Wednesday, March 14, 2012

The Gospel of Melvin, on the question of fasting

John’s disciples came to Jesus and asked him, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?"

And Jesus replied, “We fast. We very fast. Watch and I shall show you.” And he called two of his disciples to him, Simon, called Peter, and John, son of Zebedee. He saith unto them, “The two of you shall have a foot race, from here to that tomb down there. Then return and tell me who reaches it first.”

So Peter and John started for the tomb. Both were running, but John outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. This was odd, because a stone is usually placed over the entrance of a tomb. Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. Finally, John, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed.

“I believe I got here first,” he said.

And Jesus said, “No one patches an old garment with an old wineskin. Otherwise, when you pour in the new wine, the skin will burst and the patch will pull away, making the tear worse. Then you’ve got a ripped garment with a wine stain, and verily I say unto you, who wants that?

And John’s disciples were perplexed, and they began to say to one another, “What does this have to do with whether or not they fast?”

Jesus, knowing what was in their hearts, replied, “Do you not see, the stain may be avoided if you wash it fast!”

3 comments:

PaperSmyth said...

And Allen’s disciples were perplexed, and they began to say to one another, “What does this have to do with whether or not they fast?”

:-) I have officially given up on any disparagement of Melvin. He makes me laugh. Thanks, brain guy.

Allen's Brain said...

Ah! Thanks to your comment, I noticed a phrase that I may have overlooked. Let's see if it clarifies the question--or just further muddies it, which it likely will.

PaperSmyth said...

It was all clear the first time: Melvin is goofy. And he dances along the edge of reverence. Which only points out that, when I laugh or pretend I understand something in the Scripture, I need to work on my sense of reverence.

Your humor is a much easier pill to swallow than being beaten over the head (metaphorically or otherwise) about my own stupidity and sin. Part of the reason I keep coming back here.

Keep up the good work! It is appreciated.