“They said to him, ‘John’s disciples often fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours go on eating and drinking.’ Jesus answered, ‘Can you make the friends of the Bridegroom fast while he is with them? But the time will come when the Bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast.'” Luke 5:33-35(NIV).
The Bridegroom’s presence called for feasting; His absence called for fasting. A difference of one letter produces two words of opposite meanings. Although those words seem mutually exclusive, could they actually happen simultaneously?
Jesus’ first coming was a pivotal event in the history of mankind, fulfilling about 300 Old Testament prophesies. He came bearing a gift of inestimable value and eternal worth; the reconciliation of mankind to God. However, before His arrival, preparation was necessary, i.e., the process of getting fully ready for a scheduled event, beforehand.
John the Baptist was given a unique place in history: He was chosen and anointed as the forerunner of the Messiah. John was the last in the long line of prophets who predicted Christ and the only one who actually saw Him in the flesh. John’s calling was to prepare the way for Jesus’ first coming beforehand.
Luke 1:13-17 (ESV) says, “But the angel said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.'”
By the power of Holy Spirit in him, John was to help prepare the people for Jesus’ coming by turning their hearts to love God and each other, to obey Him and walk in wisdom. John’s singular focus to fulfill his unique calling required utmost discipline. Jesus would eventually say, “Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist” (Matthew 11:11a, ESV). This statement may have been as much about John’s calling as it was about how he fulfilled it.
Amazingly, God has also given the Church (us) a unique place in history: the calling to help prepare the world for His second coming- That their hearts will be turned to God, to obey Him and walk in wisdom. We engage this great commission by the power of the Holy Spirit (the same One who filled John), sent to us by our Lord Jesus. Biblical scholars indicate that references to the second coming of Jesus outnumber references to His first coming by a factor of eight to one! The second coming of Christ is now the MOST important event for all mankind. We are to stay prepared and prepare the world (beforehand) to meet our Bridegroom for the wedding feast. Like John, we do not know the appointed time of Jesus’ coming; only The Father does. However, He has told us the signs of the times; he who wins souls is wise (Proverbs 11:30b).
A key lesson in the parable of the ten virgins was preparation (Matthew 25). Only half of them were prepared (wise) for the arrival of their Bridegroom, and the other half were unprepared (foolish). The virgins represent the Church. All ten virgins fell asleep when the Bridegroom was delayed. Eventually, he came when they least expected it, at midnight. Although they all had their lamps (representing the Word of God, Psalm 119:105), half had no oil supply to re-fill their lamps which were going out. They left to buy oil after the Bridegroom had arrived, so the door was shut to them, and they missed the wedding feast. Oil represents the anointing with the Holy Spirit, our source of power who turns the light on as we read God’s Word. If the Son of God was anointed with the Holy Spirit and power by God (Acts 10:38) prior to going about fulfilling His purpose, how much more are you and I?
Our Bridegroom is now with the Father. Therefore, our spiritual discipline of fasting is crucial during this dispensation. When we are fasting, we feel physical hunger and weakness, but simultaneously our spirits are feasting on the bread of life, empowering us for our calling. We only need to look at Jesus when He was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil (Matthew 4:1-11), then we understand.
Prayer: Father, we receive Your anointing of Holy Spirit to help us fast and pray at this appointed time that we may be focused for our unique calling. The time of fasting will soon be forever gone because we will forever be in Your presence and enjoying the wedding feast! What a glorious day that would be!!!
“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (ESV)
Amen and Amen!!
Melissa Lapensee
So good Toju! ” the Holy Spirit turns the light on as we read God’s word ” love that.
Diane Bamford
So well written and expressed! What I have noted in the latest round of fasting is that the flesh is much stronger in me than I realize when I start and God wants to deal with my own heart issues of resentment and disobedience when I am following Him. It makes for a meeker and more humble disciple, who is more willing to obey because we know how sinful we really are and how patient and kind He is to us.