I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ,[a] who gives me strength.Confession time: I wrestle to get through a day without chocolate.
Showing posts with label fasting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fasting. Show all posts
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Confession
~Philippians 4.11-14
Monday, April 30, 2012
No Water Until He's Dead
~Acts 23.12-14, 16, 20, 22
The next morning a group . . . bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. There were more than forty of them in the conspiracy. They went to the leading priests and elders and told them, “We have bound ourselves with an oath to eat nothing until we have killed Paul. ” But Paul’s nephew—his sister’s son—heard of their plan and went to the fortress and told Paul [who sends him to the commander]. Paul’s nephew told him, “Some Jews are going to ask you to bring Paul before the high council . . . . They have vowed not to eat or drink anything until they have killed him.” . . . . “Don’t let anyone know you told me this,” the commander warned the young man.In II Corinthians 8 and 9 and in Romans 15 we learn that Paul is collecting an offering from the new outlying churches for the central church in Jerusalem. In Acts 20 and 21 we see him determined to take this gift to Jerusalem himself, despite great personal risk. Some Jewish radicals in Jerusalem are so hostile to Paul's message they vow not to eat or drink until they have killed him. As the human body can only go a few days without water, that's a serious intent. Do you suppose any of these guys actually died after Paul was safely whisked away under guard of Roman soldiers?
Monday, January 30, 2012
Superficial Blog
It's good to read the Bible and try to absorb some of the depths of its meaning. I love this book and its ability to feed us spiritually as no other. For this blog, however, I'd like to restate that my purpose is not to delve into spiritual mysteries but merely to think about what to eat. For these posts, I read focused on food. I record any mention of food or eating (or of not eating--fasting) in hope that I can learn how our creator designed these bodies to work for optimal health. Physical is superficial (by definition--haha) to spiritual, but the eating notes, habits, recommendations, examples, historical records of Bible people fascinate me, and I am finding principles can be learned from them. (I should summarize at some point.)
Sometimes my entries are short and far between because there's just not a lot of eating recorded where I'm reading, and sometimes because I don't read with this purpose every day as there are of course many other ways to interact with this book, which I do believe to be God's word.
Sometimes my entries are short and far between because there's just not a lot of eating recorded where I'm reading, and sometimes because I don't read with this purpose every day as there are of course many other ways to interact with this book, which I do believe to be God's word.
Monday, January 16, 2012
More fasting
~Acts 4.21-23 They preached the gospel in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.
Fasting again. sigh.
Fasting again. sigh.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Sacrifice releases power.
~Acts 13:1-3 Among the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch of Syria were Barnabas, Simeon (called “the black man”), Lucius (from Cyrene), Manaen (the childhood companion of King Herod Antipas), and Saul. One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Dedicate Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.” So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way.
Bill Jackson taught that sacrifice releases power. Fasting is a sacrifice. Here it leads Barnabas and soon-to-be Paul into their ministry.
Bill Jackson taught that sacrifice releases power. Fasting is a sacrifice. Here it leads Barnabas and soon-to-be Paul into their ministry.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Ananias, praying man and ordinary guy
Ananias prayed often. This secret time with the Father guided all he did and was the only way he could carry the load he felt for the new church in Damascus. Great numbers of converts to the faith were joining believers who had come fleeing persecution in Jerusalem. It was an exciting time, seeing people set free from their sin and sickness, seeing relationships healed, seeing the Kingdom of God come. Some days Ananias could hardly believe he was privileged to be part of it.
But it was also a time of grave danger. The new faith had enemies who were serious about stopping the spread of this “rumor,” this “legend,” that the long-awaited Messiah had come at last. Not content with just killing Jesus, religious leaders were now after everyone who believed in him, both Jews and Gentiles.
Prayer was a lifeline. One day as this godly man came before his God, he felt more than the usual urgency. “What is it, Lord?” he asked and tried to quiet his own thoughts to listen.
Ananias felt himself slipping into a dream state as a vision unfolded. God called his name. He heard it.
“Here I am, Lord!”
“Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”
Ananias’ heartbeat sped up.
“Lord,” he answered, “We know of this Saul of Tarsus. I have heard reports of the evil he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. And we hear he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
Ananias’ heart was pounding now. Surely there was some mistake.
But the Lord said, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
Someone outside his room sneezed and Ananias was back in the present moment, the material world. The voice of the Lord was silent and his own thoughts were shouting. Saul of Tarsus here already! On Straight Street! Praying. And blind. Hadn’t the Lord said he was blind? Yes, he was sure of it. What did it mean? Would answering this call be a death warrant?
He wrestled with his thoughts, but in the end Ananias knew he would obey. As he walked toward Straight Street, he recited.
The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice.
Clouds and thick darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
Fire goes before him and consumes his foes on every side.
His lightning lights up the world; the earth sees and trembles.
The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all peoples see his glory.
All who worship images are put to shame, those who boast in idols—worship him, all you gods!
Zion hears and rejoices and the villages of Judah are glad because of your judgments, LORD.
For you, LORD, are the Most High over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods.
Let those who love the LORD hate evil,
for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
Light shines on the righteous and joy on the upright in heart.
Rejoice in the LORD, you who are righteous, and praise his holy name.
As he walked toward this divine encounter, the Holy Spirit strengthened Ananias in purpose. What happened to him did not matter. He was only a servant, a slave of Christ. If God chose to release him into the hands of this killer, so be it. The Kingdom must advance. He got to be part of it!
The Spirit had also shown Ananias more details of Saul’s experience on the road: the flash of light, the vision of Jesus. By the time he reached Straight Street, Ananias did not for a second doubt that he was in the right place at the right time, and that indeed he was about to meet the infamous Saul of Tarsus.
“Is there a man named Saul here?” he asked at the door of the roomy house which often hosted guests.
“Yes, yes,” said Judas. “He came several days ago. How did you know? The man has barely spoken and not eaten a bite.” Judas led Ananias to a back room where a lifeless looking young man sat head in hands.
This was the terrible persecutor? The room was quiet as Ananias approached. Suddenly he was filled with compassion for this lost soul who had so much misplaced devotion to God. “Brother Saul,” he said gently, putting his weathered hands on the shoulders of the young scholar, “the Lord—-Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here-—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
The face turned upward. “Yes,” said Saul. “He told me you would come.”
Ananias prayed, “Brother Saul, receive your sight!” and immediately Saul’s eyes were opened, his vision restored.
Ananias prophesied, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will and to see the Righteous One and to hear an utterance from His mouth. For you will be a witness for Him to all men of what you have seen and heard. Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.’
They found water. Saul was baptized that day. After taking some food, he regained his strength. And Ananias said, “Thank you, Lord.”
But it was also a time of grave danger. The new faith had enemies who were serious about stopping the spread of this “rumor,” this “legend,” that the long-awaited Messiah had come at last. Not content with just killing Jesus, religious leaders were now after everyone who believed in him, both Jews and Gentiles.
Prayer was a lifeline. One day as this godly man came before his God, he felt more than the usual urgency. “What is it, Lord?” he asked and tried to quiet his own thoughts to listen.
Ananias felt himself slipping into a dream state as a vision unfolded. God called his name. He heard it.
“Here I am, Lord!”
“Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”
Ananias’ heartbeat sped up.
“Lord,” he answered, “We know of this Saul of Tarsus. I have heard reports of the evil he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. And we hear he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
Ananias’ heart was pounding now. Surely there was some mistake.
But the Lord said, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
Someone outside his room sneezed and Ananias was back in the present moment, the material world. The voice of the Lord was silent and his own thoughts were shouting. Saul of Tarsus here already! On Straight Street! Praying. And blind. Hadn’t the Lord said he was blind? Yes, he was sure of it. What did it mean? Would answering this call be a death warrant?
He wrestled with his thoughts, but in the end Ananias knew he would obey. As he walked toward Straight Street, he recited.
The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice.
Clouds and thick darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
Fire goes before him and consumes his foes on every side.
His lightning lights up the world; the earth sees and trembles.
The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all peoples see his glory.
All who worship images are put to shame, those who boast in idols—worship him, all you gods!
Zion hears and rejoices and the villages of Judah are glad because of your judgments, LORD.
For you, LORD, are the Most High over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods.
Let those who love the LORD hate evil,
for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
Light shines on the righteous and joy on the upright in heart.
Rejoice in the LORD, you who are righteous, and praise his holy name.
As he walked toward this divine encounter, the Holy Spirit strengthened Ananias in purpose. What happened to him did not matter. He was only a servant, a slave of Christ. If God chose to release him into the hands of this killer, so be it. The Kingdom must advance. He got to be part of it!
The Spirit had also shown Ananias more details of Saul’s experience on the road: the flash of light, the vision of Jesus. By the time he reached Straight Street, Ananias did not for a second doubt that he was in the right place at the right time, and that indeed he was about to meet the infamous Saul of Tarsus.
“Is there a man named Saul here?” he asked at the door of the roomy house which often hosted guests.
“Yes, yes,” said Judas. “He came several days ago. How did you know? The man has barely spoken and not eaten a bite.” Judas led Ananias to a back room where a lifeless looking young man sat head in hands.
This was the terrible persecutor? The room was quiet as Ananias approached. Suddenly he was filled with compassion for this lost soul who had so much misplaced devotion to God. “Brother Saul,” he said gently, putting his weathered hands on the shoulders of the young scholar, “the Lord—-Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here-—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
The face turned upward. “Yes,” said Saul. “He told me you would come.”
Ananias prayed, “Brother Saul, receive your sight!” and immediately Saul’s eyes were opened, his vision restored.
Ananias prophesied, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will and to see the Righteous One and to hear an utterance from His mouth. For you will be a witness for Him to all men of what you have seen and heard. Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.’
They found water. Saul was baptized that day. After taking some food, he regained his strength. And Ananias said, “Thank you, Lord.”
A Time to Fast and a Time to Eat
~Acts 9.9, 17-19 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything. . . . . Then Ananias went to the house . . . something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
Love this story. About food, we see here again that there is a time--for spiritual purposes--not to eat, and a time to eat again. Although over-eating can deprive us of health and energy, eating properly gives us strength.
Love this story. About food, we see here again that there is a time--for spiritual purposes--not to eat, and a time to eat again. Although over-eating can deprive us of health and energy, eating properly gives us strength.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
How about a John the Baptist fast?
~Luke 7.33-35 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man [Jesus] came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by all her children.”
Ah! A tidbit more information than we got before on John the Baptist's eating habits. Matthew 3 and Mark 1 say he ate locusts and honey. Now we learn that he didn't eat bread or wine. The wine I can understand, but not even a bit of bread for the honey? Have you ever tried to eat honey straight up? Quite sweet. Of course, John was in the wilderness, so it would make sense that he just ate what was available naturally. Maybe he put the honey on the locusts. :-]
Sometimes if a person wants to honor God with a fast, but not a full no-food fast, he or she can do a Daniel fast--see Daniel 1. This involves eating mostly vegetables and water, no meat, wine, or "choice foods." But I've never heard of anyone doing a John the Baptist fast. Haha!
The rest of this passage is back to more complaining by religious leaders that Jesus is enjoying his food and wine. How dare he!
Ah! A tidbit more information than we got before on John the Baptist's eating habits. Matthew 3 and Mark 1 say he ate locusts and honey. Now we learn that he didn't eat bread or wine. The wine I can understand, but not even a bit of bread for the honey? Have you ever tried to eat honey straight up? Quite sweet. Of course, John was in the wilderness, so it would make sense that he just ate what was available naturally. Maybe he put the honey on the locusts. :-]
Sometimes if a person wants to honor God with a fast, but not a full no-food fast, he or she can do a Daniel fast--see Daniel 1. This involves eating mostly vegetables and water, no meat, wine, or "choice foods." But I've never heard of anyone doing a John the Baptist fast. Haha!
The rest of this passage is back to more complaining by religious leaders that Jesus is enjoying his food and wine. How dare he!
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Lent
~Matthew 6.16-18 When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Last year our church congregation was called to a "Daniel fast" (mostly vegetables) for the season of Lent. I loved the group effort. The fast was a big topic of conversation among the people trying it. As we shared various experiences (and recipes!) this verse came to mind. I thought that probably we were not violating the spirit of the verse, because we weren't showing off our piety, but were encouraging each other in the endeavor. My other thought was that I wasn't doing the fast for reward anyway, but as a God-honoring discipline.
Being Baptists, the family of my youth gave no special attention to Lent. In my adult experience, the Vineyard movement hasn't emphasized it either, last year being an exception. So, this year I haven't really settled on anything solid to sacrifice. It's still five weeks until Easter, and I'm open to hearing from God about it.
Last year our church congregation was called to a "Daniel fast" (mostly vegetables) for the season of Lent. I loved the group effort. The fast was a big topic of conversation among the people trying it. As we shared various experiences (and recipes!) this verse came to mind. I thought that probably we were not violating the spirit of the verse, because we weren't showing off our piety, but were encouraging each other in the endeavor. My other thought was that I wasn't doing the fast for reward anyway, but as a God-honoring discipline.
Being Baptists, the family of my youth gave no special attention to Lent. In my adult experience, the Vineyard movement hasn't emphasized it either, last year being an exception. So, this year I haven't really settled on anything solid to sacrifice. It's still five weeks until Easter, and I'm open to hearing from God about it.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
My refrigerator and the scary verse
~Luke 6.25a New International Version
Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry.
~Luke 6.25a The Message
And it's trouble ahead if you're satisfied with yourself. Your self will not satisfy you for long.
~Luke 6.25a Amplified Bible
Woe to (alas for) you who are full now (completely filled, luxuriously gorged and satiated), for you shall hunger and suffer want!
~Luke 6.25a New Living Bible
What sorrow awaits you who are fat and prosperous now, for a time of awful hunger awaits you.
~Luke 6.25a Young's Literal Translation
Wo to you who have been filled -- because ye shall hunger.
~Luke 6.25a Contemporary English Version
You well-fed people are in for trouble. You will go hungry!
Let's take a peek in my refrigerator. Dairy items include unsalted butter; Swartzendrubers' beautiful eggs; skim milk; unsweetened chocolate soy milk; kefir (made with a start from Helen Lee*); tofu, and five kinds of cheese. How about produce? Of course I have the typical potatoes, onions, carrots, garlic, and mushrooms, but there's also beets, sweet potatoes, parsley, swiss chard, kale, green beans, broccoli, fennel, grape tomatoes, avocado and, as a preview of spring, some asparagus and strawberries. I won't list condiments on the frig door and items in the freezer, nor does this include food from our pantry, cabinets, and counter. Would you say I'm well fed? Definitely!
So what do I do with this verse? Does it mean Jesus wants me to be hungry?
Perhaps, as Peterson suggests in the Message Bible, it's another analogy and Christ is speaking of spiritual hunger. He certainly does use metaphors a lot, so that would be a reasonable interpretation, especially given that we just read about some people around Jesus complaining that he himself ate too much and was not doing enough fasting.
+Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, so we are to take good care of them and fuel them the best we can.
+We are also to have times of fasting and restraint.
+We are to feed the hungry.
How do I relate these principles to my refrigerator?
Steve and I host quite a bit, but I don't think our guests are seriously hungry although it may have been hours since they ate.
If we were giving regularly and sacrificially to agencies that fight world hunger, perhaps I'd have less income for my fresh veggies and dark chocolate.
Please don't hesitate to share if you have thoughts on this. *(Also, let me know if you want a kefir start. I don't know much about it yet, but it's a fermented milk, and I'm using it like fat-free plain yogurt or sour cream--a good staple to have.)
Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry.
~Luke 6.25a The Message
And it's trouble ahead if you're satisfied with yourself. Your self will not satisfy you for long.
~Luke 6.25a Amplified Bible
Woe to (alas for) you who are full now (completely filled, luxuriously gorged and satiated), for you shall hunger and suffer want!
~Luke 6.25a New Living Bible
What sorrow awaits you who are fat and prosperous now, for a time of awful hunger awaits you.
~Luke 6.25a Young's Literal Translation
Wo to you who have been filled -- because ye shall hunger.
~Luke 6.25a Contemporary English Version
You well-fed people are in for trouble. You will go hungry!
Let's take a peek in my refrigerator. Dairy items include unsalted butter; Swartzendrubers' beautiful eggs; skim milk; unsweetened chocolate soy milk; kefir (made with a start from Helen Lee*); tofu, and five kinds of cheese. How about produce? Of course I have the typical potatoes, onions, carrots, garlic, and mushrooms, but there's also beets, sweet potatoes, parsley, swiss chard, kale, green beans, broccoli, fennel, grape tomatoes, avocado and, as a preview of spring, some asparagus and strawberries. I won't list condiments on the frig door and items in the freezer, nor does this include food from our pantry, cabinets, and counter. Would you say I'm well fed? Definitely!
So what do I do with this verse? Does it mean Jesus wants me to be hungry?
Perhaps, as Peterson suggests in the Message Bible, it's another analogy and Christ is speaking of spiritual hunger. He certainly does use metaphors a lot, so that would be a reasonable interpretation, especially given that we just read about some people around Jesus complaining that he himself ate too much and was not doing enough fasting.
+Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, so we are to take good care of them and fuel them the best we can.
+We are also to have times of fasting and restraint.
+We are to feed the hungry.
How do I relate these principles to my refrigerator?
Steve and I host quite a bit, but I don't think our guests are seriously hungry although it may have been hours since they ate.
If we were giving regularly and sacrificially to agencies that fight world hunger, perhaps I'd have less income for my fresh veggies and dark chocolate.
Please don't hesitate to share if you have thoughts on this. *(Also, let me know if you want a kefir start. I don't know much about it yet, but it's a fermented milk, and I'm using it like fat-free plain yogurt or sour cream--a good staple to have.)
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Are you hungry?
~Luke 6.21 Blessed are you who hunger now,
for you will be satisfied.
~Matthew 5.6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness*,
for they will be filled.
Obviously these two writers have different takes on what Jesus is saying. Is he referring to physically hungry people or to the spiritually hungry who long for righteousness? For my purpose with this investigation, this distinction is not what matters. Physically hungry, spiritually hungry--in due time both will have all they want. Hunger is something humans experience here on the earth. It's not part of God's Kingdom when it comes in its fullness.
The fact that we can long for righteousness for ourselves or long for justice for others as much as we desire food is another powerful analogy.
*Some manuscripts say justice for righteousness in the Matthew verse.
for you will be satisfied.
~Matthew 5.6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness*,
for they will be filled.
Obviously these two writers have different takes on what Jesus is saying. Is he referring to physically hungry people or to the spiritually hungry who long for righteousness? For my purpose with this investigation, this distinction is not what matters. Physically hungry, spiritually hungry--in due time both will have all they want. Hunger is something humans experience here on the earth. It's not part of God's Kingdom when it comes in its fullness.
The fact that we can long for righteousness for ourselves or long for justice for others as much as we desire food is another powerful analogy.
*Some manuscripts say justice for righteousness in the Matthew verse.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Score one for the Master
~Mark 2.23-28 One Sabbath day as Jesus was walking through some grainfields, his disciples began breaking off heads of grain to eat. 24 But the Pharisees said to Jesus, “Look, why are they breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath?”
Jesus said to them, “Haven’t you ever read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He went into the house of God (during the days when Abiathar was high priest) and broke the law by eating the sacred loaves of bread that only the priests are allowed to eat. He also gave some to his companions.”
Then Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!”
The disciples were probably law-abiding Jews, so I doubt they seriously considered picking the tasty grain on their own. Everyone knew grain couldn't be picked on the Sabbath even if you were starving. It was considered work, and this was a day of mandated rest. Perhaps the disciples hopefully mentioned their hunger to Jesus. Sometimes a kid will complain to me about something the resolution to which seems completely obvious. And I will say, "Hmmm. What could you do about that?" So I can imagine the disciples mentioning to Jesus that it was past lunch time and him looking around at all the grain and saying, "Hmmm. What could you do about that?"
So, what do they do? They smile at each other and they eat.
But the tattle-tale Pharisees see it and are on that transgression like a robin on a June bug. "Jesus! Did you see what your unruly band is doing now? They are harvesting on a Sunday!"
Jesus' first reply to the Pharisee, pulls from the scriptures an example of King David breaking the same rule. This is a fairly safe answer because Pharisees do respect the scriptures. But Jesus just can't make it easy for these steroidal law enforcers, so he throws in the annoying reminder that God's rules are made for the benefit of man, not man for the benefit of the rules. He then adds an incendiary remark implying that he (the Son of Man) is above the Sabbath rules anyway. I can hear the Pharisees gritting their teeth, while the disciples munch on thinking "Score one for the Master!"
Jesus said to them, “Haven’t you ever read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He went into the house of God (during the days when Abiathar was high priest) and broke the law by eating the sacred loaves of bread that only the priests are allowed to eat. He also gave some to his companions.”
Then Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!”
The disciples were probably law-abiding Jews, so I doubt they seriously considered picking the tasty grain on their own. Everyone knew grain couldn't be picked on the Sabbath even if you were starving. It was considered work, and this was a day of mandated rest. Perhaps the disciples hopefully mentioned their hunger to Jesus. Sometimes a kid will complain to me about something the resolution to which seems completely obvious. And I will say, "Hmmm. What could you do about that?" So I can imagine the disciples mentioning to Jesus that it was past lunch time and him looking around at all the grain and saying, "Hmmm. What could you do about that?"
So, what do they do? They smile at each other and they eat.
But the tattle-tale Pharisees see it and are on that transgression like a robin on a June bug. "Jesus! Did you see what your unruly band is doing now? They are harvesting on a Sunday!"
Jesus' first reply to the Pharisee, pulls from the scriptures an example of King David breaking the same rule. This is a fairly safe answer because Pharisees do respect the scriptures. But Jesus just can't make it easy for these steroidal law enforcers, so he throws in the annoying reminder that God's rules are made for the benefit of man, not man for the benefit of the rules. He then adds an incendiary remark implying that he (the Son of Man) is above the Sabbath rules anyway. I can hear the Pharisees gritting their teeth, while the disciples munch on thinking "Score one for the Master!"
Thursday, March 3, 2011
I don't get it
~Luke 5.33-39 One day some people said to Jesus, “John the Baptist’s disciples fast and pray regularly, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees. Why are your disciples always eating and drinking?”
Jesus responded, “Do wedding guests fast while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.” . . . . “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the new wine would burst the wineskins, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. New wine must be stored in new wineskins. But no one who drinks the old wine seems to want the new wine. ‘The old is just fine,’ they say.”
Point one is the same as noted before: When there is something to be celebrated, Jesus is into eating and drinking. Yes! Love it.
But I don't exactly get the wineskins reference, though it's a popular teaching topic. Jesus is like new wine, bringing a new way into the Kingdom of God through his sacrificial death. And it's hard for people to fit this radical new idea into the old rule-based systems they have grown (miserably) comfortable with. Is that the gist of it? Please chime in if you have thoughts. I think I'm missing something.
Jesus responded, “Do wedding guests fast while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.” . . . . “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the new wine would burst the wineskins, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. New wine must be stored in new wineskins. But no one who drinks the old wine seems to want the new wine. ‘The old is just fine,’ they say.”
Point one is the same as noted before: When there is something to be celebrated, Jesus is into eating and drinking. Yes! Love it.
But I don't exactly get the wineskins reference, though it's a popular teaching topic. Jesus is like new wine, bringing a new way into the Kingdom of God through his sacrificial death. And it's hard for people to fit this radical new idea into the old rule-based systems they have grown (miserably) comfortable with. Is that the gist of it? Please chime in if you have thoughts. I think I'm missing something.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
More on the well conversation
~John 4.34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work."
It's great when I feel that I'm engaged in something that God is in, "his work," if you will. But I still want to eat!
~John 4.36 The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike!
It's great when I feel that I'm engaged in something that God is in, "his work," if you will. But I still want to eat!
~John 4.36 The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike!
Friday, February 4, 2011
Jesus' fasting and the bread temptation
~Matthew 4.1-2 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted(or tested) by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
Putting aside the discussion of Jesus being led by the Spirit to be tempted by the devil, I want to think about the fasting. Jesus fasted for well over five weeks! And I doubt he had protein drinks as a supplement. We have no clear word of why Jesus fasted. Why would the Holy Spirit want him to stop the normal, natural daily intake of food? Does voluntary physical hunger have a spiritual benefit? It teaches dependence on God? It dials up our sensitivity to other realms of life? It humbles? Ah. Sacrifice releases power. I remember. Jesus was going to need plenty of power to accomplish his mission.
~Matthew 4.3-4 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God’ (Deut 8.3).”
Of course people want to eat when they are hungry. Of course, Jesus was hungry after such a long fast. What would have been wrong with turning the stones to bread? Maybe nothing except that the idea came from Satan. The devil was trying to make eating a priority over getting God’s word. Peterson says, “Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: ‘It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God's mouth.’" But hadn’t Jesus just spent forty days in steady-stream communion with the father? Isn’t that what the whole wilderness/fasting experience was about?* Since he’d been without food for that entire time, his hunger seems a reasonable normal biological need, not just human appetite. So I’m left wondering why turning stones to bread would have been on the list of the big three temptations.
*But maybe Jesus wasn’t in communion with the Father for that time. Maybe it was what we might call an authentic God-where-are-you wilderness experience. We fast to get closer and more in tune with God. But maybe Jesus’ entire fasting period was actually an experience of not being so in tune. Whereas in Matthew this temptation is said to be at the end of the forty days; in both Mark and Luke it sounds like the temptation continued all during the forty days. It would make sense coming out of a long dry period that Jesus should look for restoration with God before merely eating. (This raises more questions. Worship first. But wasn't he able to worship in the dessert? I dunno.)
Mark (1.12-13) says nothing about the temptations themselves, but adds details that “Jesus was with the wild animals and angels attended to him.” Here’s a sentence full of interesting images and conjecture. If not feeding him, how would angels attend to a man gone so long without food?
Maybe the thing wrong with turning stones to bread is that God’s miracles are for needs that cannot be met in natural ways. Probably Jesus could have gone into town and made his own bread. Or more likely, he’d have gone into town and some friends or family would see him and say, ‘You look awful! Come on over and let me fix you something to eat.” So maybe turning the stones to bread would have been short circuiting some building of community that God wanted to do. I think of Anthony Campolo’s story: “No, we’re not going to pray for the money to meet this need. You and I are going to open our wallets right now and meet this need!” Maybe that’s why turning the stones to bread was not in God’s will and thus called a temptation.
The other thing I notice here is that the first, most basic thing our Lord thinks of when he is hungry is bread. Not locusts. Not wild honey, like his cousin John. Not a cheeseburger and apple pie like a modern man might envision. Just bread. It’s been called the staff of life—a staple or necessary food. He wanted bread and he was tempted by bread. Bread is good and desirable, but at the wrong time, place, amount, or kind, we can be tempted to sin by it.
~Luke 2.37 [The prophetic widow Anna] never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.
More release of power by her fasting?
Putting aside the discussion of Jesus being led by the Spirit to be tempted by the devil, I want to think about the fasting. Jesus fasted for well over five weeks! And I doubt he had protein drinks as a supplement. We have no clear word of why Jesus fasted. Why would the Holy Spirit want him to stop the normal, natural daily intake of food? Does voluntary physical hunger have a spiritual benefit? It teaches dependence on God? It dials up our sensitivity to other realms of life? It humbles? Ah. Sacrifice releases power. I remember. Jesus was going to need plenty of power to accomplish his mission.
~Matthew 4.3-4 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God’ (Deut 8.3).”
Of course people want to eat when they are hungry. Of course, Jesus was hungry after such a long fast. What would have been wrong with turning the stones to bread? Maybe nothing except that the idea came from Satan. The devil was trying to make eating a priority over getting God’s word. Peterson says, “Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: ‘It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God's mouth.’" But hadn’t Jesus just spent forty days in steady-stream communion with the father? Isn’t that what the whole wilderness/fasting experience was about?* Since he’d been without food for that entire time, his hunger seems a reasonable normal biological need, not just human appetite. So I’m left wondering why turning stones to bread would have been on the list of the big three temptations.
*But maybe Jesus wasn’t in communion with the Father for that time. Maybe it was what we might call an authentic God-where-are-you wilderness experience. We fast to get closer and more in tune with God. But maybe Jesus’ entire fasting period was actually an experience of not being so in tune. Whereas in Matthew this temptation is said to be at the end of the forty days; in both Mark and Luke it sounds like the temptation continued all during the forty days. It would make sense coming out of a long dry period that Jesus should look for restoration with God before merely eating. (This raises more questions. Worship first. But wasn't he able to worship in the dessert? I dunno.)
Mark (1.12-13) says nothing about the temptations themselves, but adds details that “Jesus was with the wild animals and angels attended to him.” Here’s a sentence full of interesting images and conjecture. If not feeding him, how would angels attend to a man gone so long without food?
Maybe the thing wrong with turning stones to bread is that God’s miracles are for needs that cannot be met in natural ways. Probably Jesus could have gone into town and made his own bread. Or more likely, he’d have gone into town and some friends or family would see him and say, ‘You look awful! Come on over and let me fix you something to eat.” So maybe turning the stones to bread would have been short circuiting some building of community that God wanted to do. I think of Anthony Campolo’s story: “No, we’re not going to pray for the money to meet this need. You and I are going to open our wallets right now and meet this need!” Maybe that’s why turning the stones to bread was not in God’s will and thus called a temptation.
The other thing I notice here is that the first, most basic thing our Lord thinks of when he is hungry is bread. Not locusts. Not wild honey, like his cousin John. Not a cheeseburger and apple pie like a modern man might envision. Just bread. It’s been called the staff of life—a staple or necessary food. He wanted bread and he was tempted by bread. Bread is good and desirable, but at the wrong time, place, amount, or kind, we can be tempted to sin by it.
~Luke 2.37 [The prophetic widow Anna] never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.
More release of power by her fasting?
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