”We have
never seen anything like this” (Mark 2:12) people were amazed at Jesus’ power
forgive sins and they praised God. This authority belongs to God alone, as the
Jews of Jesus’ day already knew this, and Jesus demonstrated this same power
belong to him by healing a crippled man. The miracle Jesus made, not only demonstrated
his divine attributes, but his power and authority which he embodied.
Now Jesus
is absentee. His atoning death, resurrection, and ascension to the right hand
of God raise a question: is Jesus’ authority present with the same power as did
during His earthly days?
The answer
to this question is found in the parable of Jesus about the guests of bridegroom:
”But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on
that day they will fast” (Mark 2:20). The disciples of Jesus didn’t fast, like
the disciples of John the Baptist and the Pharisees at Jesus’ time did, although
fasting was one of the three Jewish pillars of their faith to serve God
together with alms giving and prayer. Why? Jesus’ bodily presence transcended
all the needs, which may have been thought of or were really at hand, to seek
and find God. He forgave sins, healed the sick, delivered the demonized, and
fed the hungry. Yet a day is coming, when this privilege is taken away from the
disciples. Then, they fast and pray, when the bridegroom is absent. The
teaching of Jesus about prayer and fasting seems to indicate that the church
has a promise about his authority and power if they pray and fast.
Suomeksi: Poissaolevan Jeesuksen valtaja voima
