Fasting is one of the most effective and most neglected means of grace in the life of a believer. One of the reasons for that neglect is confusion about the purpose of fasting.
In Matthew 9, the disciples of John the Baptist approach Jesus with a question about the topic. They had noticed that the disciples of Jesus never fasted. While they observed somber days of repentance and self-denial, the Jesus crowd was casually eating.
What’s the deal Jesus? (9:14)
His answer contains 3 helpful lessons.
1. Jesus is a happy groom and his guys know their assignment. (9:15a)
The presence of a groom is an occasion for great joy. The job of his friends and guests is to rejoice with him. It would be inappropriate to imagine a groomsman fasting at his friend’s rehearsal dinner. In the same way, it just doesn’t make sense to fast when Jesus, the great, joyful bridegroom of the church, is in the room.
2. Jesus is not a patch to be sewn onto a tattered system of works. (9:16-17)
Old cloth can’t be repaired with a patch of a new cloth. Old wineskins can’t contain new wine. These two every day pictures are a picture of the relationship of Jesus with the Old Covenant. The Old Covenant of works, based on human effort, was not something that could be patched with a little bit of grace. A total replacement was needed. The New Covenant is a covenant of grace that does not require works like fasting.
3. Jesus is now and not yet. (9:15b)
There was no place for fasting while Jesus was in the room. But he was taken from his friends. Now the people of Jesus live in the in-between time, the now and not yet of the kingdom of Christ. We can feast with joy because we have salvation now. But in this in-between time we still wrestle with the old sin nature, we still battle against forces of darkness, we still seek greater knowledge of God. So we still fast. Not to obtain favor, but because we already have it. We fast to open our lives (and others’) to the grace and power of God.
Continue
Are you struggling with acute temptation or stubborn sin?
Are you stuck or stagnant in your spiritual life?
Are you facing spiritual darkness that seems too strong?
Are you dealing with a problem you can’t figure out how to handle?
Are you eager for more of the Spirit’s love and power in your world?
Maybe it’s time to give fasting a try!
Tom Brown is the planting pastor of Vintage Faith Church in Wichita. Tom and his wife, Mandy, have worked together in ministry for over 20 years and have four children. More about Pastor Tom Brown