Mark 2:18-22
I remember the day I got my Corps Brass at Texas A&M. It represented being recognized as a well-trained cadet. Even though it came with the biggest physical dogging we had ever had, my classmates and I were excited and full of joy. Most physical doggings required us to be remorseful for all the things we had done wrong. But this was a different circumstance that required a different attitude. We had arrived. We were recognized!
When John’s disciples and the Pharisees asked Jesus why His disciples were not fasting, they were asking why they were not practicing the religious act of mourning. Jesus responded by comparing the current time to a wedding. Attendants do not show up at a wedding fasting with mourning. That would be inappropriate. When the bridegroom is gone, they can return to fasting, but the wedding is a celebration of joy.
The disciples did not fast because Jesus was with them. It was a time to celebrate. Jesus takes it further by communicating that He had come to bring a new way of doing things. He came to do away with the old law and rituals and make all things new in our relationship with Him. Our relationship with God would now be solely based on our relationship to Jesus, not the law.
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:17
He uses two illustrations to teach this:
- Don’t sew new cloth onto old garments. It will tear and make it worse. It is incompatible. Jesus comes with new cloth, throw away the old garments and make new clothes.
- Don’t put new wine into old wineskins. It will tear and break. It is incompatible. Jesus comes with new wine to be put into new wineskins.
Jesus comes with a new covenant relationship with us. We are to put that new relationship into a new way, not try to force it into the old way. We are to disregard the old and embrace the new.
You probably did not grow up under first century pharisaic laws and practices. But you may have grown up in a system that communicated to you that you must observe or abstain from certain practices in order to be in a relationship with Christ. Christ says all you need is Him.
Picture yourself in a room by yourself with Jesus. The only question He will ask you is, “Do you believe in Me? Do you love Me?” If your answer is yes, then you are perfectly right with Him. Now from that place, go out the door with Him and love others.
One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?” Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD; AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.’ “The second is this, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:28-31
Embrace the way of Jesus. The study of Mark will help you understand His ways. In fact, that is the purpose of the book of Mark, to show what it looks like to follow Jesus and His ways.
Jesus, teach me to walk in Your Ways.
