Mark 2:20 says that a day is coming when Jesus, the bridegroom, will be taken away from his followers, and on that day they will fast. Jesus speaks these words in response to a question about why his disciples do not fast like the disciples of John the Baptist and the Pharisees. He is answering in the middle of a debate about the proper rhythm of worship, and he uses the image of a wedding feast to make his point.
But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then will they fast in that day.
Mark 2:20 (WEB)
What Mark 2:20 Means
The phrase “the days will come” points to a future time that Jesus knows is near. He is not saying fasting is wrong. He is explaining why his disciples are not fasting right now: while the bridegroom is with the wedding guests, it would be strange to mourn. Fasting in ancient Jewish life was often connected with grief, repentance, and longing, so it fit a season of sorrow more than a season of celebration.
The words “taken away” are a quiet hint of what is coming. Mark’s readers would later understand this as a reference to Jesus’ death. The verse does not describe a specific schedule of fasts or give a rule for every believer. It simply says that a change in circumstances will change the shape of the disciples’ devotion, and that their grief at losing their Lord will be real and fitting.
What the verse does not promise is that fasting is the only proper response to God, or that every season of life must follow a fixed pattern. It does not tell you how often to fast or what to give up. It teaches that faithful practices respond to the presence and absence of Christ, and that worship can look different in joy and in sorrow.
The Context of Mark 2:20
The Gospel of Mark is traditionally attributed to John Mark, a companion of Peter, and it was likely written for a largely Gentile audience in the Roman world. It moves quickly from one scene to the next, and it often presents Jesus as the one who acts with authority. In this section, Jesus has just called Levi, a tax collector, and has been eating with sinners. The religious leaders question him, and this verse is part of his reply.
Just before verse 20, Jesus says he came to call sinners, not the righteous. Just after it, he gives two short images about new cloth on old garments and new wine in old wineskins. Read together, these verses show that Jesus is bringing something new that cannot be squeezed into old forms without damage. The wedding picture in verse 20 fits this theme: a feast is a time of joy and fulfillment, and the presence of the bridegroom changes what is appropriate.
Key Phrases in Mark 2:20
Matthew 9:15
Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.
(WEB)
Matthew records the same saying about the wedding guests and the bridegroom. Reading it alongside Mark helps you see the core teaching across two Gospel accounts. The parallel shows that this was a central point Jesus wanted his followers to remember.
Isaiah 62:5
For as a young man marries a virgin, so your sons will marry you. As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so your God will rejoice over you.
(WEB)
Isaiah describes God rejoicing over his people the way a bridegroom rejoices over his bride. This Old Testament image of marriage helps explain why Jesus chose the wedding setting. It shows that the joy of Mark 2:20 has deep roots in God’s long relationship with his people.
A Short Prayer From Mark 2:20
Lord Jesus, you are the bridegroom who came to join yourself to your people and to fill our lives with joy. Help me to rejoice when you are near and to trust you when I feel your absence. Teach me to honor you in celebration and in sorrow, so that my worship flows from a heart that knows you. Keep me close to you through every season, and remind me that you never leave those who belong to you. Amen.
