Word@Work Luke74 - Luke 5:33-35
Published: Mon, 04/05/10
Word@Work from BeaconLight
THE JOY OF BELONGING
Luke 5:33-35 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 guests 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." (NIV)
One thing was obvious about Jesus and the disciples - they enjoyed life and loved people. But that was a sharp contrast to the religious leaders who enforced many restrictions in the guise of 'pleasing God'. Their attitude was mournfully dutiful, sending outward signals of holiness, even if they had no relationship with God. One set of rules was about fasting. This was intended to be a normal part of submitting to God, and praying for His purpose to be revealed and fulfilled. It was not wrong, but it had a specific purpose in moving people's focus away from themselves onto serving God, while waiting for Him to appear and claim His people.
So why did Jesus' disciples not fast? Because Jesus was God! He did not encourage them into funeral-like religious practices in the hope that God might come one day ... He had come! In the same way that a wedding is a celebration of two people who now belong to each other, Jesus set the disciples free to celebrate His awesome love and power; and their joy that they belonged to Him. Whatever fasting and praying they did was not for social display or religious approval, but a private matter before God.
Of course, as Jesus said, He would leave them (until the second coming) and they would fast in those days. Nevertheless, they were not left alone, because the Holy Spirit would come to them (John 14:15-21). So today, those who trust in Jesus should enjoy the living presence of God, and also hold onto the promise of the physical return of Jesus. Either way, we should experience the joy of closely belonging to the God who made us and redeemed us. Fasting is never appropriate as a way of winning points for God's favour: but it is useful as an aid to personal prayer. However, as Jesus said in Matthew 6:16-18, "When you fast, do not look sombre as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." So, you do not need to make a show of religious practices at work: but we all need to prepare in private so that we can celebrate our joy of belonging to Jesus, in the workplace and community as well as in the church.
Prayer: Dear Lord. Thank You that I can belong to You because of the death and resurrection of Jesus, through Your indwelling Spirit. Forgive me when I have allowed even religious expressions to obscure the joy of Your presence; or when I have served You merely out of duty. Please restore to me the joy of my salvation so that I can be a beacon-light of Your love in my community and workplace. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and many other languages
One thing was obvious about Jesus and the disciples - they enjoyed life and loved people. But that was a sharp contrast to the religious leaders who enforced many restrictions in the guise of 'pleasing God'. Their attitude was mournfully dutiful, sending outward signals of holiness, even if they had no relationship with God. One set of rules was about fasting. This was intended to be a normal part of submitting to God, and praying for His purpose to be revealed and fulfilled. It was not wrong, but it had a specific purpose in moving people's focus away from themselves onto serving God, while waiting for Him to appear and claim His people.
So why did Jesus' disciples not fast? Because Jesus was God! He did not encourage them into funeral-like religious practices in the hope that God might come one day ... He had come! In the same way that a wedding is a celebration of two people who now belong to each other, Jesus set the disciples free to celebrate His awesome love and power; and their joy that they belonged to Him. Whatever fasting and praying they did was not for social display or religious approval, but a private matter before God.
Of course, as Jesus said, He would leave them (until the second coming) and they would fast in those days. Nevertheless, they were not left alone, because the Holy Spirit would come to them (John 14:15-21). So today, those who trust in Jesus should enjoy the living presence of God, and also hold onto the promise of the physical return of Jesus. Either way, we should experience the joy of closely belonging to the God who made us and redeemed us. Fasting is never appropriate as a way of winning points for God's favour: but it is useful as an aid to personal prayer. However, as Jesus said in Matthew 6:16-18, "When you fast, do not look sombre as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." So, you do not need to make a show of religious practices at work: but we all need to prepare in private so that we can celebrate our joy of belonging to Jesus, in the workplace and community as well as in the church.
Prayer: Dear Lord. Thank You that I can belong to You because of the death and resurrection of Jesus, through Your indwelling Spirit. Forgive me when I have allowed even religious expressions to obscure the joy of Your presence; or when I have served You merely out of duty. Please restore to me the joy of my salvation so that I can be a beacon-light of Your love in my community and workplace. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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