I am a Jesus pusher!!! John the Baptist knew his ministry was limited. He readily admitted his baptism of repentance was inferior to the baptism of the Spirit to come from Jesus (Matthew 3:11). I admire his perspective. He knew he must decrease and Jesus must increase (John 3:30). This certainly sounds like a man who is pushing Jesus! He encouraged his disciples to follow after Jesus. However, there was a group who did not make the transition. When John the Baptist was in prison, they identified with the Pharisees in asking Jesus a question. They asked, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?” (Matthew 9:14).
There is only one place in the Old Testament which required fasting. It was on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 23:17). The actual word “fasting” is not mentioned in this passage, but is linked to afflict your souls. People fasted often in the Old Testament when they were grieving, repenting, suffering or guilty. Fasting was a sign of mourning (1 Samuel 31:13; 2 Samuel 1:12; Psalms 35:13; Zechariah 7:5). There is some indication that the Pharisees developed an oral tradition of fasting twice a week. They would put on a sad face or even disfigure their countenance (Matthew 6:16).
Jesus answered the disciples of John with the illustration of a wedding feast. The bridegroom would choose his best friends as attendants to be responsible for the festivities which lasted for at least seven days. It was a party. Jesus, the bridegroom, was present with them so His disciples did not mourn or grieve. If this was true when Jesus was with them in the physical how much more must it be true because He indwells us? He is my celebration. He is the perpetual party of my soul. It is not the future events of Christianity which excite me. His present embrace is my thrill. This is not the time of mourning or grieving, but of celebration and party. Jesus is my party! I guess I have a choice. I can grieve of my circumstances or I can party with Jesus. I am a Jesus pusher!!!