Soon afterward he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!” And this report about him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country.
I am a sucker for tears - just thinking about people in pain sometimes brings tears to my eyes. I can see tears in the eyes of Jesus as he approaches this woman who had lost not only her husband to death but now her son lies on a bier being carried to his grave. She certainly had tears in her eyes when our Lord spoke these words to her: “Do not weep.”
To we who are weeping today the Lord too speaks these words of comfort. This crisis will not have the last word in our life. The pain of the day will eventually give way to a better day. One day that which has died will be given back to us and all will glorify God in response. For a great prophet is present amongst us. God is visiting his people each new day.
Help me to see you through my tears Lord.
Not even in Israel have I found such faith ...
After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. Now a centurion had a servant who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.” And Jesus went with them.
When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well.
Sometimes religious people of a certain sect can see faith as something belonging to them alone. These often feel that faith is all about following the rules and embracing a specific theology. Then a centurion comes along and helps us to see that faith is really not about rules or theology at all. In this story Jesus marvels at the faith of a humble man that neither followed Jewish law or traditions. The centurions speaks to us of what real faith is.
In the centurion we see a blend of genuine faith and humility. The man could have come to Jesus himself but sent others who he deemed to be more worthy. When he heard that Jesus was coming to his place he felt unworthy of a visit by God incarnate. And in Christ he saw one who had authority over life and death - sickness and health. And the Lord responded to his prayer by healing his servant. We can learn much from the faith of the centurion.
Lord, I so often need to see to believe. Help me to believe before I see.
When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well.
Sometimes religious people of a certain sect can see faith as something belonging to them alone. These often feel that faith is all about following the rules and embracing a specific theology. Then a centurion comes along and helps us to see that faith is really not about rules or theology at all. In this story Jesus marvels at the faith of a humble man that neither followed Jewish law or traditions. The centurions speaks to us of what real faith is.
In the centurion we see a blend of genuine faith and humility. The man could have come to Jesus himself but sent others who he deemed to be more worthy. When he heard that Jesus was coming to his place he felt unworthy of a visit by God incarnate. And in Christ he saw one who had authority over life and death - sickness and health. And the Lord responded to his prayer by healing his servant. We can learn much from the faith of the centurion.
Lord, I so often need to see to believe. Help me to believe before I see.
The foundation on the rock ...
“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”
A few years ago I turned the TV on one morning to see the image of a large home being swept away by flood waters. The devastation was difficult to watch as the power of the river overwhelmed the foundations of that house. To such an event the Lord Jesus compares a life built on a shaky spiritual foundation. Consider what the apostle tells the Corinthians:
"According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ."
In this passage Paul also speaks to the issue of foundation. When we follow Christ and his teachings we lay spiritual bricks on a firm foundation. But when we build our lives on the teachings and philosophies of men we have no assurance of everlasting life. Christ is an eternal foundation and when we build on Him we are able to withstand the torrents of death.
Teach me Lord to build on the foundation that is Christ.
A few years ago I turned the TV on one morning to see the image of a large home being swept away by flood waters. The devastation was difficult to watch as the power of the river overwhelmed the foundations of that house. To such an event the Lord Jesus compares a life built on a shaky spiritual foundation. Consider what the apostle tells the Corinthians:
"According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ."
In this passage Paul also speaks to the issue of foundation. When we follow Christ and his teachings we lay spiritual bricks on a firm foundation. But when we build our lives on the teachings and philosophies of men we have no assurance of everlasting life. Christ is an eternal foundation and when we build on Him we are able to withstand the torrents of death.
Teach me Lord to build on the foundation that is Christ.
Out of the abundance of the heart ...
“For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
A few years ago I had a continuing dialog with an old friend about his heart. He had been convinced by fundamentalist teaching that his heart was desperately wicked. It took me several sessions to help him understand that his problem was not his heart but his flesh - not the innermost being but the outer one. It is a problem that many have because of bad teaching. In truth, we who have been born of the Spirit were given new hearts by God.
In these few sentences Jesus speaks to this very issue of the inner person exercising control over the outer one. He says that the condition of your heart matters because of the words that come out of your mouth. In my thinking the issue of bad speech or behavior is one of strength. If our good heart is stronger then our nasty flesh then good words will come from it. It speaks to me of how I need to daily feed, encourage and strengthen my heart.
Help me Lord to be strong on the inside today. Help my new heart to win.
A few years ago I had a continuing dialog with an old friend about his heart. He had been convinced by fundamentalist teaching that his heart was desperately wicked. It took me several sessions to help him understand that his problem was not his heart but his flesh - not the innermost being but the outer one. It is a problem that many have because of bad teaching. In truth, we who have been born of the Spirit were given new hearts by God.
In these few sentences Jesus speaks to this very issue of the inner person exercising control over the outer one. He says that the condition of your heart matters because of the words that come out of your mouth. In my thinking the issue of bad speech or behavior is one of strength. If our good heart is stronger then our nasty flesh then good words will come from it. It speaks to me of how I need to daily feed, encourage and strengthen my heart.
Help me Lord to be strong on the inside today. Help my new heart to win.
Can a blind man lead a blind man?
He also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye.
Jesus has been speaking to his disciples about loving like God loves and showing mercy to their enemies. He takes it a bit further and tells them in this passage that the judgment they have in their hearts for others causes them to be spiritually blind. Such was the case of the religious leaders of his day. These, who were supposed to lead, were blinded by religious pride. These forgot that their primary obligation was to love and not condemn.
Have you ever thought of hypocrisy as a symptom of spiritual blindness? Ever wonder why the religious leaders could not seem to really see Jesus for who he was? Perhaps each condemnation of another added an obstruction to their spiritual eyes. Maybe hypocritical actions obscure our inner vision? Would that they chose mercy over judgment. Would that they would have repented and received healing for the eyes of their heart.
I repent of judgmentalism Lord. Heal my blindness. Cause me to embrace mercy.
Jesus has been speaking to his disciples about loving like God loves and showing mercy to their enemies. He takes it a bit further and tells them in this passage that the judgment they have in their hearts for others causes them to be spiritually blind. Such was the case of the religious leaders of his day. These, who were supposed to lead, were blinded by religious pride. These forgot that their primary obligation was to love and not condemn.
Have you ever thought of hypocrisy as a symptom of spiritual blindness? Ever wonder why the religious leaders could not seem to really see Jesus for who he was? Perhaps each condemnation of another added an obstruction to their spiritual eyes. Maybe hypocritical actions obscure our inner vision? Would that they chose mercy over judgment. Would that they would have repented and received healing for the eyes of their heart.
I repent of judgmentalism Lord. Heal my blindness. Cause me to embrace mercy.
It will be measured back to you ...
“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
I have heard this passage used so many times by preachers who are teaching about giving money to their church or ministry. Interesting to note that money is not mentioned in these verses at all. When compared to the things mentioned in these verses money falls very short. These qualities are all ingredients in the soup we call mercy. They are an explanation of what Jesus meant when he said: "Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful."
If you desire mercy and forgiveness in your life you must be a giver of mercy and forgiveness. But if you live a life condemning and judging others this kind of mercy will be hard to find. The image of mercy being returned to us "pressed down, shaken together, running over" thrills my soul. In these few words the Lord is opening our eyes to a heavenly principle where just a little bit of mercy reaps a harvest of it. Give, and it will be given to you.
Help me to be an extravagant giver of grace, mercy and forgiveness today dear Lord Jesus.
I have heard this passage used so many times by preachers who are teaching about giving money to their church or ministry. Interesting to note that money is not mentioned in these verses at all. When compared to the things mentioned in these verses money falls very short. These qualities are all ingredients in the soup we call mercy. They are an explanation of what Jesus meant when he said: "Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful."
If you desire mercy and forgiveness in your life you must be a giver of mercy and forgiveness. But if you live a life condemning and judging others this kind of mercy will be hard to find. The image of mercy being returned to us "pressed down, shaken together, running over" thrills my soul. In these few words the Lord is opening our eyes to a heavenly principle where just a little bit of mercy reaps a harvest of it. Give, and it will be given to you.
Help me to be an extravagant giver of grace, mercy and forgiveness today dear Lord Jesus.
He is kind to the ungrateful and the evil ...
“If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount.
But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
The selfless and sacrificial love that Jesus teaches us about in this passage is so different than the love that most of us have experienced in life. Most of the love we have experienced is reciprocal - when we tell some one "I love you" we are offended if they do not reply in kind. We love so that we are loved in return and love becomes a quid pro quo codependent situation that is very foreign to the divine love that our Lord speaks of in this passage.
Consider how Jesus instructs us to love: " love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return" and "Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful". These words challenge me to the very core because they require me to love the way that God loves. They require me to forgive when an apology is not offered and to give when my flesh does not want to. This divine love elevates me and calls me upward to be a son of the Most High.
Bring transformation today Lord. Cause me to love like you love.
But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
The selfless and sacrificial love that Jesus teaches us about in this passage is so different than the love that most of us have experienced in life. Most of the love we have experienced is reciprocal - when we tell some one "I love you" we are offended if they do not reply in kind. We love so that we are loved in return and love becomes a quid pro quo codependent situation that is very foreign to the divine love that our Lord speaks of in this passage.
Consider how Jesus instructs us to love: " love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return" and "Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful". These words challenge me to the very core because they require me to love the way that God loves. They require me to forgive when an apology is not offered and to give when my flesh does not want to. This divine love elevates me and calls me upward to be a son of the Most High.
Bring transformation today Lord. Cause me to love like you love.
Do good to those who hate you ...
“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.
If you ever wanted a definition of sacrificial love - here it is. In the context of a relationship with an enemy the Lord instructs us to treat them like they are a close friend. His words are so radical in that they shed a whole new light on forgiveness and what it means to lay our lives down for others. He offers us no excuse for hate or unforgiveness.
The golden rule is perhaps one of the most powerful principles in the bible because it helps us to love our neighbors as ourselves. If we all simply treated everyone (even those who hate us) the way that we wanted to be treated there would be no wars and, in essence, no enemies. Jesus lived this out to its fullest extent when he died for his enemies on the cross.
Help me to live like I have no enemies Lord. Teach me how to really love.
If you ever wanted a definition of sacrificial love - here it is. In the context of a relationship with an enemy the Lord instructs us to treat them like they are a close friend. His words are so radical in that they shed a whole new light on forgiveness and what it means to lay our lives down for others. He offers us no excuse for hate or unforgiveness.
The golden rule is perhaps one of the most powerful principles in the bible because it helps us to love our neighbors as ourselves. If we all simply treated everyone (even those who hate us) the way that we wanted to be treated there would be no wars and, in essence, no enemies. Jesus lived this out to its fullest extent when he died for his enemies on the cross.
Help me to live like I have no enemies Lord. Teach me how to really love.
Woe to you who laugh now ...
“But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.
“Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry.
“Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.
“Woe to you, when all people speak well of you,
for so their fathers did to the false prophets.
The words of Christ in this passage speak to me of a people who believe that they do not need God. In the sentences leading up to this indictment Jesus speaks to his audience, and us, of the blessings of poverty, hunger, mourning and rejection. He calls these things blessings because they have the ability to turn our hearts to heaven.
Yet the things that many of us call blessings (like wealth and popularity) are things that feed our egos and cause us to look to ourselves instead of God. To be sure, he is not saying that money, food, happiness and friends are evil. He is simply saying that these things can morph into something bad when they distract our our hearts from heavenly things.
Turn my heart towards heaven Lord that I might see clearly.
“Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry.
“Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.
“Woe to you, when all people speak well of you,
for so their fathers did to the false prophets.
The words of Christ in this passage speak to me of a people who believe that they do not need God. In the sentences leading up to this indictment Jesus speaks to his audience, and us, of the blessings of poverty, hunger, mourning and rejection. He calls these things blessings because they have the ability to turn our hearts to heaven.
Yet the things that many of us call blessings (like wealth and popularity) are things that feed our egos and cause us to look to ourselves instead of God. To be sure, he is not saying that money, food, happiness and friends are evil. He is simply saying that these things can morph into something bad when they distract our our hearts from heavenly things.
Turn my heart towards heaven Lord that I might see clearly.
Blessed are you who weep now ...
And those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all. And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said:
This passage is perhaps one of the most majestic in all of holy writ. In the context of powerful exorcisms and healings the Son of God speaks to the qualities that make for genuine spiritual life. It is as if he is telling them that external healings pale in compare to the transformation of the inner man. The message is that those who persevere in faith will see a day that is filled with satisfaction, laughter and joy. It is such a hopeful message.
Yet this message is against everything that our flesh hopes for. The message of heaven is antithetical to the one that we see in the media and all around us. Not one of us craves the blessings of poverty, hunger, weeping and rejection - even if we accept the message in a spiritual sense. Yet the words of Christ ring true in our hearts. Faith has never been about living for the happiness of today but about living in hope for the joy of tomorrow.
Lord, help me to embrace hope today.
“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.
“Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied.
“Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.
“Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and
revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man!
This passage is perhaps one of the most majestic in all of holy writ. In the context of powerful exorcisms and healings the Son of God speaks to the qualities that make for genuine spiritual life. It is as if he is telling them that external healings pale in compare to the transformation of the inner man. The message is that those who persevere in faith will see a day that is filled with satisfaction, laughter and joy. It is such a hopeful message.
Yet this message is against everything that our flesh hopes for. The message of heaven is antithetical to the one that we see in the media and all around us. Not one of us craves the blessings of poverty, hunger, weeping and rejection - even if we accept the message in a spiritual sense. Yet the words of Christ ring true in our hearts. Faith has never been about living for the happiness of today but about living in hope for the joy of tomorrow.
Lord, help me to embrace hope today.
Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good ...
On another Sabbath, he entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was withered. And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they might find a reason to accuse him. But he knew their thoughts, and he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come and stand here.” And he rose and stood there. And Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?” And after looking around at them all he said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored. But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.
A pattern of accusation and judgment is developing in these passages of the gospel. I wonder if Luke, as he pens the stories, is seeing a theme unfold. Each time Jesus comes into contact with the scribes and the Pharisees he had to feel like a person who was constantly under the scrutiny of those in authority. These who were charged with the spiritual care of the masses constantly sought to judge a man who only did good.
I love the courage of Christ as he calls out the hypocrisy of the religious leaders. These who should have been encouraging this hurting man would not lift a finger to ease his pain. Jesus would have none of it! In a display of compassion and power the Great Physician speaks to the hurting man and his glory is on display for all to see. The man, and all around him, rejoiced at the miracle. Yet fury filled the Pharisees. What a sad commentary.
Lord, help me to rejoice when you act in a way that is not consistent with my traditions.
A pattern of accusation and judgment is developing in these passages of the gospel. I wonder if Luke, as he pens the stories, is seeing a theme unfold. Each time Jesus comes into contact with the scribes and the Pharisees he had to feel like a person who was constantly under the scrutiny of those in authority. These who were charged with the spiritual care of the masses constantly sought to judge a man who only did good.
I love the courage of Christ as he calls out the hypocrisy of the religious leaders. These who should have been encouraging this hurting man would not lift a finger to ease his pain. Jesus would have none of it! In a display of compassion and power the Great Physician speaks to the hurting man and his glory is on display for all to see. The man, and all around him, rejoiced at the miracle. Yet fury filled the Pharisees. What a sad commentary.
Lord, help me to rejoice when you act in a way that is not consistent with my traditions.
The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.
On a Sabbath, while he was going through the grainfields, his disciples plucked and ate some heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands. But some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?” And Jesus answered them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those with him?” And he said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”
I once heard this idea communicated about a Christian being involved in Civil Disobedience: Never obey the civil authorities when it contradicts what spiritual authority instructs you to do. Jesus echos that sentiment when he shocks the religious poobahs of his day by saying that he himself is an authority greater than the Law of Moses. Peter and John take it a step further in Acts when they tell these same leaders that they must obey God and not men.
In Mark's gospel Jesus explains this further telling the religious elders: “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” This is an important concept to grasp. When God spoke to Moses about the Sabbath rest he was not giving them an onerous law but one that would help and free them. It is a good way to measure other laws. If something gives you the freedom to fully follow God it is good. Anything else is simply unhelpful and may be harmful.
Thank you Lord that you have placed discernment in my heart. Help me to listen.
I once heard this idea communicated about a Christian being involved in Civil Disobedience: Never obey the civil authorities when it contradicts what spiritual authority instructs you to do. Jesus echos that sentiment when he shocks the religious poobahs of his day by saying that he himself is an authority greater than the Law of Moses. Peter and John take it a step further in Acts when they tell these same leaders that they must obey God and not men.
In Mark's gospel Jesus explains this further telling the religious elders: “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” This is an important concept to grasp. When God spoke to Moses about the Sabbath rest he was not giving them an onerous law but one that would help and free them. It is a good way to measure other laws. If something gives you the freedom to fully follow God it is good. Anything else is simply unhelpful and may be harmful.
Thank you Lord that you have placed discernment in my heart. Help me to listen.
New wine must be put into fresh wineskins.
He also told them a parable: “No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old garment. If he does, he will tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. And no one after drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.’”
As Jesus teaches using these two examples we see him draw a distinct contrast between things that are old and those that are new. The context of his comments is the criticism by religious leaders that he and his disciples do not follow their tradition on fasting. His response speaks to the contrast between internal and external aspects of faith and fasting.
The good news of the kingdom that Christ taught had absolutely nothing to do with external traditions such as fasting. When Jesus speaks of fasting in the sermon on the mount he instructs his disciples (and us) to do it in secret. The two teachings did not go together. No one could fast in the traditional sense and follow the Lord's command to do it in secret.
Help me Lord to drink new wine today Lord. Help me to recognize the old wine for what it is.
As Jesus teaches using these two examples we see him draw a distinct contrast between things that are old and those that are new. The context of his comments is the criticism by religious leaders that he and his disciples do not follow their tradition on fasting. His response speaks to the contrast between internal and external aspects of faith and fasting.
The good news of the kingdom that Christ taught had absolutely nothing to do with external traditions such as fasting. When Jesus speaks of fasting in the sermon on the mount he instructs his disciples (and us) to do it in secret. The two teachings did not go together. No one could fast in the traditional sense and follow the Lord's command to do it in secret.
Help me Lord to drink new wine today Lord. Help me to recognize the old wine for what it is.
They will fast in those days.
And they said to him, “The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink.” And Jesus said to them, “Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.”
My mind races back to that song in Fiddler on the Roof where Tevya, the Jewish patriarch, regales "Tradition". To be sure, the ideas encased in the word sometimes get a bad rap by forward thinking Christians. And sometimes people certainly take the word to extremes. There is something in a tradition that is both binding and freeing.
Yet in this passage Jesus seems to be telling us that it is not the tradition (i.e. fasting) that it is the issue but the way in which it is applied. He seems to be speaking to us about the difference between a tradition controlling us and us controlling the tradition. When led by the Holy Spirit the use of a tradition can be a very freeing thing.
Help me to feel your heart today Lord. Cause me to embrace your traditions.
My mind races back to that song in Fiddler on the Roof where Tevya, the Jewish patriarch, regales "Tradition". To be sure, the ideas encased in the word sometimes get a bad rap by forward thinking Christians. And sometimes people certainly take the word to extremes. There is something in a tradition that is both binding and freeing.
Yet in this passage Jesus seems to be telling us that it is not the tradition (i.e. fasting) that it is the issue but the way in which it is applied. He seems to be speaking to us about the difference between a tradition controlling us and us controlling the tradition. When led by the Holy Spirit the use of a tradition can be a very freeing thing.
Help me to feel your heart today Lord. Cause me to embrace your traditions.
