Mark 2:18-22
18 Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and asked Jesus, "How is it that John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not?" 19 Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them 20 But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and on that day they will fast. 21 No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. 22 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, he pours new wine into new wineskins."
Lesson Notes
The Presence of Jesus is Cause for Celebration
Just as no one fasts at a wedding feast, the disciples rejoiced because the Bridegroom (Jesus) was with them. Our faith is not primarily about rules, but about enjoying the presence of Christ.
Spiritual Disciplines Are Relational, Not Ritual
Fasting and other practices are not meant to prove our holiness but to draw us closer to Jesus. They shift from “religion-driven” to “relationship-driven.”
God is Not in the Tailoring Business—He Creates Something New
Jesus didn’t come to patch up old garments but to make us new creations. Christianity is not about self-improvement but transformation through Christ.
The Holy Spirit Fills and Expands Us
Like fermentation, the Spirit produces fruit within us—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. This inner change expands our capacity to live in God’s kingdom.
The Kingdom of God Redefines Expectations
Jesus’ ministry of feasting with sinners broke religious categories. The kingdom isn’t about separation but about transformation through God’s presence and Spirit.
Discussion Questions
1. In what ways might we sometimes treat faith as a ritual rather than a relationship, and how can we shift our mindset away from performance and to presence with Jesus?
2. Jesus compared being in His presence to a wedding feast. What does it look like to live with a sense of celebration and joy in our daily lives?
3. How do you personally recognize when your “old garments” (old ways, old habits, old identities) need to be replaced with the “new clothing” of Christ?
4. The Holy Spirit works in us like fermentation, slowly transforming us. Which fruit of the Spirit do you most long to see expand in your life right now?
5. Jesus’ willingness to eat with sinners challenged the religious culture of His day. Who might we be hesitant to sit at the table with, and how does the kingdom of God challenge that hesitation?
