In the life of the Lord Jesus on earth, some things offended people and were a particular stumbling block to the Jews. The root of this lay in their evil hearts of unbelief. They simply did not know and believe WHO was before them. The glory of His person was hidden from them.

Once, He allowed Himself to be invited by a tax collector whom He had just called to follow Him. Levi (Matthew) had prepared a great meal for Him in his house, and many tax collectors and sinners had been at the table with Him (Matthew 9:9ff.; Mark 2:14ff.; Luke 5:27ff.).

The scribesThe scribes knew the writings of the Old Testament well and had the task of teaching and explaining the law. They did this primarily in the synagogues. They were also... More and PhariseesThe Pharisees were a small but influential religious group at the time of the New Testament. They demanded a strict separation from the lifestyle and practices of the gentiles and... More were annoyed by this. Still, they did not attack the Lord directly, but His disciples: “Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” (Luke 5:30). Instead of the disciples, the Lord Himself answered, taking their side: “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.” (Luke 5:31).

The disciples of John

It is not impossible that this event took place on one of the days when the disciples of John and the PhariseesThe Pharisees were a small but influential religious group at the time of the New Testament. They demanded a strict separation from the lifestyle and practices of the gentiles and... More were accustomed to fastingThe (voluntary) renunciation of food and earthly pleasures as well as the conscious renunciation of earthly and natural things in order to devote oneself fully and free from earthly influences... More. In the first three Gospels, the meal at Levi's house is followed by objections about fastingThe (voluntary) renunciation of food and earthly pleasures as well as the conscious renunciation of earthly and natural things in order to devote oneself fully and free from earthly influences... More. In Matthew, it is the disciples of John the Baptist who come to the Lord Jesus with the question, “Why do we and the PhariseesThe Pharisees were a small but influential religious group at the time of the New Testament. They demanded a strict separation from the lifestyle and practices of the gentiles and... More fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?” (Matthew 9:14).

Jesus and His disciples had just come from a banquet, but they, the disciples of John, and also the PhariseesThe Pharisees were a small but influential religious group at the time of the New Testament. They demanded a strict separation from the lifestyle and practices of the gentiles and... More and their disciples, were fastingThe (voluntary) renunciation of food and earthly pleasures as well as the conscious renunciation of earthly and natural things in order to devote oneself fully and free from earthly influences... More. They were fastingThe (voluntary) renunciation of food and earthly pleasures as well as the conscious renunciation of earthly and natural things in order to devote oneself fully and free from earthly influences... More, and Jesus' disciples – so they might have thought – were celebrating! How could this be reconciled? It seems that it was not hostility, but rather embarrassment, that prompted them to ask this question.

The PhariseesThe Pharisees were a small but influential religious group at the time of the New Testament. They demanded a strict separation from the lifestyle and practices of the gentiles and... More boasted that they voluntarily fasted twice a week (Luke 18:12), but the disciples of John the Baptist seemed to have a more serious attitude. Their teacher had called for repentanceWhile remorse (Greek metamellomai) means to regret a previous act or behavior and to have a different way of thinking about it, Repentance (Greek metanoia) goes further than that: It... More in view of the coming MessiahMessiah is a Hebrew word (Maschíach) meaning “the Anointed One.” In the New Testament, the Greek form “the Christ” is used and applied to the Lord Jesus alone. The Jews,... More in Israel. Was it not more than appropriate for repentanceWhile remorse (Greek metamellomai) means to regret a previous act or behavior and to have a different way of thinking about it, Repentance (Greek metanoia) goes further than that: It... More to be accompanied by fastingThe (voluntary) renunciation of food and earthly pleasures as well as the conscious renunciation of earthly and natural things in order to devote oneself fully and free from earthly influences... More? He himself had neither eaten nor drunk (Matthew 19:18). Should they, as his disciples, now that their teacher was in prison (Matthew 4:12), abandon this practice? John had called for repentanceWhile remorse (Greek metamellomai) means to regret a previous act or behavior and to have a different way of thinking about it, Repentance (Greek metanoia) goes further than that: It... More and had fasted. They, his disciples, had repented and fasted. Wasn’t fastingThe (voluntary) renunciation of food and earthly pleasures as well as the conscious renunciation of earthly and natural things in order to devote oneself fully and free from earthly influences... More a fruit worthy of repentanceWhile remorse (Greek metamellomai) means to regret a previous act or behavior and to have a different way of thinking about it, Repentance (Greek metanoia) goes further than that: It... More?

And had not Moses and Elijah also gone many days without food? Had not the prophetA prophet is someone who receives a message from God and passes it on to a specific group in the Old Testament, very often Israel. Prophets are, therefore, in close... More Joel also proclaimed, “Sanctify a fast, call a sacred assemblyThe literal meaning is “called out”: • called out of "the darkness" (1. Pet 2:9)—this refers to the area where there is a lack of light about God Himself, His... More” (Joel 1:14), “for a virgin girded with sackcloth for the husband of her youth” (Joel 1:8)? Was not this fastingThe (voluntary) renunciation of food and earthly pleasures as well as the conscious renunciation of earthly and natural things in order to devote oneself fully and free from earthly influences... More appropriate for the lamentation in Jerusalem of which Zechariah had spoken (Zechariah 12:10 ff)? How else could the fountain of sinThe Bible carefully differentiates between sin and sins. • Sin: the evil power at work in man that causes him to engage in sinful activities (Rom 7:17, 18). God pronounced... More and uncleanness be opened to the house of David? All this may have moved the hearts of these men. Nevertheless, Jesus’ disciples did not fast! How can we understand this? Were they not in some way opposed to the word of God?

Before we go into the Lord’s lovely answer, perhaps a brief word about the positionThe Christian position cannot be separated from Christian practice, but a distinction must be made. "Position" means how God sees us now. In the eyes of God, we are "in... More of John’s disciples is in order. The historical books of the New Testament reveal that these followers of John, even during the Lord’s ministry and later, formed a distinct group (Matthew 11:2; 14:12; John 3:25; Acts 19:1-4). Although John the Baptist was completely free of all jealousy regarding the One who was to come after him and willingly acknowledged His priority (John 3:26-31), they do not appear to have fully shared this noble attitude of their teacher. Indeed, one must assume that they had not truly recognized the Person of Jesus. They thought of the coming kingdom but did not see that the King of that kingdom was before them. They were filled with the awareness of their sinThe Bible carefully differentiates between sin and sins. • Sin: the evil power at work in man that causes him to engage in sinful activities (Rom 7:17, 18). God pronounced... More but were ignorant of the person of the Savior of sinners. By keeping themselves separate from the Lord’s disciples, they lost many blessings, as the example of Acts 19 shows.

But on this occasion, when they had the opportunity, they did the only right thing: they came directly to the Lord with their questions. Is that not also an example for us to follow? Do we not often prefer to go to people first for the solution to our questions and problems? Of course, the Lord can also give us light through the advice of insightful brothers or sisters. Who would have thought that?

Nevertheless, our hearts should always seek first the presence of the Lord, who, like no other, is able to answer and soothe the soul. The awareness that we are standing with our problems directly before our good Lord fills us with peace. And if we have certain questions for the Lord Jesus, but are unsure whether we are allowed to put them to Him, then let us hold on to this: The value lies not so much in our question as in His answer!

Joy instead of Lamentation

The Lord answers the questioners in His gracious manner, with a little parableA parable is a pictorial representation of messages that are not directly stated and require interpretation. God already used parables in the Old Testament to convey messages to his people... More, followed by two further images: “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them?” (Matthew 9:15).

This is one of the parables in which the Lord Jesus says something about the dignity and positionThe Christian position cannot be separated from Christian practice, but a distinction must be made. "Position" means how God sees us now. In the eyes of God, we are "in... More of His own person. They therefore deserve our special attention. The person of the Lord and His relationship to His Father and to man are of incalculable importance and significance. They form the central part of the revelations of God in His Word, and they are also the standard by which we can measure our own blessings through our connection with Him.

Here, the Lord calls Himself the "Bridegroom." Whose bridegroom – of the church, of the congregation? The congregation of God is indeed also His bride, His heavenly bride (Revelation 21:2, 9; 22:17), but at that time it did not yet exist. No, He, ChristA title of the Lord Jesus, which is also used as an epithet; Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) mean "anointed one". The title refers to the fact that Jesus is... More, present in the midst of Israel, presents Himself to the daughter of Zion as her bridegroom. Had not John himself spoken of Him in this character, saying: “He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled.” (John 3:29)?

With the term "bridegroom," the Lord alludes to sayings of the Old Testament in which Jehovah, in His grace, again draws near to His earthly people who are in debt to Him and presents Himself as the "husband" and "bridegroom" of this people. Let us listen to two of these heart-touching pronouncements: "For your Maker is your husband, The LORD of hosts is His name; And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth. For the LORD has called you Like a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, Like a youthful wife when you were refused,” Says your God. “For a mere moment I have forsaken you, But with great mercies I will gather you.” (Isaiah 54:5-7). No less moving is the following quote from the same prophetA prophet is someone who receives a message from God and passes it on to a specific group in the Old Testament, very often Israel. Prophets are, therefore, in close... More: “”You shall no longer be termed Forsaken, nor shall your land any more be termed Desolate; but you shall be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the Lord delights in you, and your land shall be married.” (Isaiah 62:4-5; cf. also Hosea 2:16-20).

With these words of Jehovah in mind, we can see the full extent of God's graceTo the one who earns something through performance, the reward is not according to grace but according to debt (Rom. 4:4). Grace is a favor that is not given by... More, which lies in the fact that ChristA title of the Lord Jesus, which is also used as an epithet; Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) mean "anointed one". The title refers to the fact that Jesus is... More offers Himself anew as the “bridegroom” to the guilty people. “Jesus,” the true ‘Emmanuel’ (“God with us"), had come to ‘save His people from their sins’ (Matthew 1:21-23) and thus to enter into a spousal relationship with him again! Of course, repentanceWhile remorse (Greek metamellomai) means to regret a previous act or behavior and to have a different way of thinking about it, Repentance (Greek metanoia) goes further than that: It... More and confession of sins were necessary (Matthew 3:2, 5, 6). Who would question that after all that had happened? But now He was there, their Bridegroom. The Source of all true joy was in their midst, manifesting the wonderful graceTo the one who earns something through performance, the reward is not according to grace but according to debt (Rom. 4:4). Grace is a favor that is not given by... More of God. How could His disciples, whom He associated with Him as “companions of the bridal chamber,” mourn and fast? He was there to “give them beauty for ashes, the oilWhen oil is mentioned in the Bible, it usually refers to olive oil. It was considered an important staple food and was used for ointments and as a light source... More of joy for mourning” (Isaiah 61:3). Was not the song of praise of Mary (Luke 1:46-55) far more appropriate than the lamentations of Jeremiah? Even when the Savior was born, the heavenly hosts had broken out in praise to God, and the shepherds had also glorified and praised God “for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them” (Luke 2:13-20).

And yet some continued to mourn and fast with Him in mind! How was that possible? Unlike Jesus' disciples, John's disciples did not recognize who Jesus really was. That was the real problem. John the Baptist had spoken of the "Lamb of God" and the "Bridegroom." But they apparently did not believe this testimony and did not follow Him. Instead, they prayed and fasted and kept away from the One to whom John had testified.

All this also gives us something to think about. Is not the cause of our manifold failures and our little joy also due to the fact that we do not realize what a glorious person we are dealing with? We certainly have every reason to humble ourselves before God and confess our guilt. But should we stop there? Do we not also have the source of all joy and every blessingA blessing is something good, in the Old Testament, usually associated with possessions, prosperity, and health, and is usually pronounced over someone. In principle, the lesser is blessed by the... More “with us,” “in us,” “in our midst” (Matthew 28:20; Ephesians 3:17; Matthew 18:20)? “”You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (PsalmPsalm simply means "song." In the Old Testament, this word only occurs in connection with the Psalms of David and the Book of Psalms. Singers sang a psalm with instrumental... More 16:11).

FastingThe (voluntary) renunciation of food and earthly pleasures as well as the conscious renunciation of earthly and natural things in order to devote oneself fully and free from earthly influences... More

But then the Lord indicates a momentous change in circumstances: “But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast” (Matthew 9:15).

Deep shadows would once again fall on the people of Israel and on their hopes before the sun rises again in the Millennial Kingdom: the bridegroom would be taken away from them. The Lord Jesus, “who knew all things that would come upon Him,” speaks prophetically here of His rejection and His death. The MessiahMessiah is a Hebrew word (Maschíach) meaning “the Anointed One.” In the New Testament, the Greek form “the Christ” is used and applied to the Lord Jesus alone. The Jews,... More would be “cut off, but not for Himself” (Daniel 9:26). If He were to lie in the grave, then indeed His disciples would fast. In another passage, the Lord foretells them: “Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the worldThe word is used with different meanings. It can mean the whole of humanity (Gen 41:57) or the created world (Rom 1:20), but also a moral system that is opposed... More will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.” (John 16:20).

We see this sadness in the two disciples who went to Emmaus. The Risen Lord joined them because He knew that they were “sad” (Luke 24:17). Through the revelation of Himself, He soon made their disheartened hearts burn again.

Thus, the Lord's disciples' mourning lasted only a short time. What He had foretold them came true: "Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you” (John 16:22). How could they still grieve and be troubled when they had the risen Lord before their eyes? Even when He then departed from them and was carried up to heaven, “And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the templeThe house and dwelling place of God in Jerusalem in the OT. The forerunner was the tabernacle.  It consisted of two main rooms, the sanctuary and the Holy of Holies,... More praising and blessingA blessing is something good, in the Old Testament, usually associated with possessions, prosperity, and health, and is usually pronounced over someone. In principle, the lesser is blessed by the... More God. AmenThe Hebrew expression can be translated as "faithful," "certain," "so it shall be, "and "let it be confirmed." Under the law, the truth was to be affirmed in solemn moments... More.” (Luke 24:50-53).

This joy, which may also fundamentally characterize us in the present time of graceTo the one who earns something through performance, the reward is not according to grace but according to debt (Rom. 4:4). Grace is a favor that is not given by... More (Philippians 4:4), does not, however, exclude fastingThe (voluntary) renunciation of food and earthly pleasures as well as the conscious renunciation of earthly and natural things in order to devote oneself fully and free from earthly influences... More on special occasions. It is not as if this has been imposed on us as a rule or requirement. But the practice of fastingThe (voluntary) renunciation of food and earthly pleasures as well as the conscious renunciation of earthly and natural things in order to devote oneself fully and free from earthly influences... More was never condemned by the Lord (Matthew 6:16-18; Mark 9:29; cf. also Acts 13:3; 14:23; 2 Corinthians 6:5; 11:27). It is striking how often fastingThe (voluntary) renunciation of food and earthly pleasures as well as the conscious renunciation of earthly and natural things in order to devote oneself fully and free from earthly influences... More is mentioned alongside prayer. In our parableA parable is a pictorial representation of messages that are not directly stated and require interpretation. God already used parables in the Old Testament to convey messages to his people... More, the Lord equates it with mourning.

When it is genuine, fastingThe (voluntary) renunciation of food and earthly pleasures as well as the conscious renunciation of earthly and natural things in order to devote oneself fully and free from earthly influences... More goes hand in hand with sadness of heart. When the heart is bowed down, fastingThe (voluntary) renunciation of food and earthly pleasures as well as the conscious renunciation of earthly and natural things in order to devote oneself fully and free from earthly influences... More is an appropriate expression of these feelings. Who is interested in eating and drinking when they are in deep emotional distress? The mind is so intensely occupied with spiritual things and needs that physical needs fade into the background for a time. Do we still recognize this spirit of self-denial today, which distinguished the Nazarites in the Old Testament? In any case, there is nothing in Scripture to justify speaking disparagingly of fastingThe (voluntary) renunciation of food and earthly pleasures as well as the conscious renunciation of earthly and natural things in order to devote oneself fully and free from earthly influences... More or rejecting it altogether as a practice.

Thus, in the parableA parable is a pictorial representation of messages that are not directly stated and require interpretation. God already used parables in the Old Testament to convey messages to his people... More of the “present bridegroom,” the Lord indicates a serious, imminent change in the dispensationA dispensation is a specific time of human history that has its own rules and in which God reveals Himself in a particular way. Seven different dispensations can be distinguished... More. The Messiah's presence would only be temporary. The calling of Levi and his eating and drinking with the tax collectors and sinners were clear signs that Israel as such had already been set aside. That the bridegroom who then dwelt among them would be “taken away” from them was a clear signThe Gospel of John tells us about eight signs that the Lord Jesus performed. These signs, which are also miracles, point to something special. They aim to help us grow... More of the coming catastrophe - not a catastrophe that befell Him, as one might think, but their catastrophe.