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    BCM Conference 200816 October 2008 AM

    Celebration transformed by Jesus

    John 2: 1-11Luke 15: 22~

    Matthew 26: 17~

    As we turn the pages of our Bible to the New Testament we look atcelebration as shared, demonstrated and taught by Jesus. This is a largeundertaking, so we shall be selective pausing to consider:

    How Jesus shared the celebrations of others What he taught about celebration, and How He celebrated with His disciples

    In each case we will focus on one particular narrative:

    How Jesus shared the celebrations of others Cana wedding 1 What he taught about celebration Lost and found 2 How He celebrated with His disciples Last Supper 3

    You will remember by what a pathway we have reached the Gospels. Westarted with Noah and the ark and the rainbow where we saw a celebrationthat begins with a singular act of redemption. We moved on to learnlessons in how to celebrate when David brings the Ark of the Covenant to

    Jerusalem lessons about holiness, enthusiasm and single-mindedness.We closed the OT pages with Nehemiah celebrating the walls of Jerusalemwith skill and organisation and sharing.

    When we turn to the life of Jesus the temple is rebuilt and Jesus visits itfrequently but He speaks of another temple, another focus of worshipand a celebration that far exceeds the Passover, even though it beginswith it.

    From the wonders of Gods creation, through painful lessons about Hisholiness and marching on the newly built walls of Jerusalem with orderedworship that draws upon Davids pattern we come to the Son of GodHimself the focus of our worship and the subject of our celebration.

    1 John 2:12 Luke 153 Mat 26:17

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    9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest placeand gave him the name that is above every name,10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,in heaven and on earth and under the earth,11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,

    to the glory of God the Father.Philippians 2: 9-11

    How Jesus shared the celebrations of others

    Jesus came into a world just like ours where people marked off thecalendar with Sabbaths and festivals, seasonal and historic celebrations.In the earliest glimpse of his young life we see Him brought to Jerusalem.

    And we see Him return there for many significant feasts and especiallyPassovers throughout his short ministry.

    He lives a Jew in the Jewish society where celebrations are dictated by theordinary events of life, birth, marriage and death, as well as by the feastsand holy days of the Jewish tradition. He famously attends a wedding inCana and speaks about children playing the game of weddings andfunerals. He is criticised for entering enthusiastically into the celebrationsof His time.

    At the Great Feast He shouts an invitation to the spiritually hungry andthirsty. On the Sabbath He heals the sick and allows His disciples to pickears of corn. To Jesus the calendar with its red letter days is as familiar asthe tools of His carpentry trade and a changing tapestry of life of which Heis a fully involved person.

    Jesus liberates the Sabbath from the encrusted traditions of the elders. Hecriticises the religious leaders for their narrow legalism but he celebrates

    young children and draws attention to the beauty of Gods ordinarycreation in the hedgerow.

    Throughout His ministry there are episodes of public worship in which Hespeaks to His Father so that others may hear and share. When Hisdisciples return from a mission He breaks out in praise. At the tomb of Lazarus He calls out to God.He gives His disciples a pattern prayer and is moved dramatically by theevents of His time. He is a celebrating Saviour!

    We focus on one event in this sequence of sharing the wedding atCana :

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    2 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus mother was there, 2 and Jesus and hisdisciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus mother said to him, Theyhave no more wine.

    4

    Dear woman, why do you involve me? Jesus replied. My time has not yet come.5 His mother said to the servants, Do whatever he tells you.6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from

    twenty to thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, Fill the jars with water; so they filled them to the brim.8 Then he told them, Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.

    They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did notrealise where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the

    bridegroom aside 10 and said, Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after theguests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.

    11 This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory,and his disciples put their faith in him.

    John makes it plain that this is about REVEALING HIS GLORYIt is also about HIS TIMETABLEIt is about the PERFECTION OF HIS WORK And it raises a simple issue in the words of Mary: Do whatever He tellsyou.

    Strangely the real subject of this celebration is only hinted at. We do notknow the bride and groom we only know that Mary was there and that

    Jesus and his earliest disciples were invited.

    So then we assume as down through the ages in countless marriageservices we are reminded He sanctified marriage by His presence at thiswedding.

    It must be significant that the FIRST MIRACLE is at a CELEBRATION! Acelebration that had not gone off without at hitch but indeed had posed amajor embarrassment. And it is Mary who provokes His intervention.

    When Jesus gets involved in a celebration there is :

    A revealing of His glory An insight into His plan A mark of His perfect working

    and A challenge that rings through the ages

    Perhaps there is a pattern here for us to learn from?

    1. Celebration must glorify Christ

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    2. Celebration must be according to His timing3. Celebration must always move from need to consummate provision4. Celebration with Jesus challenges us to further obedience

    What Jesus taught about celebrationIn the teachings of Jesus there are many references to feasts andcelebratory meals.He wants the people to be freed from the rigid Puritanism of thePharisees to a mindset that expects the best on the Sabbath, the finestseats at the feast, the welcoming in of outsiders to the banquet and theembarrassment of those who do not accept His invitation.

    When He attends a meal at the home of Simon He is quick to point out thefailures of his host in contrast to the extravagances of the woman whoanoints Him. At Bethany he teaches the virtue of celebrating whilst theloved one is alive rather than waiting for his burial. In His parables theKing invites outsiders, seats guests at his own choosing and provides aceremonial dress for those who come.

    Our chosen example is the very familiar one in Luke 15 where the wordcelebrate occurs no less than FOUR times:

    22 But the father said to his servants, Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on hisfinger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Lets have a feast and celebrate. 24 For thisson of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found. So they began to celebrate.

    25 Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 Your brother has come, he replied,and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.

    28 The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29

    But he answered his father, Look! All these years Ive been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders.Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yourswho has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!

    31 My son, the father said, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had tocelebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.

    This is another child-friendly story which, like the wedding at Cana,provides us with opportunities in sharing it with the young to point out thelasting and significant issues.

    Prodigality is the mark of this celebration Grace is at the heart of this celebration Resentment is here too as the older son fails to understand its

    meaning, and, like Michal in the David story has only criticism

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    But the last word is the fathers we had to celebrate theIMPERATIVE of CELEBRATION when grace has worked its wonderfulwork.

    This celebration is prodigal

    best robe. . . ring . . . fattened calf. . . To understand the generosity you have to understand the extent of thefathers joy.

    These excesses will overwhelm the prodigal and breed resentment in theolder son but they are the response of the father to the return of his son.

    When Noah left the ark there was an immense sense of joy and relief When the Ark of the Covenant finally entered Jerusalem there was

    enthusiastic dancing When they celebrated the new walls of the City there was a sound

    heard in the countryside around

    This kind of celebration is judged by some as over the top but in realityit is entirely in keeping with the grace of God which provokes it.

    Grace is at the heart of this celebration

    This son of mine was dead and is alive again; was lost and is found!

    That which most deserves our celebration is the work of God in bringing toHimself those who were estranged wilful prodigal selfish extravagant sinful.

    Like Noah we should celebrate redemptionLike David we should celebrate Gods presence amongst His peopleLike Nehemiah we should celebrate the rebuilding of that which wasruined

    There will be resentment from those who do not share the fatherswill

    25 Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 Your brother has come, he replied,

    and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.28 The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29

    But he answered his father, Look! All these years Ive been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders.

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    Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yourswho has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!31 My son, the father said, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had tocelebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.

    The celebration of Gods grace provokes anger in those who are outsidethe fellowship of grace.

    That we can understand the older brothers resentment is an indication of how easy it is to adopt the attitude of Michal and pour scorn on suchcelebrations.

    It cuts across the real relationships: this son of yours. . . this brother of yours. . .But the fathers word cuts across all this with the IMPERATIVE OFCELEBRATION

    32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lostand is found.

    We HAD to celebrate. . .

    True celebration arises from the evidence of Gods grace in the hearts of

    those who repent and return to God.God works the transformation: dead > alive lost > found

    Everyone should join in the party!

    Did the older son obey?Will we?

    How Jesus celebrated with His disciples and us

    MATTHEW 26 17 +

    7 On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, Where do youwant us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?

    18 He replied, Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, The Teacher says: My appointed time is

    near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house. 19 So the disciples did as Jesushad directed them and prepared the Passover.20 When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. 21 And while they were eating,

    he said, I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.

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    22 They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, Surely not I, Lord?23 Jesus replied, The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24 The Son of

    Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.

    25 Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, Surely not I, Rabbi?

    Jesus answered, Yes, it is you. 26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it,and gave it to his disciples, saying, Take and eat; this is my body.

    27 Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, Drink from it, all of you. 28 This ismy blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will notdrink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Fatherskingdom.

    30 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

    I do not plan to expand on the familiar territory of the Lords Supper here just to focus on the way in which Jesus set about establishing this central

    celebration.

    It is interesting to compare the very different kind of celebration herefrom that at the beginning of the Gospel. The wedding feast at Cana didhave a problem that Jesus addressed but it was a joyous occasionwhereas Matthews account here is full of darkness and sadness . Onlya few verses earlier there had been a celebration at Bethany andalthough the shadow of Christs impending death hangs over that meal aswell it is marked by the anointing.

    In a way that darkness was prefigured in the Noah story where therainbow is seen against the clouds clouds that must have brought terrorto the minds of Noahs family in those days so soon after the devastatingflood.

    So it was too at Perez Uzzah where Gods judgement on Uzzah provokedfear and anger as David tried to move the Ark to Jerusalem.

    And in the celebration in Nehemiah the darkness of the exile and the hardwork of rebuilding a nation is the backdrop for rejoicing.

    Celebrations are not always noisy fiestas sometimes they are subduedtimes of reflection. This one is such, as is borne out by what Paul says inthe words of the institution of the Lords Supper:

    23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed ,took bread ,4 . . .

    So as we come to this Passover celebration we note:-a Some manuscripts the new4 1 Cor 11:23

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    A framework exists v17Co-operation & Organisation vv 17 & 18Self-examination vv 20 - 25Commemoration vv 26-29A hymn v 30

    A FRAMEWORK EXISTS

    7 On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread , the disciples came to Jesus and asked, Where do youwant us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover ?

    This was an annual celebration with which they would be entirely familiar.

    Its ritual is laid down in the Scripture and it has been re-discoverednumerous times in Israels history it is about to reinvented by Jesus into aunique but equally structured celebration.

    They knew all about the removal of leaven from their houses they knewabout the preparation for the Passover meal. There is a pleasantfamiliarity about it which would resonate in our minds I guess withChristmas or Thanksgiving neither of which are prescribed Christianoccasions but which have that common thread of a SHARED MEAL.

    In the story of Noah an altar is built and sacrifices are offeredIn the return of the Ark procedures are to be followedIn Nehemiah the festival is structured clearly.

    CO-OPERATION AND ORGANISATION

    7 On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, Where do youwant us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?

    18 He replied, Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, The Teacher says: My appointed time isnear. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house. 19 So the disciples did as Jesushad directed them and prepared the Passover.

    Many hands prepared this meal and the room where it was shared. Anunnamed man whom Lukes Gospel identifies as carrying a water pot willlead them to the place. There is danger. There is anticipation. There isattention to detail and pre-planning on the part of Jesus but the discipleswill make the finishing touches. It must be just right.

    Nehemiah would have been impressed! David had contributed appropriateworship songs Noah would have understood the sacrifice.

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    There is AUTHORITY here. The Teacher says. . . Celebration involvesobedience.

    SELF EXAMINATION

    In words that prefigure Pauls words later in 1 Corinthians 11 we hear Jesusspeak solemn words about betrayal. In Lukes Gospel there will be wordsfor Peter about denial. This is a fragile moment. A moment to look deepinto the inner recesses of our soul and see the possibilities of failure!

    Lord, surely not me?

    Like our celebration of New Year there is a looking back, a looking in and a

    looking forward. They celebrate on the threshold of the greatest event inhistory. It is a time to take stock and not to make new resolutions buta new commitment to the Lord Himself.

    And so we come to the central act :

    COMMEMORATION

    26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying,Take and eat; this is my body.

    27 Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, Drink from it, all of you. 28 This ismy blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will notdrink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Fatherskingdom.

    So simple yet so profound! this is. . .

    Words probably dimly understood then and certainly distorted manycenturies later to mean something more literal and divisive.

    All about a mealAll about sharingAll about Jesus

    This is the HEART of celebration. We cannot avoid it.

    And yet today many traditions overlay it and in some fellowships only apriest can administer it and it has all the trappings of liturgy and formality.

    And finally and I mean finally they finished the celebration with. . .

    a Some manuscripts the new

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    A HYMN

    Probably this would be one of the Hallel Psalms such as Psalm 113

    As we saw in each of our studies music and song feature boldly incelebration.

    All the elements we have seen before were present in this finalcelebration: Something to remember something to see (even to taste) something to sing something that draws upon the rich resource of Scripture and is in turn one of the richest forms of celebration there is

    The Lords Supper.

    I often think that children should be encouraged to be present atCommunion. At what stage they share it varies with the individual butthey do need to see it in its simplicity so that they may ask questionsabout its significance.

    This is the imperative of celebration.

    ===

    Psalm 113 part of the Hallel

    1 Praise the L ORD .a

    Praise, O servants of the L ORD , praise the name of the L ORD .2 Let the name of the L ORD be praised,both now and for evermore.3 From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,the name of the L ORD is to be praised.4 The L ORD is exalted over all the nations,his glory above the heavens.5 Who is like the L ORD our God,the One who sits enthroned on high,6 who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth?7 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap;8 he seats them with princes,

    a Hebrew Hallelu Yah ; also in verse 9

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    with the princes of their people.9 He settles the barren woman in her homeas a happy mother of children.

    Praise the L ORD .