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From Heaven With Love
And Jesus was making no effort to release John, and even appeared
to cast discredit on his teaching. If John had been sent by God, why
did Jesus and His disciples pursue a course so widely different?
The disciples of John thought there might be some foundation for
the charges of the Pharisees. They observed many rules prescribed
by the rabbis. Fasting was practiced by the Jews as an act of merit;
the most rigid fasted two days every week. The Pharisees and John’s
disciples were fasting when the latter came to Jesus with the inquiry,
“Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but Thy disciples fast not?”
Tenderly Jesus answered. He did not try to correct their erro-
neous concept of fasting, but only to set them right in regard to His
own mission. John the Baptist himself had said, “He who has the
bride is the bridegroom; the friend of the bridegroom, who stands
and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice; therefore
this joy of mine is now full.”
John 3:29
, RSV. The disciples of
John could not fail to recall these words of their teacher. Taking
up the illustration, Jesus said, “Can ye make the children of the
bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?”
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The Prince of heaven was among His people. The greatest gift
of God had been given to the world. Joy to the poor, for He had
come to make them heirs of His kingdom. Joy to the rich, for He
would teach them to secure eternal riches. Joy to the ignorant, for
He would make them wise unto salvation. Joy to the learned, for He
would open to them deeper mysteries than they had ever fathomed.
This was not a time for the disciples to mourn and fast. They must
open their hearts to receive the light of His glory, that they might
shed light on those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death.
A Heavy Shadow
It was a bright picture, but across it lay a heavy shadow which
Christ’s eye alone discerned. “The days will come when the bride-
groom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast.”
When they should see their Lord betrayed and crucified, the disci-
ples would mourn and fast.
When He should come forth from the tomb, their sorrow would
be turned to joy. After His ascension, through the Comforter He
would still be with them, and they were not to spend their time