I was born and reared in south Louisiana, the heart of what is known as "Cajun Country". The city in which I grew up was surrounded by lakes, bayous, swamps, and refineries. You couldn't go ten miles down one of the major highways that went through town before you spotted your first alligator lurking in the ditches and marshes, waiting for a deer, rabbit, turtle, or other unfortunate critter that got too close to the edge of the waters. We also were near crayfish holes and during the proper seasons, a lot of families took nets and other traps to catch the "mudbugs" and then have a crayfish boil with spices, corn, potatoes, and onions all together in one big pot. That was good eating, and so were the alligator tails after the hunters caught their yearly quota, sold the hides, and cut up the meat to give to neighbors or to sell at the local market (this was long before large grocery store chains or Walmart). Basically our diet was what some states used for fish bait. Food and good times on weekends were a part of the Cajun life. French surnames were as common to me as "Smith" or "Jones" were in other places. By the way, words like "vegan", "keto", "paleo" "gluten-free", "low sodium" and "low calorie" did not exist in our culture.
I say all of this to show that once upon a time, people enjoyed life, their friends, neighbors, relatives, good company, and good food, and things tended to be a little slower and easy going than today. When anyone got sick and had to go to the hospital, concepts such as going without meals or water for set amounts of time was not a part of the preparation or regimen for getting patients on their feet quicker or to adjust to new ways of living better. The first thing often waiting for the recuperating patient at home was food brought over by family and friends, and not what we would consider healthy today. Meals such as fried chicken, pasta, pies and cakes, breads, vegetables smothered in real butter or thick sauces, and sweet tea with real sugar was a treat for them. Same thing went with funerals, a Southern tradition if ever there was one.
The years have come and gone, and my health in particular has brought about changes in my diet and routine, and when I have been hospitalized for anytime over a day or two, I have been ordered by my physician to abstain from food or water for set times in order to have more accurate readings on my organs or other areas, or for a medication to effective work, or a clearer diagnosis of blood samples. A couple of years ago I had to undergo three days of tests and procedures and could not eat until everything was done. The first day was pretty rough, but by the end of the third day, I really was not hungry and I did not want to fill myself up with anything sweet, salty, or fried. Right now, due to kidney problems, my food intake is drastically decreased of my own choice and I have cut out foods that I once craved but do not find the least bit appetizing now. I eat when I'm hungry, which is not all that often.
I have come to appreciate the concept of fasting, or decreasing one's intake of food for a period of time for medical reasons, but when we read of people fasting in the Scriptures, it is for the purpose of being nearer to God in prayer and study of the Word, and to get away from the things of the world and rest in Him. We read of Moses, Elijah, the Lord Jesus, Daniel, and Paul all going without food or water for set times either as a sign of repentance, or to endure temptations, and often to seek God's counsel through prayer (Exodus 34:28; 1 Kings 19:8; Daniel 10:3; Luke 4, Matthew 4, Acts 9:9). As we venture further into Mark's Gospel, we come to Chapter 2, verses 18-22, where the disciples of John the Baptist were practicing fasting for the sake of personal piety and dedication to God, while the sanctimonious Pharisees were fasting in order to look pious and holy before the people. One group was sincere, the other one did it for show. Jesus' own disciples were asked why they did not participate in fasting while the other two groups made it a part of their lives.
Jesus tells everybody that this was no time for any somber and rigid religious practices. These days were meant for good times, festivity, and joy. A wedding celebration was fixing to take place, and everyone was invited to participate. Jesus wanted no one left out of what will be the crowning event of all history. In His teaching, Jesus presented a foretaste of the happiness that He, the eternal Bridegroom will have with His Bride, the people of God who make up the church. Look at the evidence: the lepers were healed, people freed from sicknesses and diseases, the paralyzed walked, people were being delivered from demon possession, saved from sin, and the Gospel message was being preached. Who wouldn't be happy under those circumstances?
You don't join a weight loss support group on the day of the wedding feast. Jesus spoke of how the disciples would cherish and celebrate the time they would have with the Lord Jesus while He was here on Earth. The day would come where the joy would turn to sorrow and lament as the Bridegroom would be taken away from them. This was the Lord's way of describing the approaching betrayal, arrest, torment, and crucifixion He would endure for the sake of fallen, sinful humanity. The Bridegroom's friends would mourn, but only for a short time. What was about to occur in the life of Jesus would result in a new covenant between God and humanity by His work of redemption on the cross, and His resurrection from the dead three days later. He described the Old Covenant that existed between God and Israel through the means of the sacrifices in accordance with the Law of Moses. This act of consecration and atonement was one of the signs to show the Gentile world that there was a special relationship that separated the Jews from everyone else. They had been living under the Law for over 1,500 years. Had they been faithful during that time? By no means. Israel was steeped in devotion to God and worship of idols, a fact affirmed by the Old Testament as well as secular history.
The Old covenant was compared to an old, worn out garment that had seen better days. The Gospel of grace that Jesus preached and continued by the apostles and future generations was like a new patch of unshrunk cloth. You could not sew it onto the old garment because the new patch, as it shrank, would further tear the old garment and render it useless. You could not blend the two fabrics together. The old covenant of the Law could not take upon itself the covenant of grace because that would be faith plus works, which would nullify the entire purpose and message of the Gospel. The same principle is true for animal skins used to ferment wine. Each skin drew out the dregs as you poured it into a newer skin and would end up producing wine that was free from impurities. The old skins would become dry, brittle and unusable. You did not pour new wine into them, because they would spilt and ruin everything. New wineskins had to be used for new batches of wine.
The new covenant of grace could not be placed within the old covenant of the Law. His work of salvation as the final and perfect sacrifice for sin (the main point of the book of Hebrews) is the new wine, pure and fresh, and to drink it was pure joy. Old religions and new life in Christ cannot and will not mix. Jesus offers freedom from religious works that will never save you in the first place( Ephesians 2:8-10). Jesus' sacrifice paid it all. This new wine would be at the table of the church and a part of a wonderful celebration that will continue into eternity in heaven with Him and our brethren throughout the ages. The sad fact is that a lot of people prefer the old wine of works, good deeds, self-righteousness, rituals, routines, and other methods they believe will get them into heaven but to no avail (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 5:6-11). Does this look like something you are doing now, trying to make things right in your own strength? God says our righteousness is no better than rags used for menstrual periods (Isaiah 53:6, 64:6). We cannot save nor redeem ourselves. We must turn to Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins and the salvation of our souls, receiving with gratitude and joy the undeserved gift of new life He offers (2 Corinthians 6:2; James 4:17). I ask you to come to Christ today and be a part of the joyous wedding party that will soon commence with His arrival and establishment pf the eternal kingdom. As we Cajuns tell someone to come join us at the table, sit down, grab a plate and let's "pass a good time".
donaldwhitchard@outlook.com
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