Author: jwm

Following the morning worship service, we will sit down to a meal, not simply a meal of barely enough to eat, but something that could be described as a feast. It may not be an extravagant meal, but it is a feast. But is it appropriate for Christians to be feasting? Would we be more holy, more pleasing to God were we to fast instead? The question is not new. Jesus’ response to a question (see Mark 2:18–22) gives you, his New Testament followers, guidelines on how feasting and fasting fit together. It’s particularly important to reflect on that as we have been invited to a day of fasting and praying this coming Saturday.

Rejoice in Christ’s presence. Rejoice because the bridegroom is present! Some fasted. The Pharisees added to the one day of fasting commanded in Leviticus many additional fasts, as you learn from the “prayer” of he Pharisee in Luke 18:11–12. Often this became a relatively public matter in order that others could know that they were fasting, Matthew 6:16. The disciples of John the Baptist also fasted (perhaps because of the imprisonment or death of John?). The fact that Jesus and his disciples did not fast was noticeable enough to raise comment and questions. Jesus is the bridegroom. The wedding guests (his disciples, all of his followers) are with him. That is no place for fasting or mourning. The background of the imagery Jesus uses is the picture frequently drawn in the Prophets, that the Lord is the husband of his bride, Israel. The response to the presence of the groom ought to be thankfulness, rejoicing, and even feasting. The Lord has come, bringing salvation for his people. The coming of the messianic King is a time for feasting, not only for Israel, but for the nations as well, Isaiah 25.

Continue reading “Feast or Fast?”

Ephesians 5:21–33 is a passage that is often used as a text for a message at a wedding. But even those of us who’ve been married quite a while need to review it. And in our broken, sin-cursed world, here is an area where God’s grace can shine.

Rejoice in the profound mystery of marriage. Marriage is a covenant relationship. The marriage covenant reflects the way God deals with his people throughout history — covenantally. Notice how frequently in the Old Testament the relationship between Israel and her God is compared to a marriage. In the New Testament, the church is the bride of Christ. As you see God’s faithfulness to his people, that gives you grounds to rejoice at this union. In contrast to the popular notion that the Bible treats sex as bad, Paul assures you that God considers it something good. It grows out of our being made in God’s image — with a need for love and fellowship. The doctrine of the Trinity is mysterious. God is one God in three persons. At the beginning of human history, as God created mankind, male and female in his image, he made us to reflect his character.

“Genesis 1:26 is the only time Elohim is paired with a plural verb (Let us make) as well as two plural referrants (our). In making one mankind, male and female, God is revealing something very basic about his own nature. He is one and he is many. His oneness and his manyness are equally fundamental to who he is. Like him, our oneness and manyness are equally foundational to who we are as mankind, male and female, directing our thoughts back to him as our source and greatest blessing.”

Anna Anderson, “The Mystery of the One and the Many,” https://substack.com/home/post/p-137621743

Continue reading “A Profound Mystery”

“Murder She Wrote” became a long-running mystery show staring Angela Lansbury, partly because of our interest in the crime of murder. However, in Matthew 5:21–26, Jesus is concerned not just with the act of murder, but with your tongue, and your heart.

Jesus tells you to avoid murder—from the heart. We tend to externalize God’s commands, including the prohibition against murder. The Pharisees, for all of their interest in the law of God, tended to minimize the sweep of his commandments. (They had to, if they were going to convince themselves that they were earning righteousness with God.) We tend to externalize God’s Law. If we can reduce obedience to outward commands, we may not feel too guilty. After all, most of us have never stabbed anyone or shot a neighbor in cold blood. Our society redefines persons and even death in an attempt to justify the taking of lives of those who do not meet certain standards.

Continue reading “Murder, He Spoke!”

Paul’s teaching on children in Colossians 3:20–21, reflecting the Fifth Commandment, contrasts with ancient and modern attitudes.

Children! Obey. Paul includes you among the valuable saints (or holy ones) in his greeting, Colossians 1:2. You are part of the church. Paul can address you specifically. Your special responsibility is obedience to your parents. Paul describes that in sweeping terms: “in everything.” (Of course, a commandment to sin is excepted.) Included in obedience is all the respect implied in the Fifth Commandment. Check the attitude you express (or conceal within) as you submit. This is a specific area in which the peace of Christ is ruling in your hearts. Look at the price at which that peace was purchased. Put it into practice in the family.

Continue reading “Children and Parents”

As you do your grocery shopping, you may encounter a friendly person behind a table offering you a cracker with a morsel of really, really good cheese on it. Their hope is that the sample taste will motivate you to buy a large chunk of their product. Have you ever thought about Sunday, your Sabbath rest, in that way? God has given you, his creature, made in his image, a foretaste of your heavenly rest. The Fourth Commandment, Exodus 20:8–11, points you to the gift of rest.

Look back at the Sabbath. Look back to creation rest. The Commandment begins with remember. Not only is that an exhortation to keep the instruction in your mind, but it also points back, all the way to creation. Don’t dismiss this Commandment as simply part of the ceremonial law for Israel, though there were ceremonial aspects. It is a creation ordinance. God worked in creating for six days. Notice that this Commandment also commands you to work. It gives dignity and meaning to labor. Then God rested—not because he was tired, but in order to celebrate his very good creation. And he entered his rest so that mankind could join him in that rest.

Continue reading “A Taste of Heaven!”