In Matthew 9:14-15, we encounter a brief but profound exchange between Jesus and John the Baptist's disciples regarding fasting. The passage reads: "Then John's disciples came and asked him, 'How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?' Jesus answered, 'How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.'"
This short dialogue reveals much about the nature of spiritual disciplines and our relationship with Christ. Jesus uses the metaphor of a wedding celebration to explain why His disciples weren't fasting at that time. His presence among them was cause for celebration, not mourning. Yet He also prophetically points to a time when He would be "taken away" – foreshadowing His crucifixion and ascension – after which fasting would become appropriate.
The image of Jesus as the bridegroom is significant. Throughout Scripture, God's relationship with His people is often compared to a marriage covenant. When Christ came in the flesh, He embodied this intimate relationship. His physical presence was a time of celebration and communion with God in an unprecedented way.
When we fast today, we are acknowledging that we live in the time Jesus foretold – when the bridegroom has been taken away. Our physical hunger serves as a tangible reminder of our deeper spiritual hunger for complete union with Jesus. Each pang reminds us that something essential is missing, pointing to our longing for His return and the fulfillment of His kingdom.
Fasting is not merely abstinence from food; it is an active expression of our inner hunger for God. As we voluntarily set aside physical nourishment, we create space to recognize our complete dependence on God for true sustenance. The emptiness we feel physically, can awaken us to the emptiness we feel spiritually when we drift from intimate communion with Christ.
Jesus's words remind us that fasting is not an end in itself but a means of drawing closer to Him. It is a sacrifice that reorients our desires, helping us to recognize that our deepest hunger is not for bread alone, but for every word that comes from the mouth of God. By embracing temporary discomfort, we acknowledge that our ultimate satisfaction comes from Jesus Christ alone.
As we journey through periods of fasting, Jesus does not leave us to find our own way. He leads us, guiding us to discover that our physical hunger points to something far more profound – our soul's desperate need for His presence. Through this discipline, Jesus Christ draws us into deeper relationship with Himself, transforming our sacrifice into a pathway for spiritual intimacy.
In a world of instant gratification and material excess, fasting stands as a counter-cultural testimony to the truth that our deepest needs are spiritual rather than physical. It reminds us that we were created for communion with God, and that nothing else can truly satisfy the hunger of our hearts.
©2025 James Dacey Jr.
