200105 Why Fast and Pray?

As Jesus moved closer to his crucifixion and the end of his earthly ministry he took Peter, James, and John up onto a mountain for an important meeting. While the disciples stood aside and watched Jesus appeared to be transfigured. He was radiantly white! Immediately Elijah and Moses joined him. Moses represented the law, Elijah represented the prophets, and Jesus represented The Gospel of Grace! Peter, as usual, not knowing what to say, yet being unable to be quiet, offered to set up three tents one for Jesus, one for Elijah and one for Moses!

A cloud appeared and a voice said, “This is my beloved son, listen to him.”

Jesus instructed them to tell no one what they had seen until he was raised from the dead. As they came down the mountain they were suddenly surrounded by a mob. A boy was brought to Jesus who was demon oppressed. His disciples, who had remained at the foot of the mountain, could not cast out this demon! Jesus immediately took care of the problem. As soon as the disciples got him alone, well let’s let Mark tell us about it.

Mark 9:28-29 And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” ²⁹ And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer (and fasting).”

The last two words that I read, “and fasting” are not found in most of the newer translations. However, the words certainly represent the usual pattern of Jesus’s ministry and are found in the King James Bible. I quote Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology, p390, footnote on Mark 9:29, “Many early and quite reliable Greek manuscripts and several early manuscripts in other languages read “by prayer and fasting.” In either case, it cannot mean prayer that is spoken at the time the demon is being cast out, for Jesus simply cast out the demon with a word and did not engage in an extended time of prayer. It must mean rather that the disciples had not previously been spending enough time in prayer and that their spiritual strength was weak. Therefore the “fasting” that is mentioned in many ancient manuscripts fits the pattern of an activity that increases one’s spiritual strength and power.”

“This kind” implies a special resistant and powerful demon. Certainly, it referred to the need for spiritual preparation on the part of the person casting out the demon! Not just a quick prayer before confronting a demon but instead a consistent lifestyle of praying and fasting which kept the believer spiritually strong. Some examples from the Old Testament are found in 1 Samuel 7:5-6; 2 Chronicles 20:3-4; Ezra 8:21-23; and Nehemiah 1:4.

Samuel was the last judge and anointed the first two Kings of Israel. During the occupation of the land by the Philistines Samuel gathered the people at Mizpah for a prayer meeting. He said, “Gather all Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray to the Lord for you.” ⁶ So they gathered at Mizpah and drew water and poured it out before the Lord and fasted on that day and said there, “We have sinned against the Lord.” And Samuel judged the people of Israel at Mizpah.  (1 Samuel 7:5-6)

The Ark of the Covenant had been captured by the Philistines and returned to Israel only after God defeated the Philistine gods in their own cities. That’s another story of God’s victory in battle. For our example of fasting and prayer, we return to the story 20 years after their defeat by the Philistines. Samuel was aware that the people were now ready to follow Yahweh. So he gave the instructions found in 1 Samuel 7:5-6. The promise was that God would deliver them out of the hand of the Philistines. And he did! For another example, we turn to the days of Jehoshaphat king of Judah. The story is written in the second book of Chronicles. Three armies were moving in to conquer Judah and were too large for the king’s armies. Let’s look at that account, “Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. ⁴ And Judah assembled to seek help from the Lord; from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.” The result was that God himself turned those three armies against each other and they defeated themselves while the people of Israel were marching into battle. As they marched they had a choir leading them. They were singing, “Give thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever.” (2 Chronicles 20:21b) When they began to praise -- God began to defeat their enemies. Victory is always, God’s not man’s!

Our next example is with Ezra the priest. The Persian king Cyrus had sent some of the people of Israel back to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. They were led by prophets Haggai and Zechariah. That was the first wave to return the land. The second wave was led by Ezra the priest. The King, now Artaxerxes, would have gladly sent an army patrol to protect these people as they went back to Jerusalem. But look at what Ezra tells us, “Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods. ²² For I was ashamed to ask the king for a band of soldiers and horsemen to protect us against the enemy on our way, since we had told the king, “The hand of our God is for good on all who seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him.” ²³ So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty.

This resulted in God guiding them in safety to Jerusalem to restore the priesthood and proper worship of Yahweh. The territory they were crossing was like the Wild West in our own history. Everywhere you turn you would face gangs of bandits. The government was back in Babylon and all of the outlying areas were administered by local militias who were really nothing more than outlaws. After the people of Israel who returned rebuilt the temple, they still were constantly being harassed even in Jerusalem. They needed God to provide protection for them. It was not enough for the king to issue letters he needed to give them strong leadership that could now protect the rebuilt temple. God had just the man and had him in the place of significance that would allow him to change the situation.

Nehemiah had risen to the place of importance. He was cupbearer to the king! This is not just a servant’s position. Nehemiah stood between the king and assassination. In order to be a cupbearer, Nehemiah had to select and sample the wine that was served to the king. That way, if there was any poison in the wine Nehemiah would die and not the king

As the cupbearer to Artaxerxes the king. He had just heard from one of his brothers that the people who had settled in Judah were living in a desperate situation. The wall of Jerusalem was broken down and its gates burned. Nehemiah tells us, “As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.” (Nehemiah 1:4)

Nehemiah goes on to confess his own sins and the sins of his people. We won't take the time today to look at all of his confession. His confession reflects the law in Deuteronomy admitting that their troubles resulted from their unfaithfulness to God. He also admits that their present survival is due only as a result of God’s abundant mercy.

Jerusalem’s walls were still broken down and the gates were gone. Opening the nation to outside influences such as an inability to stop people from breaking the Sabbath laws. Nehemiah’s prayer included a request that God give Nehemiah favor when he stood before the king. It would be at least a social blunder to be sad in the presence of the king.

The spiritual walls and doors have been broken down in our culture for generations! I would suggest that there is a need for fasting and praying and turning to the real King to give us protection and bring about the defeat of our spiritual enemies. At least we need on our side a cupbearer to the King of heaven. One that would weep and mourn for days on end with fasting and prayer.

Many times people have said that Jesus and his disciples did not fast why should we now? Well, let’s see! What did Jesus say about it?

Mark 2:18-20 Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. And people came and said to him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” ¹⁹ 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. ²⁰ The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day.

In New Testament times the Pharisees fasted on Mondays and Thursdays it was a matter of pride for them. Jesus told a story about a Pharisee and a tax collector. In that story, the Pharisee prayed giving thanks to God that he was not like so many sinners in the world. One of the things he commended himself for was that he fasted twice a week. The tax collector could only pray “God be merciful to me a sinner.” (Luke 18:13)

The Pharisee’s pious activity did him no good. Jesus said that the tax collector went away justified rather than the other. Anyone who exalts himself will be humbled, the one who humbles himself will be exalted.

Jesus’ answer to John’s disciples compared his motley crew to a wedding party! No one, going to a wedding is going there to fast instead they’re going to feast. However, when Jesus is taken away from them he said they will fast. For the same reason, WE should fast.

 All scriptures quotes are from: The Holy Bible: English standard version. 2001. Wheaton, Ill, Standard Bible Society.

191229 Jesus, the Early Years

And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him. Luke 2:40.

These are strange words when they are applied to Jesus of Nazareth. He grew, of course, he did! He had to learn to walk, crawl, stand on his own, talk, play and help Joseph out in the shop. In his hometown of Nazareth, he was “the carpenter’s son”! I don’t believe I’ve ever heard anyone call him that. He became strong physically, emotionally and spiritually. He was filled with wisdom. The grace of God rested on him!  Let’s look at what is reported of his life after being presented at the temple.

Matthew 2:1-2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, ² saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

There are several Herods mentioned in the Bible. The Herod that is mentioned here is Herod the Great! He was a powerful ruler who maintained loyalty to whoever was ruling in Rome. He was given the title “Great” because of his many building projects. The most important project that he conducted was to build/rebuild the temple that had been raised from ruin under the governorship of Nehemiah — during the days of Ezra the priest. Herod was the king of Galilee and Judea at the time of Jesus' birth. This man would not allow anyone to threaten his rule. Among those he had killed, because he thought they threatened his rule, was his wife, their two sons, his wife’s brother, his mother-in-law and his wife’s old grandfather! Caesar Augustus is credited with saying that it was safer in Judea to be a pig (who the Jews would not eat) than a threat to Herod.

Wise men from the East came to Jerusalem perhaps two years after the birth of Jesus. The Magi probably came from a kingdom located in what is modern Iran and Iraq. They probably came looking for the infant king of the Jews as representatives of their own government.

Where should you look for the newborn King? In the palace of course! Certainly not in a manger or stable. Well, by the time the Magi arrived this newborn King was no longer in the stable. Their questioning led them to the palace. Let’s look at the biblical account Matthew 2:3-6 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; ⁴ and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. ⁵ They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: ⁶  “ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ”

Herod, in the middle of his paranoia, heard of the Magi and was troubled and all Jerusalem with him. I can assure you that anytime Herod was troubled everybody was troubled. If Herod is not happy ain’t nobody happy! This unhappy king knew where to turn to begin the search for his infant rival. He turned to the priests and they quickly told him that Micah the prophet had pointed to Bethlehem. Bethlehem was a small place in comparison to Jerusalem for it was the ancestral home of David the King. Leading us to the next step in the story.

Matthew 2:7-8 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. ⁸ And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”

Herod, like all tyrants, operated mostly in secret. He sent the Magi to find the new King of the Jews and come back and report to him. Of course, he had no intention of worshiping his rival.

A side note: we do not know how many of the foreign visitors came seeking the new king. The opinion of most people is shaped by the hymn “We Three Kings”. And the number three is based on the gifts that they brought but I’m getting ahead of myself.

Matthew 2:9-11 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. ¹¹ And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.

When they left the king’s palace they saw the star leading them to the place where the child was. Not to a stable but a house. Their movements were no longer in secret. The little town of Bethlehem may have had as many as a thousand residents. A small town about the size of Stamford. Anyone who lives here very long knows there are very few secrets. Bethlehem would have been excitedly gossiping about this caravan of foreigners who came from the palace about 6 miles away. These men from the east fell down and worshiped him. They presented him with gifts that, I am sure, have great significance! We won’t speculate on the symbolism at this time.

Before they returned to the palace, they were warned in a dream not to return to Herod! When they left Bethlehem they bypassed Jerusalem and returned to their own country.

An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. He was told to take the child and Mary to Egypt (now we see a use for the gold) because Herod was going to search for the child and kill him! If you go to Jerusalem today and then to go to the Church of the Nativity you will find there are two churches. The most popular is that built by the Romans around A.D. 300. It is now a Greek Orthodox Church. The other, less well-known, is Roman Catholic. In the Roman Catholic Church, all of the fancy hangings, lamps and candles were swept away by John XXIII. Incorporated into the altar area are small symbolic graves. They represent the infants killed by Herod.

We do not know how many babies died. One retelling of the story claims as many as 14,000 babies were killed. I think that’s highly unlikely since it would be several times the population of Bethlehem. I think a more educated guess would be somewhere between 15 and 30 based on ordinary population statistics. However, the number could be much larger based on Matthew’s account.

Matthew 2:16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men.

We don’t know exactly what “and in all that region” means. Nonetheless, it would take a large “region” to produce thousands of babies being massacred.

When Herod died, about four BC, the angel came to Joseph in Egypt.  Matthew 2:20-23 saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.” ²¹ And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. ²² But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. ²³ And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.

There are many false “gospels” that were written hundreds of years after the legitimate accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. There are supposedly childhood stories in them but they are not to be believed.

The next accurate account that we have about Jesus' early years is located only in Luke’s Gospel. Jesus was devout and understood his responsibilities at the age of 12. Let’s look at how Luke told the story.  Luke 2:41-45 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. ⁴² And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. ⁴³ And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, ⁴⁴ but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, ⁴⁵ and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him.

There is a lot to learn in this account. They went every year to celebrate Passover in Jerusalem. This proves, to me, that they were upper-middle-class (if there was such a thing) because they could afford to take the time and spend the money to make the trip every year. They were also very convinced that they could trust the boy Jesus. They would have been with a group of their friends and relatives when they set out from Jerusalem to return home. They did not question that Jesus would be with them. At the end of the first day’s travel, they could not find him! Immediately they returned to Jerusalem. Luke 2:46-51 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. ⁴⁷ And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. ⁴⁸ And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” ⁴⁹ And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” ⁵⁰ And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. ⁵¹ And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.

When they found him he was in the Temple and he was being questioned by the teachers there. Jesus, at the age of 12, listened to the teachers and he also questioned them. Everyone was amazed at the clarity of his understanding!

Mary, claiming her rights as his mother, asked him why he was there rather than on the road home to Nazareth. Jesus was amazed at her question. He would be amazed many times in the next 21 or so years. His amazement centered on the idea that he was the Son of God. If they thought that he was missing why didn’t they look first at his father’s house — THE TEMPLE!

In spite of all the angel visitations surrounding his birth and early years his parents obviously did not understand anything about who he was. He was attracted to the temple and the religious leaders there because of who he was. He understood immediately that his time had not yet come. So, he went home and for the next 18 years, he was submissive to his parents. During that time he would have been recognized as the oldest child in a fairly large family. Matthew tells us that he had brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas as well as all his sisters. We do not know how many sisters there were. (Matthew 13:55-56a).

I believe the 18 years between Jesus’ appearance at the temple and his coming to John the Baptist to be baptized are likely the hardest years of his life. He certainly knew who he was when he sat in the temple teaching the teachers. However, his time had not yet come to present himself to the people. All the while he knew that he had come to seek and save the lost! I imagine his growing up years were a time of introducing his human nature to his divine nature. During that time he had to have learned the importance of the Father’s will taking precedence. John the apostle began his gospel John 1:9-13, The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. ¹¹ He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. ¹² But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, ¹³ who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. Born of God! Has he led you to receive and believe? The most important decision a person will ever make is to answer God’s call to salvation. We are born dead in trespasses and sin. (Ephesians 2:1). God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8). Adopting us into his family. Children of God! The greatest blessing anyone could possibly have!

All scriptures quotes are from: The Holy Bible: English standard version. 2001. Wheaton, Ill, Standard Bible Society.