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?" 19 Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them. 20 But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast. 21 "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. 22 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."
One of the most challenging things to recognize in the context of our personal relationships with Christ is the reality that with God there are changing times and seasons that call for varying responses from God’s people. Many people find comfort in predictability and tradition. These things do have a place of value if they do not become a hindrance to living a responsive life to God. Within the religious culture of the time of Christ the religious leaders were so loyal to their traditions and routines that they could not recognize when God was doing a new thing.
Within this spiritual exchange in Mk. 2:18-22, between Jesus and the people who came inquiring about the lifestyle of the disciples Jesus gave a very insightful response. When asked why his disciples did not fast like John’s disciples Jesus answered “it is not time yet!” He made it clear that a time would come when they would fast but this was not the season for that. This was a season to enjoy the personal encounter with Jesus that they were experiencing and that after that season was over, then they would embrace a lifestyle of fasting. Through this response Jesus confronts the people’s false assumption that the nature of spiritual discipline is routine rather than responsive to times and seasons. Through this exchange Jesus gives the people a measure of freedom to walk with the Holy Spirit as He directs not just out of a method that they have learned.
Jesus continues in His exchange with these inquirers by teaching them for a few moments about seasons of transition. He points out that there are times when the work which God wants to do requires a new wineskin or structure to be able contain the new things that God desires to pour out. Within this understanding He then identifies that the ministry of fasting greatly impacts the outpouring of the new work of God and therefore, because the new structure that He is establishing through the birth of the Church is not ready to come forth yet the fasting season should wait until the necessary related changes have taken place.
Within this passage there are powerful spiritual insights as well as powerful leadership insights. We see a revelation of the power of fasting in the context of God birthing new seasons but Jesus also demonstrates tremendous leadership wisdom as He knows which emphasis to focus on at each stage of progression that He anticipates will take place within the coming work of God. His prophetic view of the coming changes that are about to impact the religious landscape enables Him to properly administer the times and seasons of progressive discipleship that He is imparting to His disciples. As the work of the cross is followed by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and then the birth of the church as a corporate, empowered presence representing God will soon unfold Jesus knows that certain facets of personal development that will be needed in the lives of His people must come at the appropriate pace or their impact will be lost because the setting is not yet properly prepared.
Each one of us must learn to recognize the times and seasons of the Lord in our lives. We must keep our hearts open to times of change and not become ensnared by our own spiritual habits. There are times when the Lord may lead you into a season of greater of lesser discipline. There are other times when He may choose to focus your attention on a particular facet of your ministry functions or career function to a greater or lesser degree than in past seasons. There are many Christians who are walking in frustration because there is no longer joy in their routine with God. They are seeking to recapture lost feelings and fading fire through the same practices that they have been engaged in. For some this frustration is in reality because the grace of a past season has lifted and God is preparing you for a new wineskin. Open your heart to the possibility of change and let the Lord lead you into the joyful remembrance that His yoke is easy and His burden is light!
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