The feasts of the flesh never end well. See what Jesus Himself said: It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. John 6:63. Our value is eternal, but if we are not grounded in the Word of God, we will achieve nothing. Our celebrations only have purpose when we are clothed in divine grace. It is necessary to teach the Truth to those who are born again, or their conversion will be worthless.

Herod was celebrating his birthday and invited the great men, the tribunes, and the princes of Galilee to a carnal event in order to be praised and exalted by those who wanted to take advantage of his position, not to thank the Lord for his life. Men approach those in power and praise them to obtain favors. However, the person who loves God seeks to fulfill the commandments and is loved by Him!

Our celebrations should follow the example of Jesus. In Israel, Passover was celebrated, and most Jews went to Jerusalem to celebrate the feast of the flesh. The Savior went to the city of the great King to teach, through His actions, how He would like a celebration to be held. When He arrived there, He went to the pool of Bethesda, where a crowd of physically disabled, blind, and other suffering people lay. Soon, the Master healed a paralytic who had been there for 38 years (John 5:1–9).

Having foreknowledge, Jesus knew everything about that man who lived around the pool. According to their belief, an angel appeared from time to time and stirred the water, and the first person to enter it was healed of his illness. Christ prepared that sick man and commanded him to get up, take his bed, and go home. So he did, for he was already healed!

Jesus wants us to celebrate as He did in the Holy City. There is nothing more beautiful and worthy of celebration than the recovery of drug addicts and people who live on the streets and go through humiliating circumstances to survive. The Master teaches us to celebrate goodness and wants to see us doing so day and night everywhere.

It was at a party of licentiousness that Hamas agents killed more than 1,200 precious lives in 2023 in the land that God gave to the children of Abraham to live in. Why didn't these men join us in celebrating the things of the Spirit? The people are thirsty for the Truth, but the religious spirit spoils the Lord's pleasure. The Almighty rejoices to see the redemption of the lost.

Christ taught: When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just. (Luke 14:12–14). Make the Lord happy by doing good!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares