Luke 5:33-39 (The Message)They asked him, "John's disciples are well-known for keeping fasts and saying prayers. Also the Pharisees. But you seem to spend most of your time at parties. Why?"
Jesus said, "When you're celebrating a wedding, you don't skimp on the cake and wine. You feast. Later you may need to pull in your belt, but this isn't the time. As long as the bride and groom are with you, you have a good time. When the groom is gone, the fasting can begin. No one throws cold water on a friendly bonfire. This is Kingdom Come!
"No one cuts up a fine silk scarf to patch old work clothes; you want fabrics that match. And you don't put wine in old, cracked bottles; you get strong, clean bottles for your fresh vintage wine. And no one who has ever tasted fine aged wine prefers unaged wine."
I remember the first non-Protestant wedding reception I ever attended.
This Methodist boy hadn't ever really seen a wedding celebration that didn't happen in the church fellowship hall with sherbert-and-sprite punch.
Wow, was it a whole new world.
Nobody skimped on cake or wine. The whole family and the hundreds of other invited guests had a true celebration.
It was really great stuff. A celebration.
Some folks have the gift for parties, and some folks don't. There are those who would prefer a good book and a cozy fire to bunches of friends, loud music, dancing and celebration.
I can be that way myself sometimes. Often, in fact. But the great truth is that there's a time and a moment for both.
Jesus was reminding the stuck-in-the-mud religious that his presence was cause for celebration. Perhaps they were addicted to bad news, or afraid of what might happen if they cut the people loose with jubiliation.
At any rate, they didn't know how to party. Jesus did. And that is such a great reminder to us.
He seeks good, "clean bottles," for his excellent, "vintage wine."
What if the bottle test is whether we can appreciate a good celebration? There will never be a test that's more fun pass. Jesus reminds us...life is good, and there is reason to smile.
Prayer: Remind us today, over and over, that life should be a celebration. Your good gifts abound throughout the earth. May we never find ways to have your goodness overshadowed by our determination to be uptight. Father, give us hearts of celebration today!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.
Worship with us this Sunday at SOTH! 9 & 11 AM with Sunday School for the whole family at 10:15. We'll be honoring this year's graduates at our 11 AM worship service. Congrats to them all and our prayers are with you!
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