Jesus Questioned About Fasting
18Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and asked Jesus, "How is it that John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not?"
19Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them. 20But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast.
21"No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. 22And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, he pours new wine into new wineskins."
Lord of the Sabbath
23One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. 24The Pharisees said to him, "Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?"
25He answered, "Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? 26In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions."
27Then he said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath."
Questions that might help you think about these scripture passages:
Jesus' disciples did not fast as was the religious custom. Are their religious customs that Jesus gives you permission to disregard?
Jesus uses the parable of the old wine skin. What new path is Jesus taking us on now that needs a whole new way of seeing the church? Or is this possible?
When does Church Law/Doctrine/Theology/Tradition get in the way of need? What do we do? The old question: "Do we steal food for our children if they are starving and there seems to be no other way?"
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This is one of my favorite parts. To me it says...C'mon!Use some common sense!...If you're starving, eat! No matter what day it is. Do not let Church doctrine get in the way of the intent. Don't stick to the Fast Menu plan if you want to have a party for Jesus...and want to invite a few freinds over to meet him. Do you want people to come or not? And, trying to hold wine in a rigid old wineskin means you're going to dribble a bunch down the front of your robe and all over your sandals. What an illogical waste of good wine.
ReplyDeleteThere are times when a doctrine is just a doctrine. And, there are times when you have to eat wheat.
That's what makes it hard. You have to think.
(BTW, Yes, I would steal food for my children if they needed it and there was no other way to feed them. And, I can picture Jesus being my lookout.)
Jesus commands us to live with love, through love, lovingly, etc. That love trumps church doctrine...it did for Him, why not for me?
ReplyDeleteAnd, yes, Pam it requires us to think and use the senses we were given. But most of all it requires us to love!
And, it's those emotions that make it so hard to discern love for others vs a selfish desire. Do I find reasons to "trump" so-called doctrine because that is what I want or becasue that is what makes Jesus real for me? Do I skip reading the Old Testament because it bugs me (Just can't get into the "mean" God)or because Jesus would be OK with that and understands. I toss out most church "doctrine" ---mostly because I bumped into God without going through that doorway. And, I haven't a clue what most of it means or the purpose. And, I'm OK with that (most of the time) but I also know it's pretty smart to keep that a secret.
ReplyDeleteFrankly I don't think Jesus would like much of what we have come to think of as church doctrine or rules - because it either becomes our excuse or just plain "gets in the way" of love.
ReplyDeleteAnd Pam I agree - and I'll gladly serve as a look out as well.
Ditto.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Jesus calls us not to take ourselves, or our doctrines, too seriously. To hold on loosely and be willing to question and be challenged.
Most doctrine is born out of heresy against an interpretation of scripture or a tradition of governance in the Church. It is often used against threats to the status quo or prevailing power structure. Where there is love doctrine is rarely needed.
ReplyDeleteGod leads us out of politics and justice without mercy into loving relationships that can change our world.
The other interesting thing about Jewish doctrines that I have found from some scholars and Rabbis, is that the laws of the OT were always about preserving life. Any of the laws could be ignored, forgiven, overlooked, etc. if the decision was between life or death - so stealing bread for starving children would fit into that. And when I think of that interpretation in light of Jesus promise to offer us "life to the full" then, yeah, fasting while permissible is not mandatory as you journey with Christ.
ReplyDelete