Then They will Fast

"Then they said to Him, 'Why do the disciples of John fast often and make prayers, and likewise those of the Pharisees, but Yours eat and drink?' And He said to them, 'Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them; THEN THEY WILL FAST in those days.'"

"Then He spoke a parable to them: 'No one puts a piece from a new garment on an old one; otherwise the new makes a tear, and also the piece that was taken out of the new does not match the old. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine will burst the wineskins and be spilled, and the wineskins will be ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins, and both are preserved. And no one, having drunk old wine, immediately desires new; for he says, '''The old is better.''' ' " (Luke 5:33-39)

Fasting may be described as learning to do without those things which are incompatible with Christ's testimonyo so that which is may come to fruition. This process teaches us how to follow our Teacher. Remember Jesus chose twelve apostles from His disciples; of which Judas Iscariot "became a traitor" (Luke 6:12-16) rather than the righteousness of God IN Christ.

"And He spoke a parable to them: 'Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch? A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher. And why do look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye?' Or how can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the plank in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother's eye."
(Luke 6:39-42)

Fasting shows us how to recognize, immediately, the new wine as it comes. It is our lifestyle until Jesus comes to His temple.

"But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do the things which I say? Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: He is like a man building a house, who DUG DEEP and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against the house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. But he who heard and DID NOTHING is like a man who built a house ON THE EARTH without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great." (Luke 6:46-49)