To Fast or not to Fast

Mark 2 : 18 - 22

When we read this biblical passage, don’t think that we are finally liberated from fasting. If we are not honest in our Bible reading, we will always turn any passage into an excuse to justify our weakness or shortcomings. In other parts of the Bible—and in this passage as well—Jesus was not against fasting. However, there is indeed a certain danger of confusing true spirituality or genuine piety with mere religious rituals.

Verse 18 begins with a description of John’s disciples and the Pharisees fasting. People use this fact to accuse Jesus’ disciples because apparently they are not fasting. This “Jesus movement” was seen as a new phenomenon. Usually, in order to be accepted, we have to fulfill certain criteria—and one of them, at the time, was religious fasting. If you don’t fast, what kind of group is this? All the other groups are fasting. This is a kind of peer pressure within a new religious movement.

We can compare this to our contemporary context. In our society, there is a certain pressure to prove yourself in order to be accepted. Sometimes we respond with our ego. For example, we say: “Do you think I cannot fast? Let me prove to you that I can fast longer than you.” This is a life driven by our personal ego, not by the Holy Spirit.

The way Jesus answers the question in verse 19 is important to understand. There are a few perspectives we can explore from His response. First, He uses the metaphor of wedding guests: “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them?” We know that Jesus refers to Himself as the bridegroom. His presence on earth during the incarnation is like a wedding party. Fasting during the wedding party would be offensive because it would be inappropriate to reject the host’s invitation to eat, drink, and celebrate. If you insist on fasting during a celebration, then you are not sensitive to what is happening around you.

Once I posted on social media—driven by the chaotic situations in Indonesia and Nepal—to raise awareness, so that we are not easily provoked and can recognize the dangers of evil provocateurs. Then, someone commented, saying that Jesus Himself was like a “holy provocateur.” I was speechless because of this comment. I don’t think that “a holy provocateur” is the message we need to hear right now. That kind of thinking is not sensitive to the situation.

When Jesus came into the world, many religious leaders saw Him as a threat rather than someone worthy to follow. This means they refused to join the wedding party. Deep in their hearts, they did not accept Jesus. But blessed are we if we can recognize, feel, and experience the presence of God in our lives.

The presence of Jesus cannot be replaced or compared with any religious ritual. The complexity of religious rituals may even betray the absence of God’s presence in our lives. Perhaps the more we are not participating in God’s holy presence, the more religious rituals we will turn to. We recently saw data stating that 68% of people believe in the power of nature. If you cannot enjoy the presence of God or refuse to relate with Him, then this is what you will believe instead—the power of nature.

We often hear people complaining that God is cruel because so many people are sick, poor, or suffering from evil. But we rarely hear people ask why nature is so cruel. People always try to reconcile with suffering through nature, but they refuse to reconcile with God. This means they are against God, but never against nature, and they believe in the sovereignty of nature. So once again, if you fail to enjoy the holy presence of Jesus Christ, you will replace it with religious activity, the power of nature, entertainment, and so on.

Let’s apply this to our Sunday worship. This doesn’t mean we should neglect the importance of preparing Sunday worship. But when we prepare it, are we doing it out of love for Jesus and with the desire for God’s presence? If we care more about the order of worship, the lighting, the songs, etc., rather than Jesus, then we have really lost our focus.

Back to the passage, Jesus doesn’t say that fasting is unimportant. However, if you care more about fasting than about Jesus Himself, then you are losing focus. But if you truly understand that the presence of Jesus is above everything else—then yes, let’s fast.

This is what Jesus also says in verse 20: “The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day.” So, when and why do we fast? The key criteria is the presence of Jesus. We fast because we long for the presence of Jesus.

Sometimes, like the Pharisees, we are aware of whether or not we belong to a group that fasts. But be careful, because there is a hidden danger: to fast for the sake of fasting itself, instead of doing it in reference to Jesus.

We are now living in a quite narcissistic society, where we like to create awareness of ourselves—what we do, say, teach, or achieve. This is what we want to show and celebrate. But this is not Christianity, because it leads us deeper into self-glorification. Whoever wants to follow Jesus must deny themselves.

The presence of Jesus is often taken lightly by people. They don’t see the beauty of His presence, but instead try to fit Him into their religious categories. Isn’t that our problem too? Maybe we don’t reject Jesus—we are not atheists—but we say, “If God wants to enter my life, He must follow my requirements. I already have plans, so please don’t destroy them.” But if we think like this, do we really know Jesus?

There are so many compartments in our lives, but Jesus is too great to fit into any personal compartment—yours or mine. Our compartments should be enriched by Jesus, not the other way around.

In verses 21–22, we read another metaphor: the new wine and the old wineskins. The old wineskin will burst and be destroyed. This connects with the phrase “taken away” in verse 20. We know that Jesus was truly taken away from them—this refers to His crucifixion and death, just as He predicted. So this is a very prophetic parable.

Jesus comes into your life, but if you want to retain the old wineskins—your old lifestyle, mindset, values, dreams—then what will happen? The old wineskin will burst, and Jesus will be taken away from you. Isn’t that sad? This is like someone who refuses to repent when Jesus comes. But blessed are those who recognize Him and throw away everything else, because they already have everything in Jesus.

From an eschatological perspective, we know that Jesus will come again. He was taken away and ascended into heaven. That’s why now is the appropriate time to fast while we wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to return.

The greatest problem in contemporary churches today is not a lack of buildings, culture, or ministers. The greatest problem is that people no longer truly desire the presence of God. We can’t use the old wineskins anymore, we have to let Jesus shape our lives. The ongoing challenge for the Church is to keep this focus: to inspire people to desire more of God’s presence.

Just like Sunday worship, the same principle applies to your family life, career, and studies. What do you desire most in your studies? Is it a high GPA so you’ll be seen as intelligent? What do you want in your family life? Beautiful, well-mannered children? But do we ever desire for our children to experience God’s presence? Are we more afraid that our children are sick or homeless—or that they live without God? Are you afraid of being stuck in your career or are you afraid of God’s absence in your career?

Let’s understand what Jesus taught here: you cannot receive Jesus while holding on to the old wineskin. It’s incompatible. It will burst, and everything will be destroyed—because Jesus is too great. Blessed are we if we understand the greatness of Jesus and invite Him to take control of our lives. God bless us. (G.N.S)