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Feb 03, 2023 18:30pm

Don’t Miss the Point

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One of the best things about Christmas celebrations is… THE FOOD! We all enjoy the sweet treats, the rich desserts and the beautiful glazed ham or smoked turkey.

The table is set, the food is placed in front of you – a steaming dish of old-fashioned cornbread dressing; a bowl of homemade mashed potatoes with a pad of butter melting on top; deviled eggs with sprinkles of red paprika on top; rolls fresh out of the oven; gravy in the bowl, ready to be poured and huge helpings of green beans, Mac and cheese and black eyed peas. So, what are you waiting for? Wouldn’t you dig right in?

You wouldn’t let all this good food go to waste. Even if you’re on a diet, for Christmas you have a cheat day! It’s a time to celebrate! To experience the joy of Christmas!

“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 fast not? And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days. No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse. And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles.” (Mark 2:18-22)

The Pharisees were angry once again because they didn’t think Jesus was following their rules and traditions.

Jesus pointed out that what His disciples were doing, not fasting, was perfectly fine, even according to their traditions. He used the comparison of the wedding feast, stating that He was the bridegroom and the disciples as the guests of the wedding. Many times, Jesus refers to the church as the Bride of Christ. Even in Jewish tradition (you know, the one the Pharisees were so adamant about keeping) the rabbi would allow people to not adhere to the regular laws and traditions during the time of celebrating the wedding. Why? Because it was a time of joy! It was meant to be enjoyed! There was no need for fasting like a widow who had lost her husband if her new husband was right there – it was truly a time of celebration!

So why should the disciples fast? The point of fasting is to recognize your sin and draw you closer to the Lord. Yet here they were sitting with the Lord now. How much closer could you get?

Jesus went on to share with the Pharisees that His new covenant of Grace wouldn’t fit into their old covenant of Law. He didn’t come to destroy the law, but fulfill it. But they couldn’t have both. They couldn’t have grace and the need to keep up with every single law. They couldn’t have the old with the new.

There is a time for fasting, but not for the reasons the Pharisees did it. They wanted to show how religious they were, which missed the point completely.

Sometimes we can do that too, can’t we? Miss the point. We get so wrapped up in traditions or details and miss out on the celebration.

Today, may you draw near to the Lord and be filled with His joy and love that only He can give. Take time to celebrate what God has done and share that with those around you.