Jaw-dropping Jewels about Jesus
Rarely does Jesus, God the Son, do exactly what we expect of Him. It seems odd that He so frequently surprises us, given that He never changes. Hebrews 13:8 makes this absolute statement: “Jesus the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” Still, though He is blessedly consistent in His goodness, Jesus does unforeseen things. Even when He does what is expected, He does not always do it in the way that we anticipate. Let us join with Jesus on a jaw-dropping journey. (I will be using this opening paragraph for each of the brief messages in this series. The following material will change daily.)
The issue of fasting was important to the people of Israel in Jesus’ day, as recorded in Mark 2:18: “And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto Him, ‘Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but “Thy disciples do not?’” Even in the Old Testament, fasting was almost entirely a voluntary, personal matter. The only fasting commanded by God was to Israel on the Day of Atonement (“ye shall afflict your souls” in Leviticus 16:24 means “you shall deny yourselves” and was understood to mean fasting). Jesus Himself had just fasted for forty days (Mark 1:12-13), indicating that fasting is an option for the Christian. Of course, it cannot be done in the ostentatious manner of the Pharisees; in Matthew 6:16, Jesus particularly called them out for their unspiritual motives and showiness: “Moreover, when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.’” The fasting of John’s disciples was different from that of the legalistic Pharisees, for they were mourning the imprisonment of their firm friend by wicked Herod. Thus, Jesus does not include them in His constructive correction. As I write these words in late September, my wife and others in the church family are working at the church hall on packages for Operation Christmas Child. I hope that everyone is enjoying the cookies that she baked for them, for it is a time of joy, just as Jesus spoke about in verse 19: “Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridgegroom is with them” As long as thy have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.” There is a time for fasting (a time of the individual’s choosing). There is also a time for eating cookies.