On Line Bible Study - For the week Dec. 29, 2008 - January 4, 2009.

Lesson 368

Mark 2: 18Now 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?"

19Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them. 20But 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. If he does, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. 22And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, he pours new wine into new wineskins."

Who is asking the question? We aren't sure, at least not from what the text tells us; but based on verse 16, the assumption is that some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees were the ones posing the question to Jesus.

What is the question? Why are Jesus' disciples not fasting - that's the question.

I remember fasting as a spiritual discipline when I was growing up. Prior to receiving Communion we would fast from food for 3 hours, and from liquids for 1 hour. And every Friday we would abstain from eating meat. I also remember a more prolonged fast during the season of Lent - we would give up some food (desserts, perhaps, or coffee, or bread . . .) for the 40 days leading up to Easter. These fasts were inconvenient, perhaps; but they certainly were not unbearable.

After John the Baptist was executed, a movement continued comprised of those who believed him to be a special emissary from God. And, after the death and resurrection of Jesus, we know that the disciples of Jesus proclaimed the same message John did - repent of your sin, and believe the good news. In one of the earliest Christian documents, called The Didache (which means Teaching), we read the instructions to Christians to fast on Wednesdays and Fridays. But it is important to recall the instructions of both Jesus and the Old Testament Prophets - fasting for the purpose of appearing to be holy is to completely miss the point. Review Matthew 6:16-18 and look at Isaiah 58:3-11. Fasting apart from justice is an empty gesture.

"Pharisees" - and I put the word in quotes purposely - are those who embrace spiritual disciplines because it makes them look good. That kind of "discipline" is empty in and of itself; it is dangerous when it is imposed upon others.

Jesus is not suggesting anything terribly new here. He is reclaiming for his disciples (and Mark for his community of believers in Jesus?) the true power of fasting. It is an act of humility intended to honor God and bless your neighbor!

In that act of fasting there is great joy. Cognizant of Jesus' presence, let the true fast begin! Not a fast of denial for its own sake; but the fast that leads to justice, to a more equitable dispensing of God's abundant blessings to all!