John's disciples came to question Jesus, asking why His disciples did not fast, whereas they, along with the Pharisees, did often. John had been sent to prepare the way. John knew what his purpose was, that Jesus was infinitely greater than he was. His disciples apparently did not fully appreciate this. The One they were preparing the way for was different from John, so all sorts of things would be different.
In church history there have been numerous movements, revivals, etc. For a time they have prospered, but all too often have then decayed or stultified. We need to realise our role in life. What God has called us to do now is vital and is of great importance, it is part of the kingdom, but at the same time what comes next will be greater. For of the increase of His government (kingdom) there is no end (Isaiah 9:7). What we have now is not "it", it is the current stage on the way to the ultimate goal. So what comes next will be even greater and different. We need to ensure that we do not become people who object to the next thing that God does.
We also see that some of their "fears" were groundless, for Jesus said his disciples would fast in the near future, it was just that now was not the time. We need to beware of letting our emotions and limited thinking stopping us from seeing what God is doing. John's disciples thought "they are not fasting now, they will never fast, they should be fasting". They were wrong, for Jesus' disciples were right not to fast at that time, but a time would come when they would fast. When we get all het up about something, we need to watch ourselves, because we are probably getting all worked up about nothing.
We need to realise too that God is doing new things, and new things require new vessels, new ways of doing them.
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