Wednesday - The Gospel According To Mark

Feb 11, 2026

Welcome to daily prayer.

This week we are looking at five stories from Mark 2 through chapter 3 verse 6. We are looking at four series of questions and what they reveal about Jesus and his mission. Today we look at a question about fasting: “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” This passage is not about whether or not people should fast but about how people misunderstood the significance of Jesus. His teaching, kingdom, and gospel were not just carrying on the tradition of the religious leaders but introducing a new way to be in relationship with God. Jesus is the way.

As we begin our prayer now, let’s quiet our hearts and minds before the LORD.

Opening Prayer of Surrender

Lord, I draw near to you.

Lord, give me a tender heart.

Lord, your kingdom come and your will be done.

I surrender any part of me that resists you, any habit, craving, or comfort that competes with you. I give everyone and everything to you.

O Lord, open my lips and my mouth will declare your praise.

A Scripture Reading from Mark 2:18-22

Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. And people came and said to him, “Why do John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. 20 The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day. No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the patch tears away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins—and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins.”

John the Baptist’s disciples and the pharisees all fasted regularly, how could the followers of Jesus not fast? Why aren’t Jesus’ disciples following spiritual practices the way other righteous people do? If Jesus is a holy man, he would teach his followers to keep the traditions of those who have gone before him. Everyone has been taught that they should be fasting and longing for God’s promised deliverance and here Jesus tells them they don’t understand the times they are living in. Jesus did not come to strengthen the old order but to bring something new. He is the good news they have been longing for. When Jesus talks about new cloth and new wine in new wineskins, he’s showing that his coming changes everything. It changes how we worship, how we see ourselves, and how we do all of life.

A Prayer of Adoration

Lord Jesus, you came bringing new life. The old system and rituals could not contain what you were bringing without tearing and bursting. The people were engaged in practices of waiting when your salvation was here. You aren’t just a religious teacher helping us understand and obey the Scriptures. You are the center of history. You are the answer to our deepest longings and deepest needs. You are the Savior, Healer and the promised Bridegroom King.

A Prayer of Confession:

Lord, forgive us for ways that we do spiritual practices but our hearts are far from you. I repent of anyway that my heart has grown hard by religious acts that were not focused on you. Give me a tender heart Lord. In this passage, you taught that there will be a time when the bridegroom is taken away and then we will fast. That is our time now and you invite us to long for you. Lord, forgive us for not longing for your return and being unwilling to engage in practices that are uncomfortable. Lord, forgive me for allowing comfort, control and distractions to hinder me from fixing my heart and mind on you.

A Prayer of Trust:

Lord, I believe you are the Bridegroom who came for your people. I believe that your way is better. Your first coming changed everything and your second coming will mean a wedding feast and the time when death will be swallowed up by life! In the present, we wait for you. We long for you to come and make all things new.

A Prayer of Intercession and Petition:

Teach us to recognize when you are calling us to celebration and when you are inviting us to longing. Keep us from embracing religious forms that have an appearance of wisdom but don’t empower us to love or long for you. Give us tender hearts Lord.

Lord, we pray for those who are stuck or bound by rules that look wise but actually hinder their faith in you. Free them with the good news of your gospel. Pour out your grace, and healing, and renewal.

A Moment of Reflection:

Lord, would you show me any habits, attitudes, or ways of thinking that are keeping me from fully experiencing the life and joy I was made to receive from you?

Read Again:

As we hear the Scripture again, let’s listen for a word or a phrase that the Lord may want to highlight from todays passage. You may want to circle it or write it down in your Scripture journal.

And now Our Weekly Passage to Memorize together:

Mark 2:17

“Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Lord, teach us to fast in faith, to hunger with hope, and to celebrate with joy.

Give us patience and courage

never to lose hope,

but always to bring our prayers before you;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Let’s pray the The Lord’s Prayer together as we close:

Our Father who art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name.

Your kingdom come