Read Matthew Chapter 9:14-17
Hey! Look Who’s Here!
The disciples of John the Baptist came to Jesus and asked, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast and your disciples do not fast?” John the Baptist had a message of humble repentance so the disciples of John the Baptist fasted as a reflection of his message. The Pharisees, on the other hand, fasted often (Luke 18:12) and did it in order to impress themselves and impress others with how “spiritual” they were (Matthew 16:16-18).
So Jesus explained why his disciples weren’t fasting:
1. John the Baptist came to prepare the way for the Lord, the Messiah, the chosen one. Jesus was the fulfillment of John’s message. He was the Messiah present. So while Jesus was with them, it was a time for celebration. A time of joy and not a time of fasting.
2. Then Jesus said that a time would come when he would be taken away from them, then it would be time for fasting. When Jesus said “taken away” he was alluding to his coming death and Resurrection. He came for a purpose. Not to abolish the law but to fulfill it. He would fulfill it through his perfection. The old covenant said we must be perfect or die. It revealed our sin. It showed our need for forgiveness. Jesus came as the New covenant who would pave the way for us to have forgiveness of our sins since we can’t be perfect and fulfill the Old covenant.
So when Jesus talked about trying to patch the old wide skin he was alluding to the fact that we can’t fulfill the Old covenant. We can try all we want but we will fail every time. There needed to be a new wine put into a new wine skin. Jesus is speaking of a new covenant and he’s the new wine and the new wine skin is the New covenant. He has paved the way for the forgiveness of sins.
Lord, help me not put emphasis on trying to obtain salvation through my good works. Instead help me find my salvation through the work of Christ at the cross for the forgiveness of my sins. But Lord, as I surrender my life to you, help me repent of my sins and teach me to walk in holiness so that I may be more and more like you.
