Near The Bridegroom

“And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. The days will come hen the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day.”” ESV Mark 2:19-20

Can you remember what it was like when you were courting your spouse? Do you remember the feelings of infatuation, and eventually love that swept over you? Do you remember how even a short absence felt like an eternity? What were some of the actions you took to feel closer when you were separated? What were some of the things you did in order to bring you together in person?

I asked these questions in a group setting recently and got all kinds of answers. Melisa claims that I used to ride down the road in front of her house. It’s a charge I cannot deny even though it seems funny to me now that I would have done that. But even funnier still is the thought of her sitting in her bedroom window watching for me! I mean it wasn’t like I could buzz her cell phone and let her know I was nearby. My goodness, back then a land-line or CB radio was the only way to communicate!

Several people confessed to looking at pictures and longing to be with their boyfriend or girlfriend. One person said she kept her boyfriend’s pet because it made her feel nearer to him in some way. Everyone did something to bring the to mind that special person during an absence. Everyone did something in order to feel closer to their special friend.

That is in essence the purpose of fasting. Fasting is an action on our part to bring to mind our Lord, Jesus Christ. It is an act that draws our attention and focus to Him while we are separated from him physically. The “day” spoken of in our verse is upon us. The Bridegroom is in heaven and will one day return. What are you doing to draw closer to Him while we are physically separated? What are you doing today to focus your attention on the Bridegroom? Do you long to be united with Jesus?

I’m reminded of a song by the group Mercy Me titled I Can Only Imagine. The first verse and chorus go like this: “I can only imagine what it will be like when I walk by your side. I can only imagine what my eyes will see when your face is before me. I can only imagine. Surrounded by your glory, what will my heart feel? Will I dance for you Jesus or in awe of you be still? Will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall? Will I sing hallelujah? Will I be able to sing at all? I can only imagine. I can only imagine”

Do you imagine?

Ken Askew

Look!

As I bounced my friend’s baby on my lap I couldn’t help smiling. Babies are just so cute when they’re just old enough that you don’t fear breaking them yet they are still young enough that absolutely everything is a fresh adventure.

This little girl was infatuated with my water bottle. (Isn’t it funny how the simplest things sometimes trump the grandest toys?) I don’t know whether it was the blue label or the sound the bottle made when I crinkled it with my hand, but she loved it and her eyes would immediately fixate on it whenever it came into view.

As I reflect on her fascination, a sermon illustration I heard sometime back comes to mind. When you take a very young child and try to focus their attention on something by pointing, what usually catches their attention? Your finger! Children have to learn that your finger is not the object you are drawing attention to. They have to learn that the finger is just a pointer and that the focal object is beyond your fingertip.

Many times stories we find in the bible are, much like your fingertip, “pointers” in that they point to a much grander and magnificent object beyond the immediate story. For instance, the early chapters of Mark’s gospel are filled with miracle stories; demons are cast out, deathly sick people are fully healed with Jesus’ touch, lepers are cleansed, and the lame are made able to walk. All the stories are fascinating and all of them are worthy of capturing our attention. I confess that many times I have become captivated with the details of the stories themselves, but what is the proper object of my attention? What do the stories point to? Do they point to a grander truth?

In the case of Mark’s gospel, let me suggest that the fascinating miracle stories in those early chapters point to three grand, overriding truths. First, that Jesus Christ was the Son of God. (Mark 1:1) Secondly, that the kingdom of God has arrived, though not in its full glory, and thirdly that we should repent and believe the gospel. (Mark 1:14-15)

Let me encourage you to read the stories in scripture with the fascination of a child. But don’t become fixated on the stories themselves. Instead, read the stories in scripture with the discernment of an adult and look beyond the story to those grander truths that the stories point to.

Yes, Jesus cast out demons. Yes, Jesus healed the sick. Yes, Jesus cleansed the lepers and caused the lame to walk. But grander still, and the worthy object of our attention, Jesus was the Son of God; Immanuel (meaning God with us)!

Ken Askew

A Man’s Man

“John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey.” ESV Mark 1:4-6

Had I lived then, I think I would have enjoyed meeting John the Baptist and listening to him preach. Clothed in camel’s hair, living off the land, and preaching in the wilderness, John the Baptist was a man’s man. He must have been a dynamic speaker as well because he was attracting followers from all of Judea and Jerusalem. John had his own mega-church in the wood. I wonder what the music was like; contemporary or traditional?

But John’s purpose was not to attract a crowd. John’s purpose was not to build a huge following. John’s purpose was not to entertain with popular music at the gatherings. No, John’s purpose was singular; to announce and prepare the way for Jesus to begin His earthly ministry. Nor was John’s ministry of his own creation. Mark tells us that John’s ministry had been prophesied hundreds of years earlier by Isaiah.

Perhaps most importantly, John the Baptist preached the coming of one mightier than him. John baptized with water, but he preached of the Son of God, Jesus, who would baptize with the Holy Spirit.

Sadly, the truth that John proclaimed didn’t always ‘stick.’ In the Gospel of John, Jesus says that John “was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.” You see, John was a lamp, but as my study bible notes point out, he was not the “Light.” Jesus is the light that John pointed to. And while it is easy to get caught up in the excitement of a popular pastor or church, the experience never bears lasting fruit unless the truth of Christ is proclaimed and accepted.

What is the truth about Christ? Well, Jesus Christ came to earth, lived a sinless life even though he was tempted just like you and me, was convicted and died a criminals death for transgressions he did not commit so that the rest of us could become reconciled to God through faith in him. This is the gospel. This is the simple gospel message that Jesus spoke of in Mark 1:14 when he said: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

Dynamic preachers are great and it is exciting to be in an energetic church that is growing. But if the simple gospel is not being preached, the excitement will wane and no lasting fruit will come forth. Don’t place your faith in the lamp. Place your faith in the Light; Jesus Christ.

Ken Askew

Pray then like this

“Pray then like this: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we have also forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” ESV Matthew 6:9-13

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warns folks not to pray so that they might be seen by others or to offer prayers that included meaningless repetition, but instead to pray privately with all sincerity. (The issue is not so much whether our prayers are public, but the reasons and sincerity behind our prayers.) Then Jesus began to teach them how to pray. In his commentary on the Gospels, J.C. Ryle points out ten parts to this model prayer and I am indebted to him for opening my eyes in regards to The Lords’ Prayer.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Oh how thankful I am for the privilege of being able to pray to you Father who I know as my Creator, my God, my Redeemer, and not to some other created being or a deaf and dumb idol. Thank you Father! And Lord, may your name be glorified this day. May your name be exalted. May all creation praise you!

Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Lord in one sense your kingdom has already come in that Jesus has established his church here on earth. Yet we have not yet seen your kingdom in all its glory. We have not yet witnessed every tongue confessing you as Lord nor have we seen your church removed from the presence of sin. Lord, we know your timing and will is perfect and we gladly submit to your pleasures and long for the day when your will would be brought about in fullness here on earth just as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we have also forgiven our debtors. Lord, as we go about our daily tasks, let us not lose sight of the fact that we are dependent upon you even for the very air that we breathe. The Psalmist reminds us that even the lions depend upon you for their food and we are no less dependent. Lord, even your church is not without sin and we beg your forgiveness and we ask for wisdom and strength to forgive those who have wronged us as well.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Lord, you know we are weak and prone to give into temptation. Lord, when opportunity to sin is presented, may there be no desire in our hearts and when are hearts are filled with desire to sin, may there be no opportunity. Your word teaches us that the devil is constantly roaming to see whom he may devour. Lord, keep us from his jaws; deliver us from the evil one. Amen.

Ken Askew