Mark 2:19
“Jesus said to them, “Can the groomsmen fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they can’t fast.”
What does Mark 2:19 mean?
Jesus is defending his disciples, who were criticized for not fasting like other religious groups did. He's saying that celebrating with him—being in his presence—is like being at a wedding feast, and it wouldn't make sense to fast during a party. The "bridegroom" is Jesus himself, and he's gently suggesting that the normal religious rules about self-denial have a different quality when you're actually encountering God's presence in person. This speaks to something many of us understand: there are seasons for discipline and seasons for joy, and sometimes the most faithful response is simply to receive what's being offered to you.