Welcome to the Party
Journey with Jesus to the Cross (Friday, March 11)
Read Luke 5:17-39
Read Luke 5:17-39
Everyone was eager for the Messiah to come. They expected him to rescue them from their pagan oppressors and set up God’s kingdom in Jerusalem.
In fact, this was at the heart of the Pharisee’s agenda. They earnestly believed that if everyone would follow the Torah (the Law), God would find them worthy of his blessing. The Messiah would come. Rome would be defeated. The righteous would be vindicated. Sinners would be condemned. All would be well.
But this would-be Messiah was breaking all the rules and welcoming all the wrong people. Here he is, doing it again. Healing a paralyzed man, well that’s fine. But offering him forgiveness? That could be found in one place only: the temple. Who did Jesus think he was? A true Messiah would not forgive outside the Temple! (And lest we forget, when Jesus used the term Son of Man, it was a direct reference to the Messianic prophecy of Daniel 7. Everyone understood that.)
Then there’s that outrageous incident involving Levi. What sort of Messiah would call a tax collector to follow him? And worse: Jesus appears happy to associate with Levi’s unseemly crowd. There he is, eating and drinking, just like they’re best friends!
Everywhere Jesus went he seemed to be having a party. He preferred feasting over fasting, sinners over saints, new wine to old – what’s going on here?
What’s going on here is this: a wedding celebration! The bridegroom has come for his bride. A new day has dawned. The Kingdom of God is arriving, and everyone is invited to the party. (Except the self-righteous; they don’t think they need Jesus.) But those who do respond will rejoice to find forgiveness and feasting, friendship and joy — and some mighty fine wine. Joy to the World!
“Lord, help me to experience the overwhelming joy of life lived to the fullest. Help me reach out in love to others, just as Jesus did for me."
But this would-be Messiah was breaking all the rules and welcoming all the wrong people. Here he is, doing it again. Healing a paralyzed man, well that’s fine. But offering him forgiveness? That could be found in one place only: the temple. Who did Jesus think he was? A true Messiah would not forgive outside the Temple! (And lest we forget, when Jesus used the term Son of Man, it was a direct reference to the Messianic prophecy of Daniel 7. Everyone understood that.)
Then there’s that outrageous incident involving Levi. What sort of Messiah would call a tax collector to follow him? And worse: Jesus appears happy to associate with Levi’s unseemly crowd. There he is, eating and drinking, just like they’re best friends!
Everywhere Jesus went he seemed to be having a party. He preferred feasting over fasting, sinners over saints, new wine to old – what’s going on here?
What’s going on here is this: a wedding celebration! The bridegroom has come for his bride. A new day has dawned. The Kingdom of God is arriving, and everyone is invited to the party. (Except the self-righteous; they don’t think they need Jesus.) But those who do respond will rejoice to find forgiveness and feasting, friendship and joy — and some mighty fine wine. Joy to the World!
“Lord, help me to experience the overwhelming joy of life lived to the fullest. Help me reach out in love to others, just as Jesus did for me."