Mark 2:18-20
18 The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting. Then they came and said to Him, “Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?”
19 And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast.
20 But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days. The same account is also found in Matthew 9:14-15 and Luke 5:33-35.
This questioning of Jesus may not be considered a parable by some, but we will deal with it like the other parables we have discussed.
Setting and Context – During the early part of Christ’s ministry; he picked “Levi the son of Alphaeus” to follow him, and went into Levi’s house to dine with him. The scribes and Pharisees were upset at his associating with tax collectors and sinners. Some of them came to him, and questioned him about the practice of fasting.
Mark 2:13-17
13 Then He went out again by the sea; and all the multitude came to Him, and He taught them.
14 As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him.
15 Now it happened, as He was dining in Levi’s house, that many tax collectors and sinners also sat together with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many, and they followed Him.
16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, “How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?”
17 When Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
The Question – Mark 2:18
18 The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting. Then they came and said to Him, “Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?”
The Answer – Mark 2:19-20
19 And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast.
20 But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.
I am not positive that both events of questioning happened while Jesus was still in Levi’s house. Whatever the case, it is typical of the questions that Jesus received from those who did not understand his ministry. Likely the scribes and Pharisees posed their question in another attempt to show his disregard of the traditions or the law. However, Christ’s answer to the these questions is much more important than who asked them. His answer has major eschatological implications.
To the Jews, fasting was a way to demonstrate, with physical hunger, love for God and sincerity in wanting to please him. Perhaps there was at that time a customary occasion for fasting, because John’s disciples and the Pharisees were both fasting. While the disciples of John likely had no thought of a connection between their own fasting and a bridegroom, Christ explains it to them with this parable.
In the New Testament we find these references to marriage, bride and bridegroom. The ones that are in bold relate to parables.
Bride – John 3:29; Rev 18:23, 21:2, 9, 22:17
Bridegroom – Matt 9:15, 25:1, 5, 6, 10; Mark 2:19, 20; Luke 5:34, 35; John 2:9, 3:29; Rev 18:23
Marriage – Matt 22:2, 30, 24:38; Mark 12:25; Luke 17:27, 20:34, 35; John 2:1, 2
Marriage supper – Rev 19:9
The main point of the parable is that Jesus is going away. At the time that Jesus was speaking of his disciples he said this of them; “… they have the bridegroom with them…” but soon “… the bridegroom will be taken away from them….” While it was to the disciples’ advantage that he “go away” they certainly did not understand it at this point.
John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.
The custom of the Jews (and others of that same time) required rejoicing and/or feasting with the bridegroom prior to the wedding. However, he is saying that he would leave them prior to the wedding (while he was still a bridegroom). Because of their sadness, and yet showing their devotion to him, they would later “fast.” This situation would leave them waiting for the “Helper” and for Christ’s return!
Audience Relevance – In the hearing of his own disciples (“… the friends of the bridegroom…”) he later spoke this:
John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
John 16:13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
In John 16:1-7 Christ links his “going away” to the coming of the “Helper.” These verses positively identify “the Helper” as the “Holy Spirit” that would be sent to give his disciples miraculous power, knowledge and prophecy. Before Jesus ascended, he himself was present with them, but only a few days after he left, the Holy Spirit appeared and was present with them beginning on the day of Pentecost. Do Christians today still have the powers that these disciples had in the first century? Despite what some may claim, we do not! If Christ did not return, then why don’t people today have the miraculous powers of the Holy Spirit just like the Apostles?
While Christ was with his disciples they had his “presence” here on earth. But when he left, his first century disciples were waiting for his “presence” to return.
Matthew 16:27
27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. 28 Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.” (also found in Mark 9:1 and Luke 9:27)
Christ was still considered “the bridegroom” but he ascended to the father. Yet he promised to “… come … with His angels… coming in his kingdom“ during the lifetime of some of the living people he was then addressing. Did he speak the truth about it? In these verses we are given one of the reasons for his “going away.”
John 14:1-3 1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.
2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
Typical of a bridegroom of that time, he would prepare a new room attached to his father’s house before the marriage; (“… I go to prepare a place for you.”) He would then return to join his disciples (“… I will come again and receive you to Myself;”) and then proceed to the wedding.
Ephesians 5:25-32 (YLT)
25 The husbands! love your own wives, as also the Christ did love the assembly, and did give himself for it,
26 that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it with the bathing of the water in the saying,
27 that he might present it to himself the assembly in glory, not having spot or wrinkle, or any of such things, but that it may be holy and unblemished;
28 so ought the husbands to love their own wives as their own bodies: he who is loving his own wife–himself he doth love;
29 for no one ever his own flesh did hate, but doth nourish and cherish it, as also the Lord–the assembly,
30 because members we are of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones;
31 `for this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined to his wife, and they shall be–the two–for one flesh;’
32 this secret is great, and I speak in regard to Christ and to the assembly;
We will study more about that wedding later. But for now, I’ll end with what John recorded about Christ’s coming marriage.
Revelation 19:6-9 6 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! 7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” 8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. 9 Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”
Brent E. Hughes