Jesus answered, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while he is with them?
Luke 5:34 (NIV)
It’s a question with the answer “NO” is very obvious isn’t it? Regardless of any cultures, wedding is considered one of the most joyful & festive event, celebrated with a crowd of friends and families. In some culture event “strangers”.
Imagine you come to those weddings with a lot of food and merry, and you refuse all those food in front or take part in the celebration. And you come with not even a party attire, how would that make you look like?
The impossibility is so HUGE, that we all will scream out loud, “it’s impossible”, to be the friends of the bridegroom on his presence, and look gloomy.
That’s why I like what Paul says in Phillipians,”
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
…
Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two:
I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;
Phil 1:21, 23
For sure Paul is not suicidal, because he chose to be living in the body, for the sake of Christ’s church (His body). But he knows the joy of being with the Lord. And he considered that by far the better.
So the question for you and me, how much do we desire to be with Christ? Do we see the joy of being with Christ in person greater than anything else? During this COVID-19, everyone say they miss the in-person meeting. Do we miss the in-person meeting with Jesus? Jesus guarantees us the joy of being in His presence and in contrast the sorrow of being separated with Him in person (Luke 5:34-35).
However, while waiting for that DAY, Jesus had sent His Spirit to be our friend and comforter. In that sense, we could still be joyful. He is the Spirit of God, and in His presence is joy forever more. While it’s true that when Jesus was present in body they walked with Him in fullness of joy, I do believe that while Jesus is absent in body now, we can still experience joy through His Spirit living in us.
Jesus was full of joy, despite called man of sorrow while he lived here on earth. For His disciples that follow Him then and now, I am convinced that we’re called to know that JOY. There are cost to be paid, cross to be endured, yet despite all those, joy to be enjoyed. The call to follow Him is not a call to drudgery or dragging ourselves out of bed. It is a call to experience true joy.