Mark 2:18-22

I read this and the first thing I think of is what does it mean to be perfect?

But really the test is wonderful. Jesus says, as long as the disciples have me they will rejoice. It's a party. He calls himself the bridegroom. Several of his parables are about a bridegroom. Jesus is that bridegroom. Later Paul will expand on that image calling the church the bride of Christ. He is the bridegroom. We, the church, are the bride. In Philippians Paul says Jesus will make his bride spotless, perfect. So we rejoice as Jesus is with us too, as the bridegroom.

There is a time for fasting. But I do not think we are required to fast regularly. Perhaps for specific concerns as for repentance or an important prayer request. But we have the bride with us even now. It is inappropriate for us to look gloomy.

Jesus was the master at using everyday experiences of the people to make kingdom points.

1) No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment (v.21).
2) No one puts new wine into old wineskins (v.22).

I guess many do not remember clothes that shrink at the first washing. There was a time when we had to allow for shrinkage in the clothes we bought. From Levis to dress shirts we had to buy them a little big. Clothes do not shrink anymore it doesn't seem. But they did in Jesus time and they did until recently. When a patched cloth was washed the new part would shrink, tearing the cloth or garment.

Every once in a while a piece of clothing shrinks in the dryer. We are mad. How did they make clothes that do not shrink. I think it is amazing really.

I remember as a child how conscience my mother when buying me clothes. She always made a game of it. Try clothes (which I hated) and then go out to eat (which I loved). My mother had to buy clothes with that first shrinking in mind. An sometimes they shrank too much and she would be frustrated. "Oh well, maybe little brother can wear that shirt."

As for new wine in new wineskins this must have been common knowledge in the time Jesus lived. But it is not so much now. We do not put wine in skins any more.

I don't know why they did this but I can guess. New wine is likely to give off gases. Older wine no longer did that. New wineskins must have been able to "breathe" a little. The pressure of the gas would be released because the newer skins would let some of the gas through keeping the skins from bursting. It must have been possible for the gas molecules to seep through without the liquid wine also seeping out.

This passage ends on a somber note. Jesus predicts that the (perfect) bridegroom will be taken from them. He is the perfect sacrifice for all our sins. Jesus was able to be with them, totally in the moment all the while knowing the horrible ordeal he was going to go through. How could he do it? He was perfectly brave.

When something stressful is coming in my life, like a family meeting or a public speaking appointment it is hard for me to concentrate on the present. Jesus had something much more stressful to go through, people hammering nails in his arms and legs. Argghhh!

That is what makes is human the pain we feel when injured. No one enjoys that. Jesus was truly human and he truly felt pain and would like to avoid it at all costs. Is that what made Jesus perfect? That he steadfastly walked to the cross without flinching?