Not so Fast my Friend
His nickname was Scooter. His elusive quickness was evident in sports and the nickname stuck as he seemed to scoot around opponents. He ended up becoming a college football coach for several years with stops at Louisville and Indiana. Lee Corso would later become best known for his role on ESPN and college football Gameday. Whenever he disagreed with someone on live TV he came up with the famous line, “not so fast my friend.” It was his way of disagreeing without arguing.
In the book of Mark chapter 2 there arose a question directly to Jesus and his disciples. “The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting. Then they came and said to Him, “Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?” Mark 2:18. To be honest, it was a fair question and from all indications it seemed to be asked in a non-threatening manner. Jesus would answer the question with a not so fast my friend illustration.
Jesus first referred to Himself as the Bridegroom. His statement was, “As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. 20 But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.” Mark 2:19-20. The Lord’s emphasis was upon the purpose of fasting. They had noticed that Jesus and his disciples didn’t fast like other religious people, including disciples of John the Baptist. It did not settle with their spirits very well. They had routinely practiced fasting as it was stated in the Old Testament. Fasting was done out of a demonstration of deep mourning or sorrow. Yet over time, it seemed that the practice of fasting had become routine and lost its meaning. The point Jesus wished to make was that fasting was not a religious ritual but a matter of the heart. The purpose of fasting was to draw the believer back to God in a much more committed way. That is why Jesus stated that they had no need to fast while they were walking in His presence. In other words. fasting is about returning to the presence of God.
Was our Lord against fasting? Absolutely not. He even states, a time would come that His disciples would need this in their journey. Jesus was against though, doing something just for the sake of doing it. When the practice of fasting was brought up, Jesus basically said, not so fast my friend. It was a teaching moment of the importance of fasting but also the purpose and timing of fasting.
In 2026 we still fall into the same trap as mentioned in the story above. We also hold onto religious rituals that are being carried out but without any clear purpose. The reason for fasting, or serving, witnessing or worship, or even praying, is to glorify God and draw near to Him. We need to step back and ask some questions of ourselves, does my religious action truly glorify God and does it draw us closer to Him? In the question of fasting, Jesus wasn’t abolishing fasting but redirecting the focus on why! William McDonald said, “Christianity has always suffered from man’s attempt to mix it with legalism.” Over time, we often lose sight of what God intended.
It is still great to ask God questions today. But don’t be offended when His reply is in the form of, not so fast my friend. Sometimes God still needs to remind us of His purpose and His plan.
In the book of Mark chapter 2 there arose a question directly to Jesus and his disciples. “The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting. Then they came and said to Him, “Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?” Mark 2:18. To be honest, it was a fair question and from all indications it seemed to be asked in a non-threatening manner. Jesus would answer the question with a not so fast my friend illustration.
Jesus first referred to Himself as the Bridegroom. His statement was, “As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. 20 But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.” Mark 2:19-20. The Lord’s emphasis was upon the purpose of fasting. They had noticed that Jesus and his disciples didn’t fast like other religious people, including disciples of John the Baptist. It did not settle with their spirits very well. They had routinely practiced fasting as it was stated in the Old Testament. Fasting was done out of a demonstration of deep mourning or sorrow. Yet over time, it seemed that the practice of fasting had become routine and lost its meaning. The point Jesus wished to make was that fasting was not a religious ritual but a matter of the heart. The purpose of fasting was to draw the believer back to God in a much more committed way. That is why Jesus stated that they had no need to fast while they were walking in His presence. In other words. fasting is about returning to the presence of God.
Was our Lord against fasting? Absolutely not. He even states, a time would come that His disciples would need this in their journey. Jesus was against though, doing something just for the sake of doing it. When the practice of fasting was brought up, Jesus basically said, not so fast my friend. It was a teaching moment of the importance of fasting but also the purpose and timing of fasting.
In 2026 we still fall into the same trap as mentioned in the story above. We also hold onto religious rituals that are being carried out but without any clear purpose. The reason for fasting, or serving, witnessing or worship, or even praying, is to glorify God and draw near to Him. We need to step back and ask some questions of ourselves, does my religious action truly glorify God and does it draw us closer to Him? In the question of fasting, Jesus wasn’t abolishing fasting but redirecting the focus on why! William McDonald said, “Christianity has always suffered from man’s attempt to mix it with legalism.” Over time, we often lose sight of what God intended.
It is still great to ask God questions today. But don’t be offended when His reply is in the form of, not so fast my friend. Sometimes God still needs to remind us of His purpose and His plan.
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