August 31, 2008 8:32 AM
Sam wrote:
Again, a WHOLE lot in THIS chapter. 1-Jesus' preaching drew large crowds 2-Jesus forgave a man's sin 3-Jesus taught 'members of the law' about His power by healing than man 4-Levi was asked to follow Jesus 5-Jesus ate a meal with Levi and others 6-Jesus explained about fasting using two examples (the bridegroom and wine) 7-Jesus rebuked the men of the law's beliefs about the Sabbath (day of rest)
There, pick a subject (amazing their were seven!).....there is so much to learn from EACh of these, that we could spend a 'month of Sundays' (as the saying goes) to get everything we should out of this one little chapter. The strangest one, I guess, would be either Jesus' description of the bridegroom and fasting, or pouring of new wine into old wineskins. I'll tackle the former, maybe one of you can explain the latter. "How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them?" Good question, but I have a heck of a time trying to figure out what Jesus is talking about here. Fasting - giving up something, normally food, to try to get closer to God. (I guess if you're hungry you think more of your maker???). Oh, also, as an aside and I won't charge you for this one: today people claim to 'fast' from various sins or things that could lead them to sin, thinking that is what fasting is. It is NOT. Fasting was from FOOD. People 'give up' other things because it is too difficult for them to fast from food, so they claim. I am sure you guys have all fasted from food for 72-96 hours early on in your walk with God...and why did you do it? To prove you could and set yourself up for this practice so you could spend that time thinking about God. Fasting from TV, from shopping, from playing pool, or WHATEVER people claim to fast from, is simply an alternative for them because they either think they can't fast from food, or because they don't want to because it is too 'hard'. Fasting from food, the practice of the Israelites, was not as difficult as it may sound. A normal fast was from the time the sun came up in the morning, until it went down in the evening. When someone fasted for seven days, it was only during daylight hours...they deprived their body of food during that time so they could spend it with God. They ate in the evenings! You too, can fast, as did the Israelites. Even people with medical conditions (with Doctor's okays and or supervision) can also do the same. If you know someone who claims they fast from TV, from shopping, etc, because they don't think they can fast from food, tell them what fasting really is.....have them go to a doctor's office all day, or a hospital waiting room, and fast there, if they are uncomfortable doing so at home. The whole purpose was to not feed the body, but feed the soul. Okay, lecture/lesson over, back to the topic of today....fasting as related to Jesus' story of the bridegroom's guests. (I see I am running out of allowed characters on the blog, so will continue in a moment... Reply to this
August 31, 2008 8:46 AM
Sam wrote:
I found a bunch of Scriptures which talk about lengths (and times) of fasting....so if you don't want to go 40 days (and nights), pick one of these: Morning through evening -- 1st Sam 7:6 and 2nd Sam 1:12 Seven days -- 1st Sam 31:13; 2nd Sam 12:16-18; 1st Chronicles 10:12 Forty days -- Matthew 4:2 So, why does Jesus use a bridegroom story as an example of fasting? Well, obviously, HE is the bridegroom, to whom His disciples will be 'connected'. He explains that while He is with them, there is no need to fast because fasting brings you closer to God...how much closer can you get with Him physically in front of you. He said there was no need for fasting because God was with them in person! Now, when He goes back to Heaven, the practice of fasting should continue, that is, depriving one's body of food to spend time getting (back) closer to God. Friends of a bridegroom are spending time with that bridegroom while he is with them, but after he is snatched away by that evil wom....oops, sorry, after he is married, THEN his friends can fast, that is, think about him even though he is gone away. So, it all makes sense when you realize that fasting brings you closer to God, and Jesus' disciples didn't need to fast as they were right there with God (Jesus) at the time. Sorry I was so long winded today, but fasting has always been a favorite subject of mine, not necessarily a favorite activity, BUT, a favorite subject. When is the last time you have fasted? I regret to tell you that I have only fasted (for the purpose of getting closer to God), only once in the past coupla years, and that happened a few weeks ago. I know some of you, like me, may go all day without eating, but don't call that fasting unless the main purpose of it is to get closer to God. As you read other Scriptures about fasting, you will find that people fasted for several reasons (although all are related to 'getting closer to' God). Use your concordance and look up fasting in the following books and you will see what I mean: 1st Kings, 2nd Samuel, Isaiah, Ezra, Esther and Matthew. Reply to this
September 1, 2008 6:37 AM
Rich wrote:
Great lesson Mac. I have not fasted in a very long time. I also never really understood this scripture. Your words above have made it clearer to me. Now if someday you can explain the rest of the verse (old wine/new wine skins) stuff, it would be great. I have heard some preach on this passage and I probably understand some of what this means from that, but my main curiosity is how does the old wine/new wine stuff fit right here? Is this just randomly inserted in this area in the book of Mark or is there some specific reason for it being right here? Also, does the book of Mark follow Jesus chronologically or is it just a collection of things that Jesus did and said? Reply to this
Again, a WHOLE lot in THIS chapter.
1-Jesus' preaching drew large crowds
2-Jesus forgave a man's sin
3-Jesus taught 'members of the law' about His power by healing than man
4-Levi was asked to follow Jesus
5-Jesus ate a meal with Levi and others
6-Jesus explained about fasting using two examples (the bridegroom and wine)
7-Jesus rebuked the men of the law's beliefs about the Sabbath (day of rest)
There, pick a subject (amazing their were seven!).....there is so much to learn from EACh of these, that we could spend a 'month of Sundays' (as the saying goes) to get everything we should out of this one little chapter.
The strangest one, I guess, would be either Jesus' description of the bridegroom and fasting, or pouring of new wine into old wineskins. I'll tackle the former, maybe one of you can explain the latter.
"How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them?" Good question, but I have a heck of a time trying to figure out what Jesus is talking about here. Fasting - giving up something, normally food, to try to get closer to God. (I guess if you're hungry you think more of your maker???). Oh, also, as an aside and I won't charge you for this one: today people claim to 'fast' from various sins or things that could lead them to sin, thinking that is what fasting is. It is NOT. Fasting was from FOOD. People 'give up' other things because it is too difficult for them to fast from food, so they claim. I am sure you guys have all fasted from food for 72-96 hours early on in your walk with God...and why did you do it? To prove you could and set yourself up for this practice so you could spend that time thinking about God. Fasting from TV, from shopping, from playing pool, or WHATEVER people claim to fast from, is simply an alternative for them because they either think they can't fast from food, or because they don't want to because it is too 'hard'. Fasting from food, the practice of the Israelites, was not as difficult as it may sound. A normal fast was from the time the sun came up in the morning, until it went down in the evening. When someone fasted for seven days, it was only during daylight hours...they deprived their body of food during that time so they could spend it with God. They ate in the evenings! You too, can fast, as did the Israelites. Even people with medical conditions (with Doctor's okays and or supervision) can also do the same. If you know someone who claims they fast from TV, from shopping, etc, because they don't think they can fast from food, tell them what fasting really is.....have them go to a doctor's office all day, or a hospital waiting room, and fast there, if they are uncomfortable doing so at home. The whole purpose was to not feed the body, but feed the soul. Okay, lecture/lesson over, back to the topic of today....fasting as related to Jesus' story of the bridegroom's guests. (I see I am running out of allowed characters on the blog, so will continue in a moment...
Reply to this
I found a bunch of Scriptures which talk about lengths (and times) of fasting....so if you don't want to go 40 days (and nights), pick one of these:
Morning through evening -- 1st Sam 7:6 and 2nd Sam 1:12
Seven days -- 1st Sam 31:13; 2nd Sam 12:16-18; 1st Chronicles 10:12
Forty days -- Matthew 4:2
So, why does Jesus use a bridegroom story as an example of fasting? Well, obviously, HE is the bridegroom, to whom His disciples will be 'connected'. He explains that while He is with them, there is no need to fast because fasting brings you closer to God...how much closer can you get with Him physically in front of you. He said there was no need for fasting because God was with them in person! Now, when He goes back to Heaven, the practice of fasting should continue, that is, depriving one's body of food to spend time getting (back) closer to God. Friends of a bridegroom are spending time with that bridegroom while he is with them, but after he is snatched away by that evil wom....oops, sorry, after he is married, THEN his friends can fast, that is, think about him even though he is gone away. So, it all makes sense when you realize that fasting brings you closer to God, and Jesus' disciples didn't need to fast as they were right there with God (Jesus) at the time.
Sorry I was so long winded today, but fasting has always been a favorite subject of mine, not necessarily a favorite activity, BUT, a favorite subject.
When is the last time you have fasted? I regret to tell you that I have only fasted (for the purpose of getting closer to God), only once in the past coupla years, and that happened a few weeks ago. I know some of you, like me, may go all day without eating, but don't call that fasting unless the main purpose of it is to get closer to God. As you read other Scriptures about fasting, you will find that people fasted for several reasons (although all are related to 'getting closer to' God). Use your concordance and look up fasting in the following books and you will see what I mean: 1st Kings, 2nd Samuel, Isaiah, Ezra, Esther and Matthew.
Reply to this
Great lesson Mac. I have not fasted in a very long time. I also never really understood this scripture. Your words above have made it clearer to me. Now if someday you can explain the rest of the verse (old wine/new wine skins) stuff, it would be great. I have heard some preach on this passage and I probably understand some of what this means from that, but my main curiosity is how does the old wine/new wine stuff fit right here? Is this just randomly inserted in this area in the book of Mark or is there some specific reason for it being right here? Also, does the book of Mark follow Jesus chronologically or is it just a collection of things that Jesus did and said?
Reply to this