Mark 2 18 22 18 Now Johns disciples

Mark 2: 18 -22 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? ”

Mark 2: 18 -22 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.

Mark 2: 18 -22 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.

Mark 2: 18 -22 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. ”

The Problem With Patches Mark 2: 18 -22 Larry Cline – Hardin Valley Church of Christ – 8/24/2014

Jesus seemed to be dogged by criticism… He couldn’t change to fit the current Jewish system. The system would not change to fit him. It was an unpatchable situation.

The Situation: Mark 2: 18 -22 Remember the last conflict: Why are you feasting with them? Now… Why are you not fasting with us?

What did the law say about fasting? Old Testament originally required one day of fasting – Day Of Atonement

Later during the years of exile to Babylon, four more days were added for them to mourn their sin that led to their captivity.

Pharisees determined it was a way to earn merit & show their spirituality… so they fasted 2 days a week… on Mondays and Thursdays.

Luke 18 – Publican & Pharisee 11“The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: 'God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get. ”

So the question is… If you are suppose to be spiritual, why aren’t you fasting as much as we do?

What did Jesus think about fasting? Matthew 4 – temptations “Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites [do], for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. ” (Matthew 6: 16)

The Early Church Fasted – Acts 13 & 14 Jesus never said it was wrong to fast, there is a place for fasting. It is obvious however that fasting did not play a major role in the lifestyle or ministry of Jesus.

Now not only is Jesus not fasting on a special fasting day… He is having a party with a bunch of tax collectors. “You don’t look very spiritual to us. Why don’t you fast to prove yourself more spiritual? ”

19 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. 20 But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day. ” (Mark 2: 19 -20)

The Illustration: Remember… “Why are you eating with tax collectors? . . . I am a doctor. ” “Why are you not fasting with us? . . . I am a bridegroom. ”

He is saying, “You need to understand the nature on the Kingdom that I’m preaching. It’s not a kingdom of sadness, it’s a kingdom of gladness. ”

The disciples will fast. The day will come when the bridegroom will be taken away. “Force-ably” – Isaiah 53: 8 By oppression and judgment He was taken away; and as for His generation, who considered that He was cut off out of the land of the living for the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due?

Interesting that when the early church looked for a symbol of their life together they did not pick the fast, they picked the feast. Love feast

That was incongruent with the Jewish idea of how genuine spirituality should be expressed. “The austere forms of Jewish piety are not adequate to express the joy of a relationship with me. ”

Why do you put a new patch on old clothes? Why do you not put new wine in old brittle, inflexible wineskins?

1. I think at least one significant implication is this, Jesus is saying Christianity must eventually take the place of Judaism.

Jew who becomes a Christian on Pentecost… Stop going to synagogue? Stop circumcising your children? Stop going to temple? You are still a Jew.

Early church struggled for many years Acts 15

2. Another message of Jesus here is that Christianity must occasionally shake the place of tradition.

Years ago we use to sing… Give Me That Old Time Religion Every faith & religion in the world has a version of that song.

The problem is the gospel is radically new and its principles are culturally transcendent. “Holy kiss” “Women’s covering” Meet in homes Raising hands Clapping

Mission field – see all the culturally different ways that the church can exist & still be the church. The issue is not is it New… The issue is – is it true? !

3. Christianity must continually make a place for joy. Pharisees didn’t understand a faith that didn’t fast. Genuine spirituality must be a solemn affair.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say rejoice! Eunuch (Phil 4: 4) Philippian jailer & his household Apostles in Acts 5

If a Christian’s basic attitude should be one of joy, one of celebration… And a whole lot of Christians come together to worship… what should that assembly look like?

Don’t confuse spirituality with austerity. Don’t confuse spirituality with formality. Don’t confuse spirituality with rigidity.

Count Your BLESSINGS