International
The Glutton and the Drunkard
We're glad you like it!
Enjoying the content? You can save this to your favorites by logging in to your account.
Matthew 11:18,19 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon’; the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.” (NRSV)
Listen to the radio broadcast of The Glutton and the Drunkard
Download audio fileOne of the saddest things I see going on around the world is people going through the motions of religion, doing all the things they think they need to do to please God, without ever getting to know Him.
Picture this … Jesus comes to town and they treat Him like a rock star. Everything closes down – shops, schools, farmers leave their fields – to come and hear Him speak. The crowds press in on Him from every direction.
He’s the Son of God; but after all that, instead of going to the local bishop’s place for dinner, He goes to … wait for this … a tax collector’s home instead. Now these guys collaborated with the occupying Romans. They extorted their fellow countrymen. They were despised.
And yet Jesus sits down for dinner in their midst, drinking wine and eating with them – all the time ignoring the religious leaders, the real power brokers in town. Their response? Well, here’s how Jesus put it:
Matthew 11:18,19 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon’; the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.” (NRSV)
And why wouldn’t they call Him names? Fancy hanging out with those tax collectors instead of the religious powerbrokers. Seriously!
Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.
Jesus healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, loved those who were rejected, touched lepers. He even healed the servant of a Roman Centurion.
And so the religious leaders hated Him. That earthy, real Jesus-love didn’t fit with their self-righteous religion, so they plotted to kill Him. They had Him crucified. In the end, that’s what religion does.
So what will it be for you? Religion … or Jesus?
That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.
Comments