Daily Bread

John’s disciples and the Pharisees were puzzled because they saw Jesus’ disciples not fasting. They thought that fasting was part of their spiritual ritual and something good. Jesus’ disciples did not seem to follow the practice but always had joyful eating fellowships. Jesus helped them to know when to fast. When the Bridegroom, Jesus, is present, it is time to feast. He came to bring righteousness, and joy, not mourning. When he is absent, it is time to fast. In other words, it is not a matter of ritual but of relationship—knowing and loving the Bridegroom. Fasting is not to earn God’s favor. It is to deepen our longing for Christ’s presence.
Jesus came to bring a new way of life and a new relationship with God, not to patch and repair the old system. The old garment and the old wineskins refer to the old covenant and the religious system of the Pharisees, a system based on rituals, traditions, and human effort to observe them. Holiness and righteousness do not come from external observances such as fasting, washing, Sabbath keeping, or other religious rituals. External religion cannot fix the brokenness of the human heart. No one can patch the consequences of sin with rituals and hard work. Jesus came to replace the old system with the new life of the gospel. Jesus makes us a new creation (2 Co 5:17).