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The Desire of Ages
were fasting when the latter came to Jesus with the inquiry, “Why do
we and the Pharisees fast oft, but Thy disciples fast not?”
Very tenderly Jesus answered them. He did not try to correct their
erroneous conception of fasting, but only to set them right in regard
to His own mission. And He did this by employing the same figure
that the Baptist himself had used in his testimony to Jesus. John had
said, “He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the
bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because
of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.”
John
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3:29
. The disciples of John could not fail to recall these words of their
teacher, as, taking up the illustration, Jesus said, “Can ye make the
children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?”
The Prince of heaven was among His people. The greatest gift of
God had been given to the world. Joy to the poor; for Christ had come
to make them heirs of His kingdom. Joy to the rich; for He would
teach them how to secure eternal riches. Joy to the ignorant; He would
make them wise unto salvation. Joy to the learned; He would open to
them deeper mysteries than they had ever fathomed; truths that had
been hidden from the foundation of the world would be opened to men
by the Saviour’s mission.
John the Baptist had rejoiced to behold the Saviour. What occasion
for rejoicing had the disciples who were privileged to walk and talk
with the Majesty of heaven! This was not a time for them to mourn
and fast. They must open their hearts to receive the light of His glory,
that they might shed light upon those who sat in darkness and in the
shadow of death.
It was a bright picture which the words of Christ had called up, but
across it lay a heavy shadow, which His eye alone discerned. “The
days will come,” He said, “when the bridegroom shall be taken away
from them, and then shall they fast in those days.” When they should
see their Lord betrayed and crucified, the disciples would mourn and
fast. In His last words to them in the upper chamber, He said, “A little
while, and ye shall not see Me: and again, a little while, and ye shall
see Me. Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament,
but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow
shall be turned into joy.”
John 16:19, 20
.
When He should come forth from the tomb, their sorrow would be
turned to joy. After His ascension He was to be absent in person; but