Celebration

Introduction

Weddings are wonderfully joyful occasions. Lots of smiles and hugs. Couples who get married are often so nervous at their own that they have a hard time taking everything in. As exciting as the wedding is, there are so many details that must be worked out even right up to the point of starting the ceremony. Most of us enjoy attending weddings and once the ceremony is done, people relax and really enjoy the event. I appreciate that many of the ceremonies I have seen in the past few years have been more relaxed and you can tell the couple is really enjoying themselves.

Weddings suggest a new beginning. They represent the formation of a new family. God knew this was true when he pronounced that the man and woman are to leave father and mother and hold on to each other and nothing is to ever separate them. Weddings are about commitment and promises. But it is also about happiness and fun. A real celebration. To increase the celebration, we invite people to join with us not only in witnessing the ceremony but to enjoy some food afterwards. People visiting with the new couple and one another increases the celebration of the day.

Our text this morning is celebration language. It is a central text between two very important points—Jesus forgives sins and Jesus deals with man-made regulations. Sandwiched between these two points stands a parable that reminds us that celebration is the anticipated response when Jesus is present. Jesus is here with us today. He has promised to be near his people. We come into God’s presence. We recognize that he is the holy one but we also come as those who are children with a loving father. God smiles; opens his arms to welcome us and we rush to him; to be near the one who is love and holiness. Let us sing filled with joy for being with our God. Let us celebrate well.

The Bridegroom

Jesus is clearly having a profound influence. Crowds surround him. He is preaching. He is healing. He is forgiving sins. The people are intrigued. But not everyone is impressed with Jesus. There are some who are watching to trap him; to make him look bad. If they could they would get rid of him but the people see him as something special. Mark inserts a brief but significant interaction between Jesus and some who are uncertain about Jesus. And the question centers around a common cultural practice—fasting.

In Jesus’ day, people fasted twice each week. Usually on Monday and Thursday people would fast. From sunup to sundown, people would go without food. It was voluntary. But the committed would use this as a means to demonstrate their commitment. Those who chose not to fast were often viewed as not very committed. Voluntary but expected. And so the question is posed to Jesus. Why aren’t your disciples fasting?

In the Old Testament God required his people to fast once a year—the Day of Atonement. A day to remember sin and to ask for forgiveness. That was the only day required to fast each year. There were other times in which people fasted in order to express sorrow or grief or as the twice per week fast, to demonstrate one’s personal commitment to God. So how can one tell that they are truly committed to God?

Jesus’ explanation reveals who he is. There is no need to fast when there is a wedding going on. The very nature of fasting demands going without. It is at least solemn and may be a time to express great sadness and grief. But a wedding is about celebration. And Jesus calls himself the bridegroom. As long as the Bridegroom is present then there is celebration. There will be a day to fast—the day of his death—but celebration is in order because Jesus is present. And to emphasize that point, Jesus tells a parable. Sew a patch on an old garment and eventually the new patch pulls away from the old garment making things worse. Take wine and put it into an old wineskin and the fermentation process will expand the old wineskin to the point that it will burst and then you lose both the wineskin and the wine. The point—this is a new day. A day which no longer requires grief and sorrow. It is a day to celebrate. A day to feast not fast.

Celebration

Mark’s insertion of the story is intended to highlight that Jesus is indeed special. Forgiving and healing a paralyzed man; eating with sinners in 13-17, Jesus is already approaching life differently. His message has been to understand the kingdom of God is present. Even the teachers of the law admitted that only God can forgive sins. Jesus is God if he indeed can forgive sins and he proves that he can through healing. Jesus goes into the house of sinners in order to celebrate with them the coming of the kingdom not to judge them and condemn them. He calls them to a new life. A life to be lived as part of the kingdom—a life of obedience to God resulting in a life full of joy and celebration.

Jesus did not discard the law. But he demonstrated that life with God is not about rules and regulations. It is about life and joy and celebration. Jesus called people to repent; to change heart and mind and life. But it wasn’t to change life in order to follow more rules but to be under the rule of God. And listening to God brings celebration. To be delivered from sin and despair brings joy and celebration.

We are going to share in the Lord’s Supper. George is going to come and speak about the supper. But let’s understand this practical aspect—while we take the Lord’s Supper in silence as a part of our tradition and recognizing what Christ did for us, we are not sad or grieving; we are joyful.

Jesus entered this world to make changes in the lives of people. He released us from that which enslaves us. He released us from having a heart set on selfish desires and pursuits. He released us from the temporary pleasure of following your own desires which are too often followed by guilt and isolation. He released us to live in true joy knowing that we wanted to honor God and finding in that pursuit true joy.

He released us from rules which others devise to ensure that we are committed to our Father. He came to set us free from having to prove that we belong to God but instead by the very demonstration of our lives reveal that we follow only one.

He released us from grief and sadness to be able to celebrate our walk with God. That doesn’t mean that he released us from pain and suffering but he released us so that even in the middle of pain and suffering we can trust God to bring about his purpose through us and with us and that is reason for celebration.

He released us from shame and believing that we cannot be forgiven. He calls all who know and are willing to admit that they are spiritually diseased and ill to a celebration and feast. A celebration of great joy in which Jesus is the center of attention and we are honored to be sharing with him as he changes our lives.

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