The Bridegroom
Reading for Sunday, February 21
Mark 2:18-22
Now John’s Disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and asked Jesus, “How is it that John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not?” Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? He cannot, so long as they have him with them. But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast. No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, he pours new wine into new wineskins.
The marriage of Lady Diana Spencer to Prince Charles was a fairytale wedding. I recall awakening early in the morning on July 29, 1981 to view the wedding along with 700 million others. As with many weddings there were a few laughable moments. For instance, Diana changed the order of Charles’ forenames, calling him Phillip Charles Arthur George, which led Prince Charles to joke that she had married his father! Additionally, after the end of the nearly 90 minute ceremony, the Prince forgot to kiss his bride.
This was not the case when Jesus was calling on his first disciples. Jesus was not forgetful. He was excited to celebrate with his disciples, as a bridegroom would at a wedding. This was not a time for fasting. Although John and the Pharisees participated in this ritual, this was not the time for Jesus to do so; it was not something his disciples were accustomed to doing. Jesus was building relationships with his disciples and wanted to demonstrate his belief in them and his love for them, by using only the best….forego the patches and ruining of the wine. Only the best for their time together, a time of cautious celebration; to be sure everything was right. In time, the need for fasting would occur; the time when Jesus would be taken from them.
What causes celebration in your life? Are you filled daily with the joy of knowing Jesus Christ and letting him work through you? Does this show by your words and your actions? Would others want to become a Christian because of the joy and exuberance you display?
Debbie Kendall
Reading for Sunday, February 21
Mark 2:18-22
Now John’s Disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and asked Jesus, “How is it that John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not?” Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? He cannot, so long as they have him with them. But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast. No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, he pours new wine into new wineskins.
The marriage of Lady Diana Spencer to Prince Charles was a fairytale wedding. I recall awakening early in the morning on July 29, 1981 to view the wedding along with 700 million others. As with many weddings there were a few laughable moments. For instance, Diana changed the order of Charles’ forenames, calling him Phillip Charles Arthur George, which led Prince Charles to joke that she had married his father! Additionally, after the end of the nearly 90 minute ceremony, the Prince forgot to kiss his bride.
This was not the case when Jesus was calling on his first disciples. Jesus was not forgetful. He was excited to celebrate with his disciples, as a bridegroom would at a wedding. This was not a time for fasting. Although John and the Pharisees participated in this ritual, this was not the time for Jesus to do so; it was not something his disciples were accustomed to doing. Jesus was building relationships with his disciples and wanted to demonstrate his belief in them and his love for them, by using only the best….forego the patches and ruining of the wine. Only the best for their time together, a time of cautious celebration; to be sure everything was right. In time, the need for fasting would occur; the time when Jesus would be taken from them.
What causes celebration in your life? Are you filled daily with the joy of knowing Jesus Christ and letting him work through you? Does this show by your words and your actions? Would others want to become a Christian because of the joy and exuberance you display?
Debbie Kendall