Is Your Walk with God A Wedding Celebration or Funeral Wake? Luke 5:33-35
“33) And they said to Him, “The disciples of John often fast and offer prayers, the disciples of the Pharisees also do the same, but Yours eat and drink.” 34) And Jesus said to them, “You cannot make the attendants of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them, can you? 35) But the days will come; and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days.”” Luke 5:33-35
Jesus was totally secure in His own identity, calling and ministry. That’s what made Him immune to the attacks of comparison and pressure toward conformity. Satan will use them against all of us.
They wanted Jesus to produce disciples more like those of John the Baptist or the disciples of the Pharisees. This religious spirit is dangerous.
It creates a false notion of what spirituality looks and acts like. It’s rigid, indifferent, legalistic, judgmental and detached from other people. But the true goal is to turn out disciples who are more like Jesus! He was refreshingly different!
Jesus groomed His disciples to develop their own unique personality, gifts and ministries. They were all godly but not legalistic. They were real and authentic. They loved people.
Jesus developed the inward person and not outward appearance, rituals or strict disciplines. He clothed them with compassion and equipped them to be effective at ministering to others with the gospel of the kingdom.
Then He gave them His authority to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons and to give freely to others. (See Matthew 10:7-8) They learned ministry by doing ministry.
He also promised to give them the coming Helper who would be sent in His Name. (See John 14:16-18) His authority would be accompanied by the power of the Holy Spirit. Even the way they prayed would be different! (John 14:12-15)
Jesus taught His disciples to walk with God and minister to people. He gave them grace and not the Law. (See John 1:16-18) They became outgoing and not an introverted sub-culture governed by strict rules and regulations.
They were like attendants of the bridegroom. They were joyous! They were filled with optimism. They were celebrating a wedding and not like mourners at a funeral! As a result, they were contagious.
The end result was very fruitful ministries that could adapt to any situation and flourish in any culture. (See John 15:1-16) Jesus pointed His disciples to a thriving personal walk with God.
There is much to learn from this text. Jesus painted a graphic contrast between a living and organic relationship with God and the dead formalities often associated with institutional religions.
Unfortunately, the claws of institutional religion have sunk deep into Christianity. It has obscured the gospel and clouded our mission. Revival and awakening aims at correcting this dreadful contamination of what in means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ!
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
“33) And they said to Him, “The disciples of John often fast and offer prayers, the disciples of the Pharisees also do the same, but Yours eat and drink.” 34) And Jesus said to them, “You cannot make the attendants of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them, can you? 35) But the days will come; and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days.”” Luke 5:33-35
Jesus was totally secure in His own identity, calling and ministry. That’s what made Him immune to the attacks of comparison and pressure toward conformity. Satan will use them against all of us.
They wanted Jesus to produce disciples more like those of John the Baptist or the disciples of the Pharisees. This religious spirit is dangerous.
It creates a false notion of what spirituality looks and acts like. It’s rigid, indifferent, legalistic, judgmental and detached from other people. But the true goal is to turn out disciples who are more like Jesus! He was refreshingly different!
Jesus groomed His disciples to develop their own unique personality, gifts and ministries. They were all godly but not legalistic. They were real and authentic. They loved people.
Jesus developed the inward person and not outward appearance, rituals or strict disciplines. He clothed them with compassion and equipped them to be effective at ministering to others with the gospel of the kingdom.
Then He gave them His authority to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons and to give freely to others. (See Matthew 10:7-8) They learned ministry by doing ministry.
He also promised to give them the coming Helper who would be sent in His Name. (See John 14:16-18) His authority would be accompanied by the power of the Holy Spirit. Even the way they prayed would be different! (John 14:12-15)
Jesus taught His disciples to walk with God and minister to people. He gave them grace and not the Law. (See John 1:16-18) They became outgoing and not an introverted sub-culture governed by strict rules and regulations.
They were like attendants of the bridegroom. They were joyous! They were filled with optimism. They were celebrating a wedding and not like mourners at a funeral! As a result, they were contagious.
The end result was very fruitful ministries that could adapt to any situation and flourish in any culture. (See John 15:1-16) Jesus pointed His disciples to a thriving personal walk with God.
There is much to learn from this text. Jesus painted a graphic contrast between a living and organic relationship with God and the dead formalities often associated with institutional religions.
Unfortunately, the claws of institutional religion have sunk deep into Christianity. It has obscured the gospel and clouded our mission. Revival and awakening aims at correcting this dreadful contamination of what in means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ!
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
