WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.419 When we get to this section of Mark's gospel here, all the way through chapter 2 and the first part of chapter 3, 00:00:07.700 --> 00:00:11.400 we see Jesus as somewhat of a non-conformist. 00:00:12.140 --> 00:00:21.980 It's a collection of narratives of various conflicts that Jesus had with the religious establishment of first century Judaism. 00:00:21.980 --> 00:00:37.340 And it reveals their hatred of him on the basis of his refusal to follow their guidelines, their traditions, their statements of law, this man-made law. 00:00:37.500 --> 00:00:46.679 They couldn't stand Jesus because he didn't conform to what they thought that he should conform to as far as their religious practices were concerned. 00:00:46.679 --> 00:00:52.840 And so we saw last week in verses 13 through 17, Jesus has already gone against a social custom. 00:00:53.039 --> 00:00:58.480 He has befriended and associated himself with publicans and sinners, which blew their minds. 00:00:58.679 --> 00:01:07.939 And now we get to this passage and there's just another layer of this that comes to the surface, another layer of Jesus' non-conformity. 00:01:08.680 --> 00:01:14.740 And as we go through it, we will see how this plays out with a gospel purpose. 00:01:14.739 --> 00:01:21.199 This passage records a miniature question and answer session with Jesus. 00:01:21.819 --> 00:01:29.119 After he has just had this time of celebration and feasting with Matthew and Matthew's sinner friends, 00:01:29.439 --> 00:01:32.919 this group comes to him with a question. 00:01:33.579 --> 00:01:40.659 And the passage illustrates for us this head-on collision between the gospel of grace 00:01:40.659 --> 00:01:46.159 and performance-driven, performance-based religion. 00:01:46.840 --> 00:01:54.500 My purpose today in coming to this study and to this sermon is to examine the legalism that is behind this question 00:01:54.500 --> 00:02:01.879 and then glory in the gospel answer that Jesus responds with. 00:02:02.239 --> 00:02:05.879 There's a simple breakdown of how we're going to look at this passage today. 00:02:05.879 --> 00:02:11.159 We're going to look at the question of fasting and then we're going to see Jesus' gospel answer. 00:02:11.340 --> 00:02:16.620 And of course, there'll be a few subheadings underneath that if you are following along in those scripture journals. 00:02:16.759 --> 00:02:20.159 The first thing that we see, obviously, is a question of fasting. 00:02:20.500 --> 00:02:21.900 Look with me again at verse 18. 00:02:23.060 --> 00:02:25.740 And the disciples of John and the Pharisees used to fast. 00:02:26.219 --> 00:02:27.620 And they came and said unto him, 00:02:28.180 --> 00:02:34.519 Why do the disciples of John and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast? 00:02:34.520 --> 00:02:44.740 Jesus was being questioned here by a group of people that could no longer ignore the undeniable difference that existed 00:02:44.740 --> 00:02:48.520 between him and other religious groups. 00:02:49.439 --> 00:02:54.219 Now, Luke records for us in Luke chapter 5, verses 33 to 39. 00:02:54.379 --> 00:02:56.400 That's Luke's reference to this account. 00:02:56.700 --> 00:02:59.580 His account tells us, or at least insinuates, 00:02:59.879 --> 00:03:03.480 that it was a group of Pharisees that specifically asked Jesus this question. 00:03:03.479 --> 00:03:09.000 Matthew's account, you can find that in Matthew chapter 9, verses 14 to 17. 00:03:09.819 --> 00:03:17.239 Matthew's account states specifically that it was the disciples of John the Baptist that came and asked this question. 00:03:17.699 --> 00:03:21.939 Mark doesn't identify either one of those groups as the ones asking the question. 00:03:22.019 --> 00:03:25.739 He just says that they used to fast and then a group came and asked Jesus. 00:03:25.899 --> 00:03:28.379 Now, if you're like me, the flags go up. 00:03:28.379 --> 00:03:33.579 Every time that happens, when you're looking at the synoptic gospels especially, 00:03:33.740 --> 00:03:36.479 and then sometimes you can lump John in with that in some places, 00:03:36.560 --> 00:03:40.280 and you see, why did Luke insinuate this? 00:03:40.319 --> 00:03:43.340 And then Matthew says this other thing explicitly. 00:03:43.799 --> 00:03:47.379 And if you're not careful, you might come to believe that there's some contradiction in the scripture. 00:03:47.759 --> 00:03:48.859 There's no contradiction here. 00:03:49.560 --> 00:03:51.340 Both groups are named. 00:03:51.340 --> 00:03:56.780 It's easy to see this is a combination of those who have been influenced by the Pharisees 00:03:56.780 --> 00:04:00.780 and those who have been influenced by John the Baptist. 00:04:00.920 --> 00:04:03.680 There's no need to worry about a potential contradiction. 00:04:04.120 --> 00:04:05.900 It's easy to see the combination here. 00:04:06.680 --> 00:04:09.879 Now, the question that they posed was very specific. 00:04:10.460 --> 00:04:17.420 And it had to do with the fact that Jesus and his disciples did not regularly fast. 00:04:17.420 --> 00:04:20.920 Now, we know that Jesus did fast at times. 00:04:21.040 --> 00:04:22.840 He's already been in the Gospel of Mark. 00:04:22.939 --> 00:04:26.080 We've already seen he'd gone through a 40-day fast himself. 00:04:26.400 --> 00:04:30.740 But they did not regularly fast in the same way that these other groups did. 00:04:31.379 --> 00:04:39.000 Now, it's possible that there was a measure of sincerity in the hearts of those who were asking this question. 00:04:39.540 --> 00:04:46.200 But the context reveals plainly that it came primarily from a spirit of condemnation. 00:04:46.199 --> 00:04:50.860 There's not really much sincerity that we can draw from this passage. 00:04:51.079 --> 00:04:57.519 After all, this entire section of Mark's Gospel is recording for us and telling us about these different conflicts 00:04:57.519 --> 00:05:00.240 that Jesus had with these religious groups. 00:05:00.319 --> 00:05:05.180 And when we come to this one, it's possible we could read in some sincerity. 00:05:05.539 --> 00:05:09.699 But the reality is they were just offended. 00:05:09.699 --> 00:05:14.459 They were bothered by what Jesus was doing. 00:05:14.779 --> 00:05:17.800 Or rather, what he was not doing in this case. 00:05:18.300 --> 00:05:22.659 Now, the Pharisees are always described as enemies of Jesus. 00:05:23.560 --> 00:05:28.279 So there's really no wonder in our minds that they would be included in this particular conflict. 00:05:28.279 --> 00:05:43.119 It does, however, come as a bit of a surprise that the disciples of John the Baptist would be lumped in with those who were typically enemies of Jesus and Jesus' critics. 00:05:43.939 --> 00:05:45.359 And we know that John was a believer. 00:05:46.119 --> 00:05:47.500 He was a faithful believer. 00:05:47.659 --> 00:05:50.599 He faithfully pointed his students to Jesus. 00:05:50.600 --> 00:05:53.180 In fact, you go to the Gospel of John right in the beginning. 00:05:53.540 --> 00:05:58.760 The whole reason that Peter and Andrew and James and John are following Jesus or at least know who he is 00:05:58.760 --> 00:06:01.860 is because John the Baptist, Andrew was following him. 00:06:02.240 --> 00:06:03.780 Jesus comes by in Galilee. 00:06:04.020 --> 00:06:07.240 John says, Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. 00:06:07.540 --> 00:06:11.180 And Andrew immediately turns away from John the Baptist and begins to follow Jesus. 00:06:11.540 --> 00:06:12.640 John was a faithful believer. 00:06:12.960 --> 00:06:15.080 He faithfully pointed people to follow Jesus. 00:06:15.079 --> 00:06:23.819 But clearly, not all of John's followers, not all of his students transferred their allegiance from John to Jesus. 00:06:24.419 --> 00:06:31.199 In fact, some of them, it seems, might have even gravitated toward the religious establishment instead. 00:06:32.060 --> 00:06:34.479 Because it's not just John's disciples coming here. 00:06:34.860 --> 00:06:38.019 They're coming along with some of the Pharisees. 00:06:38.740 --> 00:06:43.399 And then we see later on in the book of Acts, Acts chapter 19, the first seven verses there. 00:06:43.399 --> 00:06:47.500 There was another group of John's disciples whom Paul confronted, 00:06:47.719 --> 00:06:53.379 whom years and years and years after the death and resurrection and ascension of Jesus 00:06:53.379 --> 00:06:57.039 still had not been converted to Christ until that moment. 00:06:57.179 --> 00:07:03.579 So just because they were disciples of John didn't mean that they were believers and followers of Jesus. 00:07:04.639 --> 00:07:08.399 Now, though the men were in very different religious camps, 00:07:09.000 --> 00:07:11.679 there was a common denominator in this group. 00:07:11.680 --> 00:07:16.180 The common denominator here, the thing that brought them together, 00:07:16.939 --> 00:07:24.360 was that they both held to a subscription to performance-based religion. 00:07:26.040 --> 00:07:30.139 They believed that they could earn a right standing with God 00:07:30.139 --> 00:07:37.480 on the basis of their particularly pious lives and pious behavior. 00:07:37.480 --> 00:07:41.920 And they developed a system of elaborate rules and regulations 00:07:41.920 --> 00:07:47.660 that they not only imposed upon themselves, but they imposed upon others as well. 00:07:48.480 --> 00:07:54.640 Like many people today, they believed, and their practice reflected a belief, 00:07:55.180 --> 00:08:00.939 a false belief, that a good God who loves people 00:08:00.939 --> 00:08:06.060 will reward those who do their best and try their hardest. 00:08:07.199 --> 00:08:10.060 Even if they wouldn't have articulated it in that way, 00:08:10.420 --> 00:08:13.160 their practice reflected this false notion 00:08:13.160 --> 00:08:15.459 that a good God, if he exists, 00:08:15.879 --> 00:08:20.620 will reward those who do their best and try their hardest. 00:08:20.620 --> 00:08:25.939 But the Bible teaches clearly that it is utterly impossible 00:08:25.939 --> 00:08:28.699 for one to be good enough, 00:08:28.699 --> 00:08:32.960 to find a right standing with God on the basis of your goodness. 00:08:33.500 --> 00:08:34.779 Consider Romans 3. 00:08:35.179 --> 00:08:37.639 This is a passage we go to often in this discussion. 00:08:38.279 --> 00:08:39.600 Paul quotes the Old Testament. 00:08:39.740 --> 00:08:40.000 He says, 00:08:40.000 --> 00:08:56.620 And then he goes on later in the passage in verse 23, 00:08:56.740 --> 00:08:57.039 and he says, 00:08:57.039 --> 00:09:08.840 In other words, the best that you can do still falls short. 00:09:10.000 --> 00:09:12.279 That nobody truly, in and of themselves, 00:09:12.399 --> 00:09:16.460 without the Holy Spirit's work beginning to work in their hearts, 00:09:16.519 --> 00:09:18.080 nobody truly seeks God, 00:09:18.179 --> 00:09:23.179 nobody truly seeks righteousness apart from his work taking place in their hearts. 00:09:23.240 --> 00:09:25.279 It just isn't possible. 00:09:26.360 --> 00:09:29.000 Isaiah said this, in Isaiah 64, 6, 00:09:29.000 --> 00:09:32.159 We have all become like one who is unclean, 00:09:32.820 --> 00:09:37.779 and all our righteousness is as a polluted garment, 00:09:37.860 --> 00:09:39.879 or filthy rags, as we quote that often. 00:09:40.659 --> 00:09:41.740 What was he getting at there? 00:09:42.279 --> 00:09:45.080 Even the best that you can do is not good enough. 00:09:46.299 --> 00:09:48.200 The best that you can do, 00:09:49.019 --> 00:09:50.639 compared to God's standard, 00:09:51.039 --> 00:09:52.519 is a filthy rag. 00:09:52.879 --> 00:09:54.059 You're still unclean. 00:09:54.320 --> 00:09:55.720 You can't be good enough. 00:09:55.860 --> 00:09:57.220 But the disciples of John, 00:09:57.279 --> 00:09:58.740 at least this group of disciples, 00:09:58.899 --> 00:09:59.519 and the Pharisees, 00:09:59.620 --> 00:10:01.399 their practice was to live in such a way 00:10:01.399 --> 00:10:03.039 that if God really is good, 00:10:03.100 --> 00:10:04.200 and if God really is loving, 00:10:04.299 --> 00:10:06.519 then he will reward me based on the best efforts 00:10:06.519 --> 00:10:08.720 that I can possibly give him. 00:10:09.299 --> 00:10:11.139 And it was this false notion 00:10:11.139 --> 00:10:14.039 that actually caused them to reject the gospel of grace 00:10:14.039 --> 00:10:16.519 and the gospel of Christ's mercy. 00:10:17.079 --> 00:10:20.120 It produced their confusion and frustration with Jesus. 00:10:20.799 --> 00:10:22.740 They just couldn't understand 00:10:22.740 --> 00:10:26.019 why he didn't conform to their traditions. 00:10:26.019 --> 00:10:29.340 And they believed that his lack of conformity 00:10:29.340 --> 00:10:32.279 actually diminished his credibility. 00:10:33.480 --> 00:10:35.980 In fact, they essentially said, 00:10:35.980 --> 00:10:39.399 how could this man be from God 00:10:39.399 --> 00:10:42.180 if he does not do what we do 00:10:42.180 --> 00:10:44.539 and act like we act? 00:10:46.159 --> 00:10:48.320 You ever heard somebody say something similar to that before? 00:10:48.680 --> 00:10:50.399 Or maybe that's the question in their mind. 00:10:51.360 --> 00:10:53.800 How can this person possibly be right with God 00:10:53.800 --> 00:10:55.360 if they don't do the things that I do? 00:10:55.440 --> 00:10:56.980 If they don't act the way that I act? 00:10:57.060 --> 00:10:58.940 If they don't believe in the same way that I believe, 00:10:59.000 --> 00:11:00.200 not in relation to the gospel, 00:11:00.320 --> 00:11:01.960 but in the way that they live out their life 00:11:01.960 --> 00:11:03.600 and the safeguards and the guardrails 00:11:03.600 --> 00:11:04.840 and all the things that they do? 00:11:04.840 --> 00:11:06.019 And we start to question, 00:11:06.120 --> 00:11:07.280 well, this person isn't like me. 00:11:07.580 --> 00:11:09.440 Therefore, they cannot be from God. 00:11:09.660 --> 00:11:11.500 That's exactly where these men are. 00:11:12.600 --> 00:11:14.240 How could Jesus be from God 00:11:14.240 --> 00:11:15.360 if he doesn't do what we do? 00:11:15.440 --> 00:11:17.680 If he doesn't follow the conformity to our rules 00:11:17.680 --> 00:11:18.780 the way that we do? 00:11:19.480 --> 00:11:20.660 We have a word for that. 00:11:21.399 --> 00:11:22.720 We'll call it legalism. 00:11:23.560 --> 00:11:25.660 It's just as common today among Christians 00:11:25.660 --> 00:11:27.620 as it was in first century Judaism. 00:11:28.379 --> 00:11:30.820 And there's three marks of this legalism here 00:11:30.820 --> 00:11:32.360 just in verse 18. 00:11:32.560 --> 00:11:34.480 Three marks that we all need to recognize 00:11:34.480 --> 00:11:35.700 I'm just going to mention them quickly 00:11:35.700 --> 00:11:36.560 and we'll move on, okay? 00:11:36.759 --> 00:11:38.519 The first one is this, custom. 00:11:39.480 --> 00:11:41.060 Custom is this first mark. 00:11:41.659 --> 00:11:42.899 Look again at verse 18. 00:11:43.860 --> 00:11:46.259 Now, John's disciples and the Pharisees 00:11:46.259 --> 00:11:48.080 were fasting. 00:11:48.399 --> 00:11:48.980 What is that? 00:11:49.120 --> 00:11:49.700 It's a custom. 00:11:50.240 --> 00:11:50.980 It's a tradition. 00:11:52.080 --> 00:11:53.240 Nothing wrong with customs. 00:11:54.000 --> 00:11:55.259 Nothing wrong with traditions. 00:11:56.139 --> 00:11:57.240 But in this case, 00:11:57.240 --> 00:11:59.960 their tradition was elevated above truth. 00:11:59.960 --> 00:12:04.519 The placement of this story in Matthew, Mark, and Luke, 00:12:04.879 --> 00:12:10.700 all of them put it directly after Jesus's celebratory feasting 00:12:10.700 --> 00:12:11.879 at Matthew's house. 00:12:12.560 --> 00:12:13.660 The picture is this, 00:12:13.740 --> 00:12:17.180 that at the same time that Jesus and his disciples 00:12:17.180 --> 00:12:20.259 were having this grand feast with a publican, 00:12:20.259 --> 00:12:25.939 these men were probably on a day of their ritualistic fast. 00:12:26.740 --> 00:12:28.159 And so as they see Jesus, 00:12:28.259 --> 00:12:29.259 they just don't understand. 00:12:29.419 --> 00:12:32.460 What prompted this was Jesus to them, 00:12:32.779 --> 00:12:33.980 his odd behavior. 00:12:34.439 --> 00:12:35.759 Instead of fasting like them, 00:12:35.799 --> 00:12:36.679 he's feasting. 00:12:37.279 --> 00:12:38.340 It's not just that he's eating, 00:12:38.639 --> 00:12:39.580 he's feasting. 00:12:39.740 --> 00:12:40.740 He's celebrating. 00:12:40.879 --> 00:12:41.740 Why would he do that? 00:12:42.279 --> 00:12:44.700 And their question wasn't so much out of curiosity 00:12:44.700 --> 00:12:46.439 as it was a fence. 00:12:46.440 --> 00:12:50.040 When they saw Jesus eating with publicans and sinners, 00:12:50.240 --> 00:12:51.340 they were offended first 00:12:51.340 --> 00:12:53.680 that he would associate with such vile people 00:12:53.680 --> 00:12:54.900 because they would never do that. 00:12:54.980 --> 00:12:55.840 But on top of that, 00:12:56.080 --> 00:12:57.520 not only is he associating with people 00:12:57.520 --> 00:12:58.940 that we wouldn't associate with, 00:12:59.080 --> 00:13:00.860 but he's doing something that we don't do. 00:13:00.940 --> 00:13:03.180 They are offended that he wouldn't conform 00:13:03.180 --> 00:13:04.860 to their tradition. 00:13:06.500 --> 00:13:11.200 Jesus was not refusing to conform to something 00:13:11.200 --> 00:13:13.440 that the Old Testament actually said to do. 00:13:14.420 --> 00:13:15.740 Nowhere in the Old Testament 00:13:15.740 --> 00:13:20.340 did God command the people to fast 00:13:20.340 --> 00:13:23.060 in the way that these men were fasting. 00:13:23.539 --> 00:13:25.360 There was only one requirement for fasting. 00:13:25.460 --> 00:13:26.659 It was on the day of atonement. 00:13:26.759 --> 00:13:29.600 You can read about that in Leviticus 16, 00:13:29.799 --> 00:13:31.139 actually, if you wanna write that in your margins, 00:13:31.560 --> 00:13:33.820 Leviticus 16, 29 and 31. 00:13:34.700 --> 00:13:37.960 There were other times of fasting recorded 00:13:37.960 --> 00:13:39.080 in the Old Testament, 00:13:39.080 --> 00:13:40.860 but these were always voluntary 00:13:40.860 --> 00:13:44.299 and they always related to unique seasons 00:13:44.299 --> 00:13:45.779 and unique circumstances. 00:13:45.779 --> 00:13:46.919 The same thing in the New Testament. 00:13:47.019 --> 00:13:47.839 You get to the New Testament, 00:13:48.019 --> 00:13:49.919 it's not that fasting isn't there. 00:13:50.199 --> 00:13:52.379 It is there, but it's voluntary 00:13:52.379 --> 00:13:55.519 and it's always for unique purposes 00:13:55.519 --> 00:13:58.319 and unique seasons of mourning and of grief. 00:13:58.639 --> 00:14:01.319 Jesus is not violating the Old Testament here. 00:14:02.019 --> 00:14:04.059 What he's violating is the traditions 00:14:04.059 --> 00:14:06.799 that had been added to God's law. 00:14:07.179 --> 00:14:10.740 The Pharisees had developed over the course 00:14:10.740 --> 00:14:12.940 of just a couple of hundred years before Jesus. 00:14:13.139 --> 00:14:15.740 They had developed these systems of regulations 00:14:15.740 --> 00:14:19.279 and a part of that was that those who were truly righteous, 00:14:19.460 --> 00:14:22.919 those who were real serious about following God, 00:14:23.279 --> 00:14:26.680 fasted weekly on Monday and Thursday. 00:14:27.360 --> 00:14:29.080 So it wasn't just about the day of atonement. 00:14:29.320 --> 00:14:30.700 What they're offended at here 00:14:30.700 --> 00:14:33.379 is that Jesus isn't fasting on Monday and Thursday 00:14:33.379 --> 00:14:35.639 in the way that they fasted. 00:14:36.220 --> 00:14:37.820 It wasn't about breaking God's law. 00:14:37.820 --> 00:14:40.220 It was about breaking their law. 00:14:41.660 --> 00:14:43.040 Legalism always does this. 00:14:43.120 --> 00:14:45.780 It always elevates tradition above truth 00:14:45.780 --> 00:14:49.160 and it requires adherence to man's law 00:14:49.160 --> 00:14:51.780 in order to truly be righteous. 00:14:52.620 --> 00:14:54.580 And Jesus constantly confronted this. 00:14:55.500 --> 00:14:58.600 We're gonna come back to this in Mark chapter seven. 00:14:58.860 --> 00:15:01.080 Mark seven, six through eight, Jesus said this. 00:15:01.440 --> 00:15:02.620 He was talking to the Pharisees. 00:15:02.940 --> 00:15:06.440 Well, did Isaiah the prophet prophesy of you hypocrites? 00:15:06.440 --> 00:15:08.440 He says, as it is written, 00:15:09.000 --> 00:15:10.980 the people honor me with their lips, 00:15:11.500 --> 00:15:13.500 but their heart is far from me. 00:15:14.040 --> 00:15:15.520 In vain they worship me, 00:15:15.720 --> 00:15:19.760 teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. 00:15:20.460 --> 00:15:22.260 You leave the commandment of God 00:15:22.260 --> 00:15:24.520 and hold to the tradition of men. 00:15:24.780 --> 00:15:26.880 Jesus was constantly confronting this. 00:15:27.040 --> 00:15:28.780 It's not that he was breaking God's law. 00:15:28.960 --> 00:15:30.360 He was breaking their law 00:15:30.360 --> 00:15:33.240 and he constantly confronted this legalistic attitude. 00:15:33.580 --> 00:15:35.100 Sinclair Ferguson was helpful here. 00:15:35.100 --> 00:15:37.379 He wrote this about this particular passage. 00:15:38.460 --> 00:15:40.820 The real issue in such matters, he writes, 00:15:41.540 --> 00:15:46.480 is always what does God command us to do? 00:15:47.420 --> 00:15:51.460 And to insist on such fasting as the Pharisees did 00:15:51.460 --> 00:15:54.340 was to go beyond the law of God. 00:15:54.840 --> 00:15:58.320 And to insist on what God has not insisted 00:15:58.320 --> 00:16:03.440 is to seek to outdo God with man-made traditions. 00:16:03.960 --> 00:16:05.300 Catch that last phrase. 00:16:05.879 --> 00:16:10.600 To insist on something that God has not insisted on 00:16:10.600 --> 00:16:15.780 is to seek to outdo God with man-made traditions. 00:16:16.320 --> 00:16:17.680 That's what these men were doing. 00:16:17.879 --> 00:16:19.280 So the first mark of legalism here, 00:16:19.540 --> 00:16:21.220 it is custom, tradition over truth. 00:16:21.420 --> 00:16:22.840 Secondly is comparison. 00:16:23.180 --> 00:16:24.800 And you'll see that these three subheadings 00:16:24.800 --> 00:16:26.080 build upon each other. 00:16:26.080 --> 00:16:27.020 There's some overlap. 00:16:27.280 --> 00:16:28.360 So first there's custom. 00:16:28.840 --> 00:16:31.900 John and his disciples and Pharisee and their disciples, 00:16:31.900 --> 00:16:35.259 they had this tradition of fasting on Monday and Thursday. 00:16:35.759 --> 00:16:36.200 Comparison. 00:16:36.480 --> 00:16:37.280 Look again at the verse. 00:16:38.240 --> 00:16:39.139 The question is, 00:16:39.980 --> 00:16:41.580 why do John's disciples 00:16:41.580 --> 00:16:44.520 and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, 00:16:45.000 --> 00:16:48.340 but your disciples do not fast? 00:16:48.920 --> 00:16:50.259 Did you notice the question? 00:16:50.259 --> 00:16:53.139 The question was not, 00:16:53.860 --> 00:16:57.860 why does God command us to fast and you do not fast? 00:16:58.080 --> 00:16:59.039 That wasn't the question. 00:16:59.659 --> 00:17:00.860 The question is, 00:17:01.360 --> 00:17:04.799 why do we fast and you don't? 00:17:05.799 --> 00:17:10.579 At its heart is a self-righteous pattern of comparison. 00:17:11.940 --> 00:17:13.759 It wasn't about obeying God. 00:17:13.859 --> 00:17:15.000 It was about obeying them. 00:17:15.000 --> 00:17:18.079 And Jesus confronted this all the time too. 00:17:18.940 --> 00:17:23.079 Remember his teaching on judgmentalism in Matthew chapter seven, 00:17:23.180 --> 00:17:25.000 that verse that we hear quoted all the time, 00:17:25.099 --> 00:17:26.140 often out of context. 00:17:26.539 --> 00:17:27.660 And Jesus says, 00:17:27.839 --> 00:17:29.180 judge not that you be not judged. 00:17:29.579 --> 00:17:31.220 He was confronting a mindset, 00:17:31.819 --> 00:17:35.000 not that we shouldn't exercise discernment, 00:17:35.640 --> 00:17:38.099 because of course we should exercise discernment. 00:17:38.099 --> 00:17:44.619 What Jesus was condemning was those who judge on the basis of man's standard 00:17:44.619 --> 00:17:46.759 rather than God's standard. 00:17:48.279 --> 00:17:53.819 Legalists always compare others to their standard of self-righteousness 00:17:53.819 --> 00:17:57.699 rather than what God has clearly stated in his word. 00:17:58.459 --> 00:17:59.639 That's what's happening here. 00:18:01.459 --> 00:18:04.079 Rather than examine their hearts in this moment, 00:18:04.159 --> 00:18:05.279 which is what they should have done, 00:18:05.279 --> 00:18:10.720 they insisted that something must be wrong with Jesus. 00:18:11.879 --> 00:18:14.859 Never mind the fact that he has healed all these people. 00:18:15.799 --> 00:18:19.220 Never mind the fact that he speaks with such authority and power. 00:18:20.259 --> 00:18:23.339 Never mind the fact that we've seen him cast out demons. 00:18:23.759 --> 00:18:25.319 Never mind all of these other things. 00:18:25.500 --> 00:18:28.519 Something must be seriously wrong with him. 00:18:28.619 --> 00:18:28.960 Why? 00:18:29.799 --> 00:18:31.379 Because he doesn't do what I do. 00:18:32.559 --> 00:18:34.099 He doesn't live like I live. 00:18:34.099 --> 00:18:36.039 And there can't be a problem with me. 00:18:37.059 --> 00:18:39.839 There must be a problem with him. 00:18:40.879 --> 00:18:41.599 So there's comparison. 00:18:41.740 --> 00:18:42.119 There's custom. 00:18:42.219 --> 00:18:42.659 There's comparison. 00:18:42.819 --> 00:18:44.439 And then there's criticism. 00:18:44.859 --> 00:18:45.879 This is just how it builds, right? 00:18:46.000 --> 00:18:47.119 We develop these traditions. 00:18:47.279 --> 00:18:50.219 And whenever we develop the traditions and put them above God's law, 00:18:50.379 --> 00:18:52.079 we end up living by comparison. 00:18:52.319 --> 00:18:55.279 Our righteousness is based on how we're out doing other people. 00:18:55.399 --> 00:18:58.459 And other people's unrighteousness is based on their comparison to me. 00:18:58.579 --> 00:19:01.939 And then that just naturally leads itself into criticism. 00:19:01.940 --> 00:19:08.720 We automatically look at everybody with us, around us with a critical eye and a judgmental spirit. 00:19:08.720 --> 00:19:12.400 This was a passive-aggressive question. 00:19:12.940 --> 00:19:14.980 It was a statement of disapproval. 00:19:15.059 --> 00:19:16.940 This wasn't genuine curiosity. 00:19:17.160 --> 00:19:20.140 They weren't seeking understanding or an answer. 00:19:20.740 --> 00:19:22.279 They were condemning Jesus. 00:19:22.279 --> 00:19:25.619 And that's how legalism always is. 00:19:25.660 --> 00:19:26.420 It's never gracious. 00:19:27.440 --> 00:19:28.519 It's always critical. 00:19:29.359 --> 00:19:32.259 They were essentially saying, if you want us to take you seriously, 00:19:32.660 --> 00:19:36.960 then you're going to have to do some improvements in the area of friendship and fasting. 00:19:38.099 --> 00:19:39.539 It was always a critical eye. 00:19:40.399 --> 00:19:43.379 They criticized Jesus for not conforming to their system. 00:19:43.380 --> 00:19:47.600 And this ultimately led to their desire to have him killed. 00:19:48.340 --> 00:19:50.000 In fact, just skip ahead a little bit. 00:19:50.400 --> 00:19:51.900 Chapter 3, verse 6. 00:19:52.340 --> 00:19:54.200 This is at the end of all of these conflicts. 00:19:54.340 --> 00:19:55.200 There's this building. 00:19:55.300 --> 00:19:56.140 We're going to get to it next week. 00:19:56.220 --> 00:20:00.300 There's this building taking place of frustration with Jesus, 00:20:00.540 --> 00:20:02.640 all on the basis of custom and tradition. 00:20:02.900 --> 00:20:04.520 And then he gets to verse 6 in chapter 3. 00:20:04.780 --> 00:20:08.140 And the Pharisees went forth and immediately took counsel with the Herodians, 00:20:08.240 --> 00:20:09.460 somebody that they hated anyways, 00:20:09.460 --> 00:20:13.180 and took counsel against Jesus, how they might what? 00:20:13.900 --> 00:20:14.720 Destroy him. 00:20:14.960 --> 00:20:15.360 Kill him. 00:20:16.180 --> 00:20:17.559 Why did they want to kill him? 00:20:17.940 --> 00:20:20.680 Not because he was disobedient to God. 00:20:21.340 --> 00:20:23.340 Because he didn't conform to them. 00:20:24.319 --> 00:20:26.900 That's the issue that is beginning to unfold. 00:20:27.500 --> 00:20:28.440 Alistair Begg said, 00:20:29.059 --> 00:20:32.860 nothing infuriates a legalist more than a person that won't obey their rules. 00:20:33.680 --> 00:20:35.740 And that's exactly what's happening with these men. 00:20:36.160 --> 00:20:38.000 Well, that's the question about fasting. 00:20:38.000 --> 00:20:40.960 Let's move to the second half of this passage. 00:20:41.079 --> 00:20:43.779 And that is an answer about the gospel. 00:20:44.380 --> 00:20:46.680 An answer about the gospel. 00:20:47.859 --> 00:20:51.460 We find this in 19 through 22. 00:20:52.519 --> 00:20:56.799 After being confronted by this legalistic question, 00:20:58.059 --> 00:20:59.980 Jesus really, what he's doing here, 00:21:00.359 --> 00:21:02.819 is responding with the truth of the gospel. 00:21:04.019 --> 00:21:06.779 And indeed, the gospel of Jesus is the answer to everything. 00:21:06.779 --> 00:21:07.740 It really is. 00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:12.859 It's the key to breaking the shackles, 00:21:12.960 --> 00:21:16.779 unlocking the shackles of performance-driven religion, 00:21:16.779 --> 00:21:19.019 which is nothing but a burden. 00:21:19.740 --> 00:21:21.920 The gospel removes that burden. 00:21:23.019 --> 00:21:27.339 It offers salvation on the basis of God's gracious forgiveness, 00:21:27.339 --> 00:21:33.180 rather than demanding a perfection that's actually impossible to attain. 00:21:33.180 --> 00:21:34.039 Ligon Duncan said, 00:21:34.039 --> 00:21:35.620 Ligon Duncan said, 00:21:35.740 --> 00:21:38.560 salvation is not something we earn by doing. 00:21:39.220 --> 00:21:42.680 It is something we receive by believing. 00:21:43.600 --> 00:21:44.900 That's the heart of the gospel. 00:21:45.700 --> 00:21:52.360 If you hope to gain acceptance today on the basis of your efforts at being good, 00:21:52.359 --> 00:21:59.139 you'll be disappointed to discover that you can't actually be good enough. 00:21:59.140 --> 00:22:03.300 That's a heavy burden. 00:22:03.299 --> 00:22:08.539 That's a burden that God does not put on your shoulders. 00:22:11.159 --> 00:22:13.220 That's a burden that comes with religion. 00:22:13.220 --> 00:22:17.940 It's a burden that comes with legalism, but that's not from God. 00:22:18.680 --> 00:22:20.519 God doesn't set that demand on you. 00:22:21.640 --> 00:22:27.259 He doesn't put acceptance and eternal life on the basis of how you perform. 00:22:27.259 --> 00:22:33.720 The salvation that he proclaims in the scripture is much more freeing than that. 00:22:34.799 --> 00:22:37.299 It's one of repentance and faith in Christ. 00:22:39.240 --> 00:22:40.680 I want you to think about this. 00:22:40.819 --> 00:22:44.660 Terry and I were talking just before the service about that book, Gentle and Lowly, 00:22:44.700 --> 00:22:47.700 and how helpful it is in wrapping our minds around the heart of Christ. 00:22:49.759 --> 00:22:51.619 You don't have to earn God's love. 00:22:53.519 --> 00:22:54.879 You already have it. 00:22:57.259 --> 00:22:59.019 It is set on you. 00:23:00.599 --> 00:23:02.920 It's not something you have to earn. 00:23:03.519 --> 00:23:05.500 It's something you receive. 00:23:07.180 --> 00:23:12.980 This salvation that God proclaims in the scripture is not something you have to work for. 00:23:13.940 --> 00:23:15.960 It's something that's freely offered. 00:23:16.900 --> 00:23:18.799 And you receive it by faith. 00:23:19.980 --> 00:23:24.559 Jesus gave this gospel answer with three illustrations. 00:23:25.400 --> 00:23:26.420 They're interesting. 00:23:27.259 --> 00:23:30.720 In that they're not real clear on the surface. 00:23:31.359 --> 00:23:33.119 Now, you may be confused at this point. 00:23:33.160 --> 00:23:35.480 If you've read ahead and maybe you're staring at these verses and you're thinking, 00:23:35.859 --> 00:23:38.740 how in the world is the gospel here in these verses? 00:23:39.379 --> 00:23:42.740 And understand, we're going to have to do some digging to get at this, okay? 00:23:42.859 --> 00:23:43.619 We're going to have to do some digging. 00:23:43.980 --> 00:23:45.619 But Jesus gives three illustrations. 00:23:45.619 --> 00:23:51.839 The first one has to do with the specific question of fasting. 00:23:52.079 --> 00:23:58.739 The last two address this idea of performance-driven religion in a more broad sense. 00:23:59.859 --> 00:24:05.419 And so through these three illustrations, we see the gospel come forth in three ways. 00:24:05.420 --> 00:24:09.880 First, we see Jesus' divine identity. 00:24:10.200 --> 00:24:12.700 We're going to mine this passage now. 00:24:12.840 --> 00:24:15.220 We're going to pull this out from the rubble here. 00:24:15.360 --> 00:24:17.140 We're going to see Jesus' divine identity. 00:24:17.560 --> 00:24:19.660 We're going to see his redemptive purpose. 00:24:20.360 --> 00:24:20.980 It's there. 00:24:21.519 --> 00:24:23.519 It's not abundantly clear on the surface. 00:24:23.640 --> 00:24:24.380 We're going to get to it, okay? 00:24:24.380 --> 00:24:26.960 We're going to see his divine identity, his redemptive purpose. 00:24:27.240 --> 00:24:36.680 And then we're going to see that the gospel of grace is totally incompatible with performance-driven religion, okay? 00:24:36.800 --> 00:24:38.080 It's totally incompatible. 00:24:38.180 --> 00:24:41.020 We're going to get to those three things in these three illustrations. 00:24:41.240 --> 00:24:44.040 The first thing we see is Jesus' divine identity. 00:24:44.540 --> 00:24:46.180 Jesus' divine identity. 00:24:46.440 --> 00:24:47.600 Look with me at verse 19. 00:24:48.740 --> 00:24:49.940 Jesus said to them, 00:24:50.940 --> 00:24:54.280 Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? 00:24:55.180 --> 00:24:59.340 As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. 00:24:59.560 --> 00:25:00.360 I'm going to read it again. 00:25:00.680 --> 00:25:03.160 Think what Jesus is saying here in this illustration. 00:25:04.300 --> 00:25:08.880 Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? 00:25:09.560 --> 00:25:14.000 As long as the bridegroom is with them, they cannot fast. 00:25:14.640 --> 00:25:20.640 Jesus employs in this first illustration this wedding imagery, which is interesting. 00:25:20.760 --> 00:25:23.660 In that culture, it would have been interesting to attend a wedding. 00:25:24.440 --> 00:25:28.420 Weddings here in the United States today, the shorter the better, right? 00:25:28.420 --> 00:25:33.000 If you can get in and out in 15 minutes, that's a helpful wedding, at least for us fellas. 00:25:33.259 --> 00:25:34.519 That's how it works, right? 00:25:35.140 --> 00:25:38.400 The weddings in the first century Judaism didn't function that way. 00:25:38.960 --> 00:25:40.500 These were huge affairs. 00:25:40.500 --> 00:25:42.960 They were community-wide. 00:25:43.359 --> 00:25:47.279 They lasted often for seven days. 00:25:47.279 --> 00:25:56.940 And given the joyous nature of the event, it would have been completely inappropriate for the wedding party to go through a season of fasting. 00:25:57.019 --> 00:25:58.019 Can you imagine that? 00:25:59.059 --> 00:26:02.579 Fasting is representative and reflective of mourning and grief. 00:26:02.680 --> 00:26:03.319 That's what it is. 00:26:03.319 --> 00:26:11.919 It's what I'm setting aside this necessity of food in order to come to God begging for his work to be done in a particular way. 00:26:12.059 --> 00:26:15.039 It's often reflected of mourning and of grief. 00:26:15.480 --> 00:26:16.319 Now, can you imagine? 00:26:16.439 --> 00:26:19.099 Maybe Julie's dad did this 12 years ago at our wedding. 00:26:19.139 --> 00:26:19.539 I don't know. 00:26:19.619 --> 00:26:20.859 Maybe he was fasting that day. 00:26:20.939 --> 00:26:21.740 Mourning and grief. 00:26:22.559 --> 00:26:25.919 Can you imagine the inappropriateness of the wedding party? 00:26:25.920 --> 00:26:30.759 The best man and the maid of honor and the whole wedding party with them deciding, you know what? 00:26:30.980 --> 00:26:32.460 We know this is a great celebration. 00:26:32.640 --> 00:26:36.240 We've just taken on this mourning and grief and we're going to fast. 00:26:36.320 --> 00:26:38.039 We're not going to celebrate with you. 00:26:38.620 --> 00:26:41.420 That's essentially what Jesus is drawing their attention to. 00:26:42.160 --> 00:26:46.420 To fast during a wedding celebration was not only inappropriate, it was disrespectful. 00:26:47.120 --> 00:26:48.220 It was offensive. 00:26:48.220 --> 00:27:02.200 Now, rabbinical teaching even released the people from religious affairs, other religious duties in order to enjoy the wedding celebration to the fullest. 00:27:02.779 --> 00:27:06.539 Now, in Jesus's illustration, he is the bridegroom. 00:27:07.420 --> 00:27:13.360 And the disciples that are being asked about, they're fasting, the disciples are his wedding party. 00:27:14.160 --> 00:27:16.259 This was not a time to mourn. 00:27:16.259 --> 00:27:18.400 This was a time to rejoice. 00:27:19.359 --> 00:27:24.220 This was a time to celebrate the fact that the Messiah had come. 00:27:24.480 --> 00:27:27.319 The one that was bringing salvation was here. 00:27:27.680 --> 00:27:29.799 This wasn't a time for his disciples to mourn. 00:27:29.980 --> 00:27:31.759 It was a time for them to celebrate. 00:27:32.700 --> 00:27:34.720 But there's more than that here. 00:27:36.480 --> 00:27:41.079 Jesus was once again making a provocative statement of his own identity. 00:27:41.079 --> 00:27:44.859 And it wasn't just a statement of his messianic identity. 00:27:44.859 --> 00:27:49.319 This was a statement of his deity. 00:27:49.659 --> 00:27:50.379 Let me explain. 00:27:51.819 --> 00:28:00.899 The Old Testament, with all of its imagery of the Messiah, never one time describes the Messiah, 00:28:01.219 --> 00:28:06.459 the coming messianic king, never describes him with this kind of imagery. 00:28:06.919 --> 00:28:07.740 Never as a husband. 00:28:08.240 --> 00:28:10.439 Never as his people being a bride. 00:28:10.440 --> 00:28:12.940 That's never applied to the Messiah. 00:28:13.539 --> 00:28:16.420 But it is applied to someone in the Old Testament. 00:28:16.900 --> 00:28:21.640 Every time, it is given specifically to God himself. 00:28:22.720 --> 00:28:23.860 Not to the Messiah. 00:28:24.140 --> 00:28:25.180 Now, here's why that's so awesome. 00:28:25.279 --> 00:28:26.580 Let me give you a couple of examples. 00:28:26.680 --> 00:28:27.500 There's a lot of them there. 00:28:27.860 --> 00:28:29.400 These two are just abundantly clear. 00:28:29.700 --> 00:28:31.519 The first one is Isaiah 54. 00:28:32.080 --> 00:28:34.420 Isaiah 54, 5 and 6. 00:28:34.420 --> 00:28:37.039 Here's what God says through Isaiah. 00:28:37.279 --> 00:28:37.519 Listen. 00:28:38.640 --> 00:28:41.640 Your maker is your husband. 00:28:42.140 --> 00:28:43.220 Maker, capital M. 00:28:43.560 --> 00:28:45.940 Your creator is your husband. 00:28:46.380 --> 00:28:48.779 The Lord Jehovah, Yahweh. 00:28:49.140 --> 00:28:51.259 Yahweh is his name. 00:28:51.840 --> 00:28:56.980 And the Holy One of Israel, capital letters again, this is a reference to God, 00:28:56.980 --> 00:29:02.400 is your redeemer, the God of the whole earth, he is called. 00:29:02.900 --> 00:29:10.500 For the Lord, Yahweh, has called you like a wife, deserted and grieved in spirit, 00:29:10.500 --> 00:29:15.200 like a wife of youth when she is cast off, says your God. 00:29:15.819 --> 00:29:17.099 That's not the Messiah. 00:29:17.819 --> 00:29:19.180 That's God himself. 00:29:20.000 --> 00:29:21.240 And then we see it again in Hosea. 00:29:21.319 --> 00:29:26.700 In fact, the whole prophecy of Hosea is presenting this imagery between God and his people. 00:29:26.700 --> 00:29:29.779 But in chapter 2 and verse 19, God says, 00:29:30.200 --> 00:29:32.120 I will betroth you to me forever. 00:29:32.319 --> 00:29:33.539 I will engage you to me. 00:29:33.600 --> 00:29:34.519 I will marry you. 00:29:34.779 --> 00:29:36.500 You will be mine forever. 00:29:36.860 --> 00:29:40.420 I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, 00:29:40.960 --> 00:29:43.440 in steadfast love and in mercy. 00:29:44.400 --> 00:29:46.819 And all of this is brought together in this helpful statement. 00:29:46.980 --> 00:29:47.960 James Edwards wrote this. 00:29:48.000 --> 00:29:48.279 He said, 00:29:48.279 --> 00:29:53.900 Although a firm link between Messiah and bridegroom cannot be established, 00:29:53.900 --> 00:30:02.080 that does not exclude or diminish the Christological significance of this imagery in Jesus' answer. 00:30:02.860 --> 00:30:06.160 In this instance, it heightens it. 00:30:06.700 --> 00:30:11.880 For in the Old Testament, Israel's husband and lover is not the Messiah, but God. 00:30:11.980 --> 00:30:13.240 He said, why does this matter? 00:30:13.680 --> 00:30:14.540 What does this mean? 00:30:14.539 --> 00:30:22.579 When Jesus says, he's the bridegroom, and those who follow him is his bride. 00:30:22.680 --> 00:30:24.480 They're his wedding guests. 00:30:24.599 --> 00:30:28.659 When he says that he's the bridegroom, he's not saying only that he's Messiah. 00:30:28.879 --> 00:30:30.420 He's saying, I'm God. 00:30:30.539 --> 00:30:34.039 And as God, I am betrothing you to me. 00:30:34.240 --> 00:30:36.079 I am your redeemer. 00:30:36.379 --> 00:30:37.980 I am your lover. 00:30:37.980 --> 00:30:42.359 His heart is set on you as your maker. 00:30:42.359 --> 00:30:45.659 How awesome is that? 00:30:45.859 --> 00:30:47.079 Now, these people wouldn't have understood. 00:30:47.240 --> 00:30:50.299 They wouldn't have made that connection probably immediately in what Jesus was saying. 00:30:50.459 --> 00:30:52.779 They probably had some concern about him saying it. 00:30:53.439 --> 00:30:56.839 They might not have been able to make all those connections, but that's what Jesus is saying. 00:30:57.059 --> 00:30:59.179 This is his divine identity. 00:30:59.819 --> 00:31:01.799 This is the gospel. 00:31:02.299 --> 00:31:09.119 How could the disciples fast when Emmanuel is among them? 00:31:10.059 --> 00:31:11.299 God with us. 00:31:12.359 --> 00:31:15.479 Then we see Jesus' redemptive purpose. 00:31:15.879 --> 00:31:16.740 That's in the next verse. 00:31:16.979 --> 00:31:17.479 Verse 20. 00:31:17.699 --> 00:31:18.179 Look at it with me. 00:31:18.500 --> 00:31:27.919 The day will come, Jesus says, when the bridegroom is taken away, snatched away, and then they will fast in that day. 00:31:28.639 --> 00:31:29.539 What's that all about? 00:31:29.539 --> 00:31:34.319 This isn't a statement to after Jesus would ascend into heaven. 00:31:35.159 --> 00:31:36.740 That's not what he's talking about. 00:31:37.379 --> 00:31:42.099 This is a veiled statement of his coming death. 00:31:43.220 --> 00:31:49.980 He's continuing this wedding imagery here, and he says that there would come a time when the disciples would indeed fast. 00:31:50.460 --> 00:31:51.519 Well, when will that be? 00:31:51.519 --> 00:31:56.019 None of the disciples would have grasped this. 00:31:56.019 --> 00:31:59.960 Even after his resurrection, they still didn't quite grasp it. 00:32:00.180 --> 00:32:01.240 They still needed some help. 00:32:01.839 --> 00:32:04.519 But you need to think about, when is Mark writing this letter? 00:32:05.139 --> 00:32:13.119 He's writing it on the basis of what he's heard from Peter, and he's writing it well after Christ's crucifixion and resurrection and ascension. 00:32:13.400 --> 00:32:16.859 He has the privilege in writing this like we have in reading it. 00:32:16.859 --> 00:32:22.740 We're looking back on Jesus' statements after the cross, after the resurrection, after the ascension. 00:32:22.899 --> 00:32:25.459 So we can discern here what Jesus is really saying. 00:32:25.939 --> 00:32:28.199 The key words are taken away. 00:32:28.879 --> 00:32:29.399 Did you see it? 00:32:29.879 --> 00:32:33.319 The day will come when the bridegroom is taken away, snatched away. 00:32:33.959 --> 00:32:36.639 These words are rooted in Isaiah 53. 00:32:37.299 --> 00:32:39.439 We read this passage for communion often. 00:32:40.339 --> 00:32:41.659 Here's what it says in verse 8. 00:32:41.660 --> 00:32:49.140 By oppression and judgment, he, the suffering servant, the Messiah, he was taken away. 00:32:50.180 --> 00:32:51.600 How was he taken away? 00:32:52.460 --> 00:32:56.100 Stricken for the transgression of my people. 00:32:56.620 --> 00:32:57.560 What's he talking about? 00:32:58.220 --> 00:32:59.500 He's talking about the crucifixion. 00:33:00.460 --> 00:33:05.220 For three days between Jesus' arrest and his resurrection, what were the disciples doing? 00:33:05.500 --> 00:33:08.120 I can guarantee you they weren't eating and feasting and celebrating. 00:33:09.120 --> 00:33:09.660 They were mourning. 00:33:10.660 --> 00:33:11.600 They were grieving. 00:33:11.660 --> 00:33:13.800 They were fasting. 00:33:14.800 --> 00:33:16.960 That's what Jesus is referencing here. 00:33:17.440 --> 00:33:19.500 And what's he ultimately pointing these people to? 00:33:20.040 --> 00:33:21.480 His redemptive purpose. 00:33:22.779 --> 00:33:24.560 Why did Jesus come? 00:33:25.820 --> 00:33:29.640 Why does it matter that we recognize his divine identity? 00:33:29.800 --> 00:33:33.880 Because that divine identity is purposeful in his incarnation. 00:33:34.440 --> 00:33:36.840 He came with a redemptive purpose. 00:33:37.300 --> 00:33:40.720 He would die for their sin. 00:33:41.140 --> 00:33:41.980 It's the gospel. 00:33:42.620 --> 00:33:44.120 In other words, now think about this. 00:33:44.480 --> 00:33:48.120 Here's John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees. 00:33:48.200 --> 00:33:49.039 They're working hard. 00:33:50.240 --> 00:33:51.900 I mean, they are working hard. 00:33:52.640 --> 00:33:53.440 Starving themselves. 00:33:53.860 --> 00:33:54.660 Two days a week. 00:33:54.660 --> 00:33:56.720 Hoping to gain some kind of acceptance. 00:33:56.840 --> 00:34:01.960 And then here comes Jesus and says, and he gives this veiled statement that, look, stop working so hard. 00:34:02.200 --> 00:34:03.340 I'm going to take care of it. 00:34:04.480 --> 00:34:07.160 The sin you're trying to atone for in your good works. 00:34:07.360 --> 00:34:09.320 I'm going to pay the price for it. 00:34:09.320 --> 00:34:11.300 I'm going to take your place. 00:34:13.380 --> 00:34:14.480 That's the gospel. 00:34:14.980 --> 00:34:15.860 How awesome. 00:34:16.539 --> 00:34:17.800 How awesome is that? 00:34:18.059 --> 00:34:19.340 You don't have to work for his love. 00:34:20.180 --> 00:34:21.660 His love's already been displayed. 00:34:22.180 --> 00:34:23.400 It's already set on you. 00:34:24.200 --> 00:34:25.019 Just receive it. 00:34:25.080 --> 00:34:25.700 Stop working. 00:34:27.220 --> 00:34:31.080 Their mourning in those three days would ultimately turn to celebration again. 00:34:31.079 --> 00:34:35.079 Because Jesus wouldn't remain dead. 00:34:36.779 --> 00:34:44.539 Eternal life was secured for them when three days later, the resurrected Christ appeared before them. 00:34:45.659 --> 00:34:47.779 And it once again becomes a celebration. 00:34:48.440 --> 00:34:52.199 A celebration that continues for us today, 2,000 years later. 00:34:52.599 --> 00:34:56.360 A celebration that will never, ever, ever end. 00:34:57.880 --> 00:34:59.019 Jesus said as much. 00:34:59.019 --> 00:35:00.159 Mark 10. 00:35:01.079 --> 00:35:02.139 Verse 45. 00:35:02.900 --> 00:35:05.420 Even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve. 00:35:05.599 --> 00:35:06.259 And to do what? 00:35:07.159 --> 00:35:10.579 Give his life a ransom for many. 00:35:11.460 --> 00:35:12.299 That's the gospel. 00:35:13.019 --> 00:35:14.840 So Jesus' divine identity. 00:35:14.980 --> 00:35:15.759 He's the bridegroom. 00:35:16.179 --> 00:35:20.039 This veiled statement of his redemptive purpose that there would come a time for them to fast. 00:35:20.119 --> 00:35:22.539 That is when he is crucified. 00:35:22.819 --> 00:35:23.840 But that would only be temporary. 00:35:24.159 --> 00:35:25.019 And then there's the third part. 00:35:25.099 --> 00:35:25.440 We're finished. 00:35:26.059 --> 00:35:28.139 The incompatibility of the gospel. 00:35:28.139 --> 00:35:31.199 The incompatibility of the gospel. 00:35:31.920 --> 00:35:36.519 Specifically in this case with performance driven religion. 00:35:37.659 --> 00:35:39.440 Look at verses 21 and 22. 00:35:39.440 --> 00:35:45.019 No one sews a piece of, I'm reading from the ESV here just because it's a little more clear. 00:35:45.579 --> 00:35:49.280 No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. 00:35:50.000 --> 00:35:53.099 If he does, the patch tears away from it. 00:35:53.679 --> 00:35:56.519 The new from the old and a worse tear is made. 00:35:56.519 --> 00:36:00.000 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. 00:36:00.239 --> 00:36:03.679 If he does, the wine will burst the skins. 00:36:04.519 --> 00:36:05.719 And the wine is destroyed. 00:36:06.239 --> 00:36:07.340 And so are the skins. 00:36:07.480 --> 00:36:10.320 But the new wine is for fresh wineskins. 00:36:12.079 --> 00:36:13.739 What in the world is that about? 00:36:14.139 --> 00:36:17.699 That is a weird story to answer a question about fasting. 00:36:18.059 --> 00:36:18.940 It is, isn't it? 00:36:19.179 --> 00:36:20.239 But we can figure it out. 00:36:20.619 --> 00:36:22.639 The last two illustrations are parables. 00:36:22.639 --> 00:36:28.139 They're parabolic statements that point to a single truth. 00:36:29.000 --> 00:36:32.980 And this truth that Jesus is summarizing in these two illustrations is this. 00:36:33.739 --> 00:36:38.879 The gospel of grace is incompatible with your religious traditions. 00:36:39.259 --> 00:36:41.480 Your works-based system of salvation. 00:36:41.779 --> 00:36:42.539 It doesn't work. 00:36:43.099 --> 00:36:43.759 It doesn't work. 00:36:44.039 --> 00:36:47.379 It's incompatible with the true gospel of grace. 00:36:48.059 --> 00:36:49.739 Now let's talk about these illustrations quickly. 00:36:49.739 --> 00:36:55.179 The first one involves patching an old garment with a new piece of cloth. 00:36:55.659 --> 00:36:58.179 In this case, an unshrunken piece of cloth. 00:36:58.279 --> 00:37:01.359 There's no synthetic materials in their day like there is now. 00:37:01.500 --> 00:37:07.059 So no one would take an old garment and put a new piece of unshrunken cloth as a patch on it. 00:37:07.079 --> 00:37:09.559 Because when it's washed, it's going to shrink. 00:37:09.839 --> 00:37:11.779 And when it shrinks, it's just going to make a bigger hole. 00:37:11.839 --> 00:37:13.319 It's going to destroy the garment. 00:37:13.320 --> 00:37:18.920 No one takes an old wineskin and puts new wineskins in it. 00:37:19.640 --> 00:37:22.120 These wineskins, they were animal hide. 00:37:22.360 --> 00:37:23.620 They were animal hide that was tanned. 00:37:23.740 --> 00:37:25.300 And then it was formatted in a certain way. 00:37:25.460 --> 00:37:27.740 And it had an elasticity to it. 00:37:28.059 --> 00:37:31.980 So when they would pour the wine in it, it would go through this fermentation process. 00:37:32.280 --> 00:37:36.420 And the wineskins would be able to contain it because of their elasticity. 00:37:37.200 --> 00:37:38.940 An old wineskin is weakened. 00:37:39.120 --> 00:37:39.680 It's brittle. 00:37:39.820 --> 00:37:41.140 It loses its elasticity. 00:37:41.139 --> 00:37:46.400 So no one would take new wine, fresh wine, and pour it in an old wineskin. 00:37:46.980 --> 00:37:51.179 Because as the fermentation process begins to unfold, it builds up the pressure. 00:37:51.719 --> 00:37:53.679 And the elasticity is gone in the old one. 00:37:53.819 --> 00:37:54.879 And it explodes. 00:37:55.359 --> 00:37:56.000 It bursts. 00:37:56.239 --> 00:37:57.239 It can't contain it. 00:37:57.659 --> 00:37:57.739 Okay? 00:37:58.139 --> 00:37:58.920 That's essential. 00:37:59.019 --> 00:37:59.859 These are the illustrations. 00:38:00.379 --> 00:38:08.039 Both of them involve something that is old and weak and brittle and tired. 00:38:08.039 --> 00:38:14.300 Both of them are destroyed by something that is new and valuable. 00:38:15.340 --> 00:38:16.259 That's the point. 00:38:16.639 --> 00:38:20.039 And when we understand parables, for the most part, there's a couple of exceptions. 00:38:20.679 --> 00:38:24.039 For the most part, a parable is getting across one point. 00:38:24.199 --> 00:38:24.559 There's one. 00:38:24.639 --> 00:38:26.199 So you don't have to read too much into this. 00:38:26.259 --> 00:38:29.000 We don't have to read too far into all of the different things. 00:38:29.179 --> 00:38:30.699 There's one point Jesus is making. 00:38:31.500 --> 00:38:32.699 He is the new wine. 00:38:32.699 --> 00:38:35.500 He is the unshrunken cloth. 00:38:36.299 --> 00:38:45.159 And his gospel of grace explodes the old, tired forms of performance-driven religion. 00:38:45.339 --> 00:38:46.399 They're incompatible. 00:38:46.659 --> 00:38:48.679 He came to blow those things apart. 00:38:49.000 --> 00:38:52.779 His gospel of grace blows those mindsets apart. 00:38:54.119 --> 00:38:57.639 Sinclair Ferguson, again, says it this way. 00:38:57.639 --> 00:39:04.920 The way of the Pharisees with their legalism and their man-made traditions and the way of the gospel of grace cannot be harmonized. 00:39:05.659 --> 00:39:07.960 They're mutually incompatible, he says. 00:39:08.859 --> 00:39:14.480 Jesus' teaching on godly grace and forgiveness for sinners destroys the old cloth of the Pharisees. 00:39:14.759 --> 00:39:17.859 It bursts the old wineskins of their religion. 00:39:19.099 --> 00:39:23.539 Unfortunately, there are those that try to somehow mix the two together. 00:39:24.539 --> 00:39:26.219 It's not even possible to do. 00:39:26.219 --> 00:39:33.079 Forgiveness and eternal life is not given to those who merely have Jesus as a piece of a puzzle. 00:39:33.899 --> 00:39:34.959 That's not the gospel. 00:39:36.419 --> 00:39:46.099 Eternal life and forgiveness is given to those who completely abandon all personal efforts and receive that gospel by faith. 00:39:47.379 --> 00:39:48.319 I'm going to close this way. 00:39:48.320 --> 00:39:59.600 In Luke chapter 18, Jesus helpfully illustrates the difference between legalists, this performance-driven salvation, and the gospel of grace. 00:39:59.940 --> 00:40:00.900 I'm just going to read it to you. 00:40:00.940 --> 00:40:02.080 You can write it down, actually, if you want. 00:40:02.140 --> 00:40:03.740 It's Luke 18, 9 through 15. 00:40:04.100 --> 00:40:06.620 If you want to turn there, I would be glad for you to do that. 00:40:06.680 --> 00:40:07.700 We're going to close with this, okay? 00:40:07.699 --> 00:40:19.819 Jesus also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and treated others with contempt. 00:40:19.980 --> 00:40:23.399 Boy, is that not like the perfect summary of what a legalist is. 00:40:23.579 --> 00:40:26.859 They trust in themselves for righteousness, and they treat others with contempt. 00:40:27.239 --> 00:40:28.799 Just Jesus is good at this, isn't he? 00:40:28.799 --> 00:40:30.980 He has perfectly brought that summary together. 00:40:30.980 --> 00:40:31.960 And here's the parable. 00:40:32.639 --> 00:40:34.280 Two men went into the temple to pray. 00:40:35.159 --> 00:40:37.699 One was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector. 00:40:38.599 --> 00:40:41.940 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed this way. 00:40:42.940 --> 00:40:52.740 God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 00:40:53.300 --> 00:40:55.000 I fast twice a week. 00:40:55.440 --> 00:40:57.539 I give tithes of all that I get. 00:40:57.539 --> 00:41:04.199 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven. 00:41:05.139 --> 00:41:11.960 But he beat his breast, saying, God, be merciful to me, a sinner. 00:41:12.980 --> 00:41:21.639 Jesus said, I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other. 00:41:22.699 --> 00:41:25.059 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled. 00:41:25.059 --> 00:41:29.139 But the one who humbles himself will be exalted. 00:41:30.500 --> 00:41:35.099 The question is, to which of those two characters do you most relate? 00:41:36.779 --> 00:41:38.360 Are you the Pharisee? 00:41:40.199 --> 00:41:41.460 Self-righteous? 00:41:43.299 --> 00:41:45.799 Lord, I'm so glad that I'm not like these others. 00:41:45.800 --> 00:41:55.420 Or are you the penitent publican who just says, Lord, have mercy on me? 00:41:58.460 --> 00:42:00.140 That mercy is available. 00:42:01.500 --> 00:42:03.360 It's available through Christ alone. 00:42:03.360 --> 00:42:05.920 That's the whole point of the scripture. 00:42:06.660 --> 00:42:07.440 That's the whole point. 00:42:08.180 --> 00:42:14.140 The whole reason we gather today is to look at this book that tells us this gospel of mercy is available. 00:42:14.460 --> 00:42:16.180 But it's only available through Christ. 00:42:16.280 --> 00:42:17.900 It's not available through your best efforts. 00:42:18.559 --> 00:42:19.620 Only through Christ. 00:42:19.619 --> 00:42:27.940 And he offers it freely to everyone who will come to him in faith. 00:42:29.500 --> 00:42:33.440 Now, will you turn away from all of your best efforts? 00:42:34.739 --> 00:42:37.980 Will you abandon your self-righteousness? 00:42:37.980 --> 00:42:42.579 And will you just cast yourself on his mercy? 00:42:44.000 --> 00:42:46.199 Jesus said, come unto me. 00:42:47.019 --> 00:42:49.719 All you who are weary and heavy laden. 00:42:50.639 --> 00:42:51.579 You're burdened. 00:42:52.059 --> 00:42:52.900 Why are you burdened? 00:42:52.900 --> 00:42:54.019 Because you're just trying hard. 00:42:54.119 --> 00:42:54.820 You're doing your best. 00:42:54.880 --> 00:42:55.480 You're trying hard. 00:42:55.559 --> 00:42:56.240 There's no peace. 00:42:56.780 --> 00:42:57.760 You're never going to be good enough. 00:42:57.840 --> 00:42:58.460 That's a burden. 00:42:58.760 --> 00:43:01.380 Jesus says, all of you, if that's you, he says, come to me. 00:43:01.380 --> 00:43:04.740 Come to me and I will give you rest. 00:43:05.099 --> 00:43:06.639 I'll give you rest, Jesus says. 00:43:07.980 --> 00:43:08.860 How will he do that? 00:43:09.579 --> 00:43:11.360 Because I am gentle and lowly in heart. 00:43:12.840 --> 00:43:14.260 My burden is easy. 00:43:14.519 --> 00:43:15.159 It's light. 00:43:15.980 --> 00:43:16.900 It's grace. 00:43:17.800 --> 00:43:19.219 You don't have to prove yourself to me. 00:43:20.219 --> 00:43:22.159 I already know you're messed up, Jesus says. 00:43:22.920 --> 00:43:23.519 It's okay. 00:43:24.159 --> 00:43:25.079 That's why I came. 00:43:25.780 --> 00:43:26.860 That's why I died. 00:43:28.820 --> 00:43:29.920 Just believe him.