bridegroom returns for His bride, He is aware of these yearnings for Him will incline our hearts, with the rues to that we are going to quick.
Fasting that acknowledges the ache
When you think about fasting, don’t let outdated methods pressure you right into a apply stuffed with pointless grief and sorrow. The “outdated has gone, behold the brand new has come” (2 Cor 5:17). Fasting is just not the medication for sin nor the facility to beat sin: the cross of Christ is (Col 2:13–15). By religion in Jesus Christ, you’re the redeemed. Due to this fact, let Christ form the way in which you consider abstaining from meals and each different non secular self-discipline.
Whereas we grieve the truth that we nonetheless commit sin because the outdated and new wage struggle towards each other, and whereas we lengthy to “placed on” extra of Christ, to appear to be the brand new man and never the outdated self (Col 3:12; cf. 3:5, 8), it’s the ache in our coronary heart for Jesus’s last renewing work that ought to drive us to think about fasting.
We lengthy for the day when Jesus, who’s our life, seems (Col 3:4). Jesus tells us that if we really lengthy for that day, then we’ll quick for him.
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