The ministry of Yeshua was exercised in the face of constant opposition. The opposition is at once clearly revealed in four words of criticism which were uttered (in Mark 2-3). Let us observe the second opposition.
Mark 2:18-22: “Also John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting; and they came and asked Yeshua: ‘Why is it that John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples don’t fast?’ Yeshua answered them: ‘Can wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is still with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, fasting is out of the question. But the time will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them; and when that day comes, they will fast. No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old coat; if he does, the new patch tears away from the old cloth and leaves a worse hold. And no one puts new wine in old wineskins; if he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins will be ruined. Rather, new wine is for freshly prepared wineskins.’”
Let us watch Yeshua and observe his attitude toward this second opposition. The opposition brought against Yeshua was a lack of seriousness, in that he encouraged his disciples to violate a tradition by not observing a fast.
In Mark 2:18, the Pharisees said to Yeshua:
“Why is it that John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples don’t fast?”
This was spoken to Yeshua concerning his disciples and was undoubtedly intended to reflect upon him for the influence.
Yeshua did not deny the charge by the Pharisees concerning fasting. Rather, he admitted it, and said: “as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.” The adoption of the figure was in itself a vindication of the right of his disciples to be joyful. In eastern lands during a period of seven days, all the friends of the bridegroom were full of joy and merriment and laughter and songs and gladness.
Then in a forethought, Yeshua recognized the fact that there were days coming to these men when the bridegroom should be "taken away", for such is the Greek word used – a very significant word – having in it an element of tragedy, a suggestion of violence. The choice of the word was, in itself, a recognition of the purpose which was already in the hearts of the men who were watching him.
Nevertheless, our attitude toward life should not be of men and women who fast, but of men and women who sit at the eternal feast, for the bridegroom is not taken from us.
He abides with us.
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