Mark 2:18-22
Mark 2:18-22 recounts an interaction between Jesus and the Pharisees regarding fasting. In this passage, the Pharisees question Jesus about why his disciples do not fast like the disciples of John the Baptist and the Pharisees themselves. Jesus responds with three analogies:
The analogy of the wedding guests: Jesus compares himself to a bridegroom, implying that it is inappropriate for his disciples to fast while he, the bridegroom, is with them. Fasting traditionally symbolized mourning or repentance, but in the presence of Jesus, there is cause for celebration and joy.
The analogy of the new cloth and old garment: Jesus illustrates that his teaching and ministry cannot simply be added to the existing religious practices of Judaism. Instead, it requires a new framework, like a new cloth on an old garment, which would cause the garment to tear.
The analogy of the new wine and old wineskins: Jesus further emphasizes the incompatibility of his teaching with traditional Judaism. New wine, representing the newness of Jesus' message and the arrival of the Kingdom of God, requires new wineskins to accommodate its fermentation process. Old wineskins, representing the rigid religious structures of Judaism, would burst if filled with new wine.
The significance of this passage lies in Jesus' assertion of his authority and the revolutionary nature of his teaching. He challenges the religious norms of his time and presents a new way of understanding and relating to God, one that transcends legalistic observance and emphasizes the primacy of grace, love, and relationship.
This week we began the season of Lent with an Ash Wednesday that discussed the importance of practicing piety and that the goal of practicing piety during Lent is not just to fulfill obligations but to grow closer to God and become more like Christ in thought, word, and deed. It's essential to approach these practices with sincerity, humility, and a desire for spiritual transformation.
In God’s grip,
Pastor Chuck Church
If you are reading the Gospel of Mark with Pastor Chuck this year, below is a short and simple guide to doing so for this week:
Prayer: Heavenly Father, your words expose my innermost thoughts and desires. I am an open book before you when I read your book. May your truths work as I read of your holiness, truth, and love. May the power of your word be known in my life so that I might genuinely have the abundant life you came to give. Amen.
Read: Mark 2:18-22
Questions to guide your thinking:
Why do you believe the Pharisees were so concerned with Jesus and his followings practice of fasting?
Jesus responded to them with three analogies. Which analogy makes the most sense to you? Why? Which one do you struggle with? Why?
Do you believe Jesus is attempting to do away with traditional practices here? Why or why not? If not, what is he trying to say about traditional practices?
