A Discussion about Fasting
'One day the disciples of John the Baptist came to Jesus and asked him, “Why don’t your disciples fast like we do and the Pharisees do?”
Jesus replied, “Do wedding guests mourn while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.'
Matthew 9:14-15
"To fast or not to fast?" Indeed that is the question. But as we can see it was answered by Jesus Himself in the two verses above. Reread it again, in case you missed it.
Yes Jesus said someday He will be taken away from His disciples and then they (referring to His disciples) will fast.
And indeed, we His disciples of today, fast.
How, what, when, why, is up to us. But we fast. The disciples of John the Baptist asked Jesus why not when they, the followers of John do so to discipline their mind, their spirit and their flesh.
We, the followers of Jesus, do so now because of Jesus. And yes because like them we also need to quiet our mind and heart, strengthen our spirit and tame our flesh, particularly now more than any other time.
Important to note that the Pharisees also fast, but they do so for their own selfish reasons.
When we fast (from something) and "eat" manna from heaven instead (read the Word and stay in God's presence), then for a time we separate from this world and all it's influences and we choose the things of God and His heavenly kingdom. Jesus said we are in this world but not of this world. And fasting is one sure way to help us be reminded of this fact.
A Discussion about Fasting
'One day the disciples of John the Baptist came to Jesus and asked him, “Why don’t your disciples fast like we do and the Pharisees do?”
Jesus replied, “Do wedding guests mourn while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.'
Matthew 9:14-15
"To fast or not to fast?" Indeed that is the question. But as we can see it was answered by Jesus Himself in the two verses above. Reread it again, in case you missed it.
Yes Jesus said someday He will be taken away from His disciples and then they (referring to His disciples) will fast.
And indeed, we His disciples of today, fast.
How, what, when, why, is up to us. But we fast. The disciples of John the Baptist asked Jesus why not when they, the followers of John do so to discipline their mind, their spirit and their flesh.
We, the followers of Jesus, do so now because of Jesus. And yes because like them we also need to quiet our mind and heart, strengthen our spirit and tame our flesh, particularly now more than any other time.
Important to note that the Pharisees also fast, but they do so for their own selfish reasons.
When we fast (from something) and "eat" manna from heaven instead (read the Word and stay in God's presence), then for a time we separate from this world and all it's influences and we choose the things of God and His heavenly kingdom. Jesus said we are in this world but not of this world. And fasting is one sure way to help us be reminded of this fact.
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