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In Christ, Mark
In Christ, Mark
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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
Then John's disciples came and asked Him, "How is it
that we and the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?"
Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.”
Matthew 9:14-15
Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.”
Matthew 9:14-15
Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some
people came and asked Jesus, “How is it that John’s disciples and the disciples
of the Pharisees are fasting, but Yours are not?”
Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom
fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them. But
the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day
they will fast.”
Mark 2:18-20
They said to Him, “John’s disciples often fast and pray,
and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but Yours go on eating and drinking.”
Jesus answered, “Can you make the friends of the
bridegroom fast while he is with them? 35 But the time will
come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast.”
Luke 5:33-35
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
Have you ever been to a wedding?
Most everybody will have the opportunity in the course of their life, whether getting married or watching others tie the knot.
Think about what that experience was like for a minute and then ask yourself this:
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
Have you ever been to a wedding?
Most everybody will have the opportunity in the course of their life, whether getting married or watching others tie the knot.
Think about what that experience was like for a minute and then ask yourself this:
Was the occasion a time of celebration or mourning?
I don’t know about you but it’s always been a time of
great joy and happiness, an extremely festive event where love reigns supreme
as a man and a woman take their vows to live together forever, for richer or
for poorer, in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad.
Keep this thought in mind as we examine today’s scripture passages, taking another look at them here:
Keep this thought in mind as we examine today’s scripture passages, taking another look at them here:
Then John's
disciples came and asked Him, "How is it that we and the Pharisees fast,
but Your disciples do not fast?"
Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.” Matthew 9:14-15
Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.” Matthew 9:14-15
Now John’s
disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and asked Jesus,
“How is it that John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are
fasting, but Yours are not?”
Jesus answered, “How
can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so
long as they have him with them. But the time will come when the bridegroom
will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast.” Mark 2:18-20
They said to Him,
“John’s disciples often fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the
Pharisees, but Yours go on eating and drinking.”
Jesus answered, “Can
you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? But the time
will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will
fast.” Luke 5:33-35
In this scene, we find Jesus being approached and questioned by John’s disciples who asked, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?"
In this scene, we find Jesus being approached and questioned by John’s disciples who asked, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?"
It’s important to note here that Jesus wasn’t the only
one who had built a faithful following. We discover in these passages that John
the Baptist and, of course, the Pharisees had their own disciples, both of which
were observing fasts while Jesus and His followers were “eating and drinking”.
Fasting was a very common spiritual discipline in biblical days, typically practiced when one was mourning or repenting of sinful behavior. Jewish law really only mandated one fast annually, Today, it’s also seen as an action that can help someone draw nearer in their relationship with the Lord, self denial leading to a greater dependence on the One who provides all things. You never would see fasting connected to a time of great celebration.
Question: If we were enjoying time with Jesus, would it be a time for grief and sorrow or would it be a time of incredible bliss and elation?
As you ponder that question, remember these words of Peter, one of Jesus’ most beloved disciples:
“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” 1 Peter 3:15
Given this, ask yourself one more question:
Fasting was a very common spiritual discipline in biblical days, typically practiced when one was mourning or repenting of sinful behavior. Jewish law really only mandated one fast annually, Today, it’s also seen as an action that can help someone draw nearer in their relationship with the Lord, self denial leading to a greater dependence on the One who provides all things. You never would see fasting connected to a time of great celebration.
Question: If we were enjoying time with Jesus, would it be a time for grief and sorrow or would it be a time of incredible bliss and elation?
As you ponder that question, remember these words of Peter, one of Jesus’ most beloved disciples:
“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” 1 Peter 3:15
Given this, ask yourself one more question:
Would anyone ask you about the hope you have if you’re
walking around in an attitude of misery and sadness?
They wouldn’t because that attitude would reflect
despair, not hope.
Friends, we are to rejoice and be glad when we have Jesus abiding with us, and we are to let everyone know He is alive and existent in and around us. This is why Jesus answered John’s disciples by saying:
"How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.”
Indeed, while Jesus was with His disciples, they were to be thankful and joyous, celebrating Him in everything they do. The only time that would change would be when He would be taken from them, for in losing Him, they would lose everything and life without Jesus would indeed be a miserable life.
Friends, we are to rejoice and be glad when we have Jesus abiding with us, and we are to let everyone know He is alive and existent in and around us. This is why Jesus answered John’s disciples by saying:
"How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.”
Indeed, while Jesus was with His disciples, they were to be thankful and joyous, celebrating Him in everything they do. The only time that would change would be when He would be taken from them, for in losing Him, they would lose everything and life without Jesus would indeed be a miserable life.
Thank goodness that loss would only be temporary and we
have knowledge and understanding that Jesus’ disciples didn’t have back at the
time of these scripture passages. We know that Jesus not only was resurrected
from death to life but that He will live forever, just as will those who place
their belief, faith, and trust in Him.
In other words, we (the bride) can and should always
celebrate life because Jesus, the bridegroom is and always will be alive and
with us, and we will be married and living with Him forever. There is no need
for fasting in mourning or sorrow over Him because He will always be true to
His beloved, never leaving or forsaking His faithful ones. Ever.
So are you at the wedding?
So are you at the wedding?
Have you accepted Jesus as your Savior and joined the celebration
that comes with being in the company of your bridegroom?
Or are you with those who don’t know Jesus, those who are
fasting in with a sense of mourning over life, trading elation and bliss for
despondency and melancholy?
Friends, we have a choice and it’s my prayer that we all choose joy and hope every time, for Jesus lived, died to pay the price for our sins, and now lives again to bring us just that.
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
Send any prayer requests to OurChristianWalk@aol.com
Friends, we have a choice and it’s my prayer that we all choose joy and hope every time, for Jesus lived, died to pay the price for our sins, and now lives again to bring us just that.
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
Send any prayer requests to OurChristianWalk@aol.com
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