The Bridegroom

Mark 2:17 is one of the key statements around the Gospel. Until we recognize our own need for a savior, we will not want anything to do with the One who came to save us. As Christians we are called to preach the Gospel to all men, and to those who respond we are to train them as disciples of Christ.

Fasting is one of the topics in the Bible that gets abused. The world tells us that there are many benefits for your health to encourage fasting. As a Christian, we need to form our understanding about why we should fast from the Bible and not from the world’s opinion. Our fasting is to be to humble ourselves before God so that He could work in our lives to change and mold us. Our fasting should flow from a natural desire to draw closer to Christ and experience His love more.

Too many people fast out of ritual and habit, which can lead to it being a pious ritual. This was the attitude that the Pharisees had in their fasting. They would go around looking ashen faced and disheveled to show to the world that they were fasting. Jesus condemned this attitude by stating that these people had their reward already.

When Jesus was challenged over why His disciples were not fasting, His response highlights the reason for fasting. He responds that His disciples cannot fast while they are celebrating. But the time will come when the celebration will turn to mourning. At this time fasting will become not only appropriate, but needed.

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