Fasting and Sabbath are two distinct disciplines, yet they can also be intertwined. I’m not going to lie – the first section in today’s reading on fasting left me a bit perplexed. How about you? Did you get a good understanding of the message here? I’d welcome your insights in the comments.
Let’s look at each discipline, starting with fasting. It seems as if fasting was a commonplace thing here, but in our day, it’s practice is farm from common. Jesus is not saying here NOT to fast. To the contrary. Jesus just wanted his disciples to be in a place of rejoicing while they were with Jesus, for their time was short.
How then do we relate this joy to old and new cloth and old and new wine? Again, I’d welcome your thoughts. I suppose if we think about how Jesus is ushering in the new covenant. The newness of life in Christ has made us new beings. Jesus has brought the bridge to our relationship with God, and all things are new. It is more important to embrace the new, leaving the old to be old. As with a ripped pair of jeans. To patch them, or put a bandaid on the problem, does not last and the patch will be ripped away. Likewise, new wine in old wineskin is said to burst the wineskin. While I don’t have first hand experience with this, I trust Jesus’ words.
We need to embrace our new life and new way of thinking. Jesus has come to give us that new reality. We now have access to God the Father like never before. When we fast now, it is simply to remove that which is keeping us from focusing on God and listening for his voice. We can fast from food (or preparation thereof), television, communication with the outside world. When we fast, we close out all distractions.
As far as Sabbath – I could talk on this for a long time. We will see time and again where Jesus does something on the Sabbath. For the Jews, the Sabbath was holy and no work was to be done. You’ll see time and again where Jesus “works” on the Sabbath and what a stir that causes.
Here, Jesus explains, “The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!” If we look back to the creation, God rested on the 7th day. You’ll recall one of the Ten Commandments is to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.
So what is Sabbath to you? Do you have one day a week that is devoted entirely to worshiping and communing with God? I’m afraid this, like fasting, is a discipline not practiced by the majority. Some people have shortened their Sabbath to fit their lifestyle and assigned half a day to spend with God. The important thing is that we do have those special, intentional times set aside for our Creator and King. He deserves it, and so much more!
We can intertwine the two, fasting and Sabbath, when we close out the distractions of food, drink, etc. only to focus totally on God. This is a private thing between you and God, not to be flaunted about. In these times of devotion, you will be enlightened and blessed in ways you can only imagine. We truly REST in him.
We may be using these disciplines to meet our needs, but we are certainly blessing the heart of God.
Let’s pray. Father forgive me for my busyness. Thank you that you are helping me manage my time better so that spending time with you can be a regular thing. Calm my heart so that I can close out all the temptations and distractions that scream for my attention. I want to be totally devoted to you, listening for you to speak to me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
