Fasting like distant lovers

Jesus answered them, "Can the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. The days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day (Mark 2:19-20).

Jesus speaks of his disciples as friends of the bridegroom, the husband.

The Darby version translates this way: "the sons of the bridal chamber".

This expression reflects intimacy.

Jesus' disciples recognized Jesus as the Son of God, the Messiah.

The Pharisees and John's disciples, on the other hand, did not understand that God had come in the flesh among them. So they did not enjoy his intimacy.

Jesus shows here that fasting was not necessary for his disciples because they were in close communion as long as he was with them.

On the other hand, Jesus expected his disciples to fast once he was in heaven.

The estrangement of the bridegroom leads us to fast in order to regain this intimacy.

Matthew mentions that fasting is a sign of mourning.

Jesus answered them, "Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them; then they will fast." (Matthew 9:15 NBS)

When I fast, I am like in mourning; I miss the bridegroom, and I want to be near Him.

Have you ever lost your appetite for love?

When I fell in love with my wife Sylvie, I lost my appetite for three days until I saw her to declare my love for her.

When you're far from the person you love, you can lose your appetite.

A sudden separation can bring on the same reactions.

That's what the disciples experienced when Jesus was taken from them suddenly.

As the betrothed, the bride of Christ, our hearts thirst for his presence, his intimacy.

Fasting expresses our desire for intimacy with Jesus.

"The Spirit and the bride say: Come! Let him who hears say: Come! He who is thirsty, let him come; he who desires, let him take the water of life freely" (Revelation 22:17 NBS).

"The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come! Let him who hears say, "Come!" And let the thirsty man come near, let the man of desire receive the water of life, freely." (Revelation 22:17 Jer)

Every time we take time to fast and pray, we come close to Jesus. He reveals himself to us, covers us with his love and our lives are changed.

We don't fast because we have to but because we want to maintain a growing intimacy with Jesus.

One day when I was beginning a 21-day fast, Jesus told me that he was looking forward to spending this time with me.

I invite you to pray:

Lord, place in my heart a hunger and thirst for intimacy that nothing can satisfy except the revelation of your love and the experience of your presence. I set myself apart in fasting and prayer out of love for you. Come, Lord Jesus!

I invite you to experience the first 7 days of the Audio Guide, "Listening to God' voice."You can download it here.

David Théry
Practical lessons for experiencing God