“Jesus replied, ‘Do wedding guests mourn while celebrating with the groom?’”
Matthew 9:15a (NLT)
Quite often Jesus answers a question with a question and that is what happens here.
Here’s what happens. The disciples of John the Baptist came to Jesus and asked him, “Why don’t your disciples fast like we do and the Pharisees do? Seems straight forward enough, they didn’t come trying to trap Jesus, they just wanted to know why Jesus’ disciples acted differently than they did. It might be safe to say that there were also Pharisees in the proximity of this discussion, who might be looking for a way to trap Jesus.
Jesus answers John’s disciples’ question with a question of His own – the one used for this week’s devotion and then Jesus actually answers His own question. Jesus says in response to his question about celebrating at a wedding by saying basically, “No way bros, as long as the wedding party is going, we are going to celebrate and feast.” But, He makes it clear that someday the groom will be gone – He will be gone, and then His disciples will fast.
What to know about John’s disciples and Jesus’ response to them. John was not with them, at the very least he was already in prison – put there by Herod for telling him to behave himself, and quite possibly John had already lost his head – so they were without their leader and they were indeed mourning. Jesus understood this so His answer is one of knowing and compassion.
If Jesus had just said that, John’s disciples may have gone away satisfied, or maybe they would have stayed and become followers of Jesus. But Jesus has a few more things to say that at first don’t seem to be connected to the question.
Jesus basically says, “Wait there’s more. It’s not smart to put a new patch on an old pair of jeans or to pour new wine into and old wineskin – both things will end up ruined.” Jesus is talking about the differences of the old covenant and the coming new one. The differences of the old rituals and traditions and the new ways of the Kingdom. He is talking about how making all things new requires us to live and do things differently.
Jesus talked about the Kingdom being near. As followers of Christ we long for the full arrival of the Kingdom when all things will be made new. In the meantime, what do we need to change to be more aligned with Him and the Kingdom?
Let me know your thoughts. Know someone who might be encouraged by this – please share. I will be praying for you. Until next week – Jesus continues to do new things, be part of what He’s doing.
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