Luke 5:35

“But the days will come, and when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, then will they fast in those days.”

But then Jesus comes in with an ominous warning. The words He has spoken confirm that we are to see in the picture of the Bridegroom something significant concerning Jesus. And this is clear in that the Bridegroom, Who was now here, will one day be ‘taken away' forcibly and then they will have good cause to fast. Jesus knew already from the voice at His baptism that He was called on to fulfil the ministry of the suffering Servant, and this had been confirmed by John's words, “Behold the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Thus we have here the first indication of His awareness of the brutal end that awaited Him. He knew that He must face suffering on behalf of His people. And then indeed His disciples would fast.

Interestingly the words do not encourage regular fasting. The disciples would indeed sorrow but their sorrow would be turned into joy (John 16:20). Thus the need for fasting would quickly pass and would be no more. There is no real encouragement to fasting here. It is not, however forbidden. The point is that it is not required. Those who serve the King are not bound by petty regulations but are concerned with how they can please Him. If they fast it is in order to better serve Him, not because it is necessary for their own spiritual lives, for as regards this He is more than sufficient.

So we have here both Jesus' testimony to the fact that He is God's Sent One, over Whom men should rejoice, and with it an indication that He is aware of the future that awaits Him. The cross would not catch Him by surprise (compare Luke 2:35).

This declaration that Jesus has come as the heavenly Bridgroom and is inaugurating a new world is then brought out by two illustrations.

It Is The Time of New Clothing and New Wine (Luke 5:36).

By His parable here Jesus is declaring that it is a time of new clothing and new wine. The old must not be supplemented by the new, but the new must replace the old. We are reminded by this of God's promises to reclothe His people (Zechariah 3:4 compare Matthew 22:11; and the idea in Ezekiel 16:10 with 59-63), and to give them new wine to drink (Isaiah 25:6 compare John 2:1).