Jesus Discusses Fasting
Mark 2:18-22
Call to Worship Psalm 66:1–4
Shout for joy to God, all the earth; sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise! Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you. All the earth worships you and sings praises to you; they sing praises to your name.” Selah (ESV)
Old Testament Reading:Proverbs 1:20–33
Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you;
I will make my words known to you. Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded, because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you, when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD, would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices. For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them; but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.” (ESV)
Prayer of Praise: Refer to the Call to Worship and the OT Reading above and the hymn below.
Hymn: In Christ Alone
1 In Christ alone my hope is found;
He is my light, my strength, my song;
this Cornerstone, this solid ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease;
my Comforter, my All in All;
here in the love of Christ I stand.
2 In Christ alone who took on flesh;
fullness of God in helpless babe.
This gift of love and righteousness
scorned by the ones He came to save;
'til on that cross as Jesus died
the wrath of God was satisfied;
for ev'ry sin on Him was laid;
here in the death of Christ I live.
3 There in the ground His body lay;
Light of the world by darkness slain.
Then bursting forth in glorious day,
up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory,
sin's curse has lost its grip on me;
for I am His and He is mine,
bought with the precious blood of Christ!
4 No guilt in life, no fear in death;
this is the pow'r of Christ in me.
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man
can ever pluck me from His hand;
'til He returns or calls me home,
here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand!
Reading of the Law: Leviticus 19:1–4
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy. Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and you shall keep my Sabbaths: I am the LORD your God. Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves any gods of cast metal: I am the LORD your God. (ESV)
Silent Confession of Sin/Confession of Sin:
Most holy and merciful Father, we acknowledge and confess before you our sinful nature, prone to evil and lazy in good, and all our shortcomings and offenses. You alone know how often we have sinned, in wandering from your ways, in wasting our gifts, in forgetting your love. But you, O Lord, have mercy on us, who are ashamed and sorry for everything in which we have displeased you. Teach us to hate our sins; cleanse us from our secret faults; and forgive our sins, for the sake of your dear Son. And most holy and loving Father, help us, we ask you, to live in your light and walk in your ways according to the commandments of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Assurance of Pardon: Psalm 103:8–13
The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. (ESV)
Response: The Gloria Patri
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end, Amen, amen.
Confession of Faith: Westminster Larger Catechism - Questions 96-100
Let’s continue to study the WLC by thinking about the moral law and the ten commandments
Question #96
Q. What particular use is there of the moral law to unregenerate men?
A. The moral law is of use to unregenerate men, to awaken their consciences to flee from wrath to come, and to drive them to Christ; or, upon their continuance in the estate and way of sin, to leave them inexcusable, and under the curse thereof.
1 Tim. 1:9-10; Gal. 3:24; Rom. 1:20; Rom. 2:15; Gal. 3:10.
Question #97
Q. What special use is there of the moral law to the regenerate?
A. Although they that are regenerate, and believe in Christ, be delivered from the moral law as a covenant of works, so as thereby they are neither justified nor condemned: yet, beside the general uses thereof common to them with all men, it is of special use to show them how much they are bound to Christ for his fulfilling it, and enduring the curse thereof in their stead and for their good; and thereby to provoke them to more thankfulness, and to express the same in their greater care to conform themselves thereunto as the rule of their obedience.
Rom. 6:14; Rom. 7:4, 6; Gal. 4:4-5; Rom. 3:20; Gal. 5:23; Rom. 8:1; Rom. 7:24-25; Gal. 3:13-14; Rom. 8:3-4; Luke 1:68-69, 74-75; Col. 1:12-14; Rom. 7:22;Rom. 12:2; Titus 2:11-14.
Question #98
Q. Where is the moral law summarily comprehended?
A. The moral law is summarily comprehended in the ten commandments, which were delivered by the voice of God upon mount Sinai, and written by him in two tables of stone; and are recorded in the twentieth chapter of Exodus. The four first commandments containing our duty to God, and the other six our duty to man.
Deut. 10:4; Ex. 34:1-4; Matt. 22:37-40.
Question #99
Q. What rules are to be observed for the right understanding of the ten commandments?
A. For the right understanding of the ten commandments, these rules are to be observed:
1. That the law is perfect, and bindeth every one to full conformity in the whole man unto the righteousness thereof, and unto entire obedience for ever; so as to require the utmost perfection of every duty, and to forbid the least degree of every sin.
2. That it is spiritual, and so reacheth the understanding, will, affections, and all other powers of the soul; as well as words, works, and gestures.
3. That one and the same thing, in divers respects, is required or forbidden in several commandments.
4. That as, where a duty is commanded, the contrary sin is forbidden; and, where a sin is forbidden the contrary duty is commanded: so, where a promise is annexed, the contrary threatening is included; and, where a threatening is annexed, the contrary promise is included.
5. That what God forbids, is at no time to be done; what he commands, is always our duty; and yet every particular duty is not to be done at all times.
6. That under one sin or duty, all of the same kind are forbidden or commanded; together with all the causes, means, occasions, and appearances thereof, and provocations thereunto.
7. That what is forbidden or commanded to ourselves, we are bound, according to our places, to endeavor that it may be avoided or performed by others, according to the duty of their places.
8. That in what is commanded to others, we are bound, according to our places and callings, to be helpful to them; and to take heed of partaking with others in what is forbidden them.
Ps. 19:7; Jas. 2:10; Matt. 5:21-22; Rom. 7:14; Deut. 6:5; Matt. 22:37-39; Matt. 5: 27-28, 33-34, 37-39, 43-44; Col. 3:5; Amos 8:5; Prov. 1:19; 1 Tim. 6:10; Isa. 58:13; Deut. 6:13; Matt. 4:9-10; Matt. 15:4-6; Matt. 5:21-24; Eph. 4:28; Ex. 20:12; Prov. 30:17; Jer. 18:7-8; Ex. 20:7; Ps. 15:1, 4-5; Ps. 24:4-5; Job 13:7-8; Rom. 3:8; Job 36:21; Heb. 11:25; Deut. 4:8-9; Matt. 12:7, Matt. 5:21-22, 27-28; Matt. 15:4-6; Heb. 10:24-25; 1 Thess. 5:22; Jude 1:23; Gal. 5:26; Col. 3:21; Ex. 20:10; Lev. 19:17; Gen. 18:19; Josh. 24:15: Deut. 6:6-7; 2 Cor. 1:24; 1 Tim. 5:22; Eph. 5:11.
Question #100
Q. What special things are we to consider in the ten commandments?
A. We are to consider in the ten commandments, the preface, the substance of the commandments themselves, and the several reasons annexed to some of them the more to enforce them.
Prayer of Thanksgiving:
Our Father, and our God, we are thankful that you have given your people your Holy Word so we may know how to live a life that is pleasing to you. You have condescended to us to teach us your ways because our ways are not your ways. We are thankful for the ten commandments, laws that reveal your very own nature to us. Father, we thank you for our salvation from sin because we break your moral law frequently. Praise and thanksgiving to you our triune God, Father, Son, and Spirit for all the blessings bestowed upon us. In Jesus name we pray, AMEN
Prayer of Supplication:
Our most gracious and merciful Father, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we praise for your steadfast love that endures forever. A love that is perfect, transcendent, and beautiful. Lord, we come before you asking that you intercede for our loved ones who are in the hospital or in assisted living homes. We pray that you would show them mercy and relieve any pain that they are in and may they receive the medicine that they need. We pray also for our expectant mothers and their babies. May they be healthy babies who one day will confess the Lord Jesus Christ as their savior. Lastly Lord, we ask for peace in the world, for evil to be restrained and for your laws to govern our land. We ask these things in your Son's most holy name. AMEN
Bible reading and commentary: Mark 2:18-22
Questions to think about for the bible passage
What is biblical fasting?
When should you fast?
What does Jesus mean in his discussion on wine skins?
Before we discuss the passage before us, let’s get a biblical definition of fasting
Biblical fasting is the intentional act of abstaining from food (and sometimes from drink or other comforts) for a period of time in order to seek God with greater focus. It is not a way to earn God's favor but a spiritual discipline that expresses humility, repentance, dependence, and devotion.
Commentary
In verse 18 Jesus is asked a question about fasting. John the Baptist’s disciples and the Pharisees’ disciples were fasting but Jesus’ disciples were not. Far from ignoring spiritual disciplines such as fasting, Jesus restores a God-centered and God-dependent dimension to fasting. Both involve surrender to God and a trusting in his presence. A follower of Christ will fast from time to time. A follower of Christ will do this not as a means of meriting a favor from God but as a consequence of living in the healing presence of Jesus, communicated by the Holy Spirit. Fasting is a particular, prayerful form of surrender to God, combined with acts of mercy. Fasting is based on trust in God’s provision and spring from gratitude for having found rest in God through Jesus.
A first veiled prediction of Jesus’ violent death arises in the metaphor of the bridegroom who is “taken away” (2:20), therefore providing a Christ-centered cause for fasting when he is no longer present. Such spiritual discipline does not earn God’s love. Instead, it signals that we have ceased to seek our own pleasure and are resting in God’s provision. Peace through God’s grace is not the end but the beginning of maturing as a follower of Christ.
In verses 21-22 Jesus speaks of old and new wineskins. His meaning is that just as new, unshrunk cloth cannot coexist with an old garment, the kingdom of God cannot be regarded merely as a patch over the regulations of the Mosaic law and extrabiblical traditions. New wine vs. old wineskins illustrates the same truth - that Jesus brings a new era with new ways.
Discuss questions above
Closing Thought
Jesus is not merely a reformer of Judaism; He is the Messiah bringing the kingdom of God
Closing Hymn: The Doxology
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise him, all creatures here below; Praise him above, ye heav’nly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen
Closing Scripture: Romans 15:5–6
May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (ESV)
The Lord’s Prayer (together):
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.