Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.” Matthew 9:15 NABRE
God often expresses His relationship with Israel as a spousal relationship, God a bridegroom and Israel His bride. As an example; “For as a young man marries a virgin, your Builder shall marry you; And as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride so shall your God rejoice in you.” (Isaiah 62:5) The spousal relationship is intended to be the most representative relationship possible on earth that represents relationships in the kingdom of God. Spousal love is a love making two one flesh, united in love, one common spirit united by God. Jesus is asked why His disciples do not fast and He responds to the questioners about a wedding, a bridegroom and time when the bridegroom is no longer physically present. Jesus has come to bring the spiritual realm and the embodied realm together. This is called salvation, or redemption, when our consciousness experiences union with God. The love between God and His bride is the deepest love possible and while the bridegroom is present there can only be celebration, dancing and feasting. This is Jesus’ view of what is happening as He travels inviting to the kingdom of God. The bridegroom is present and all of humanity should be celebrating.
In life we fast so when we miss the thing we are fasting from we become aware of and dependent on God. Our fasting voluntarily forces us to miss something and in the missing turn toward God. While Jesus is with His disciples, fasting would not make them look harder at God then they are already. If you have God, you are untied and living in the kingdom of God, fasting has no benefit.
Do you fast in times of great need? How does your fasting help you see your dependence on God?
While Jesus is with His disciples, fasting would not make them look harder at God then they are already. If you have God, you are untied and living in the kingdom of God, fasting has no benefit. Click To Tweet#bible #godisgreat #jesus #christianity #dailybibleverse @youversion #BeAnEncourager #fast #bridegroom #Matthew #everybodyalways #god #jesuschrist #jesussaves #godisgood #dailydevotion #biblestudy #scripture #bibleverse #verseoftheday #cross #last #gospels #loveeachother #godisgreat #thisVineyard #youversion #everythingalways