What Jesus Did : Mark 2:19-20 - Someday He Will Be Taken Away
by Phil Ware
Someday He Will Be Taken Away - Mark 2:19-20
Jesus answered, "When there is a wedding, the friends of the bridegroom are not sad while he is with them. They cannot fast (be sad) while the bridegroom is still there. But the time will come when the bridegroom will leave them. The friends are sad when the bridegroom leaves. Then they will fast." (ERV) Full TextKey Thought
The reason Jesus' disciples didn't fast (see the previous verses) was involved with the timing of his ministry, not their piety. They would fast when he was taken from them—the first hint that Jesus will face a painful ending to his life. While he was present with them physically, however, they would not fast. Instead, they would enjoy his presence and celebrate his love.
Today's Prayer
Father, help me know the proper time for each of my spiritual activities—feasting and fasting, rejoicing and weeping, comforting and being comforted, celebrating and repenting contritely. This I ask in Jesus' name. Amen.
Today's Verses in Context
The followers of John and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came to Jesus and said, "John's followers fast, and the followers of the Pharisees fast. But your followers don't fast. Why?" Jesus answered, "{When there is a wedding,} the friends of the bridegroom are not sad while he is with them. They cannot fast (be sad) while the bridegroom is still there. But the time will come when the bridegroom will leave them. The friends are sad when the bridegroom leaves. Then they will fast. "When a person sews a patch over a hole on an old coat, that person never uses a piece of cloth that is not yet shrunk. If he does, the patch will {shrink and} pull away from the coat. Then the hole will be worse. Also, people never pour new wine into old wine bags. Why? Because the new wine will break the bags, and the wine will be ruined with the wine bags. People always put new wine into new wine bags." On the Sabbath day, Jesus was walking through some grain fields. Jesus' followers were walking with him. The followers picked some grain {to eat}. The Pharisees saw this and said to Jesus, "Why are your followers doing that? It is against the {Jewish} law to do that on the Sabbath day." Jesus answered, "You have read what David did when he and the people with him were hungry and needed food. It was during the time of Abiathar the high priest. David went into God's house and ate the bread that was offered to God. And the law {of Moses} says that only priests can eat that bread. David also gave some of the bread to those people with him." Then Jesus said to the Pharisees, "The Sabbath day was made to help people. People were not made to be ruled by the Sabbath day. So the Son of Man is Lord (master) of every day, even the Sabbath."-- Mark 2:18-28 (ERV)
URL: http://www.heartlight.org/wjd/mark/0207-wjd.html
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