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MARK: Jesus #Unfiltered Day 16
For some reason whenever I get a haircut I more often than not, end up in deep and meaningful conversations with my barber. It usually comes up that I’m a minister at a church and then the conversation either stops or they take an interesting turn. I remember one barber saying that he used to go to church but wasn’t interested anymore because of all the rules made life boring and were too hard. I tried to urge and tell him that the message of Jesus wasn’t about following rules but a relationship but he couldn’t quite comprehend it. Unfortunately, that barber shut down and so I couldn’t continue the conversation. However, I think his view of God and a lot of western society’s view is that he is an angry god waiting to smite us at any moment if we step out of line (okay I may be exaggerating slightly, but I don’t think I’m too far off!).
Now this view of God is completely and utterly wrong but this may be an accurate view of the Pharisees in Jesus day! In today’s encounter, we see them watching Jesus like a hawk to see if he was going to slip up by healing a man on the Sabbath. What does Jesus do? He doesn’t try to hide or heal this man in the back corner but he calls this man out in front of everyone! Here is a man who has a crippled hand standing before Jesus who has the ability to heal it on the Sabbath when healing was only allowed in life and death circumstances. Jesus asks the room what is better - to heal this man, to do good or to leave him unhealed, to do bad? The leaders were silent and Jesus was angry at how hard their hearts were. Jesus heals the man and the Pharisees begin scheming as to how to put him to death. The conflict here is very real! The Pharisees have a choice and so do we. Are they going to submit to Jesus and make him king over their lives, or are they going to reject Jesus and put him to death? MC
Questions
Prayer
Lord God, thank you for Jesus who gives life, who radically transforms expectations, and who has the authority and willingness to serve and heal. Please transform our hearts and our lives to make Jesus our number one priority above all things. In his name we pray, Amen.
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By St Bart's ToowoombaFor some reason whenever I get a haircut I more often than not, end up in deep and meaningful conversations with my barber. It usually comes up that I’m a minister at a church and then the conversation either stops or they take an interesting turn. I remember one barber saying that he used to go to church but wasn’t interested anymore because of all the rules made life boring and were too hard. I tried to urge and tell him that the message of Jesus wasn’t about following rules but a relationship but he couldn’t quite comprehend it. Unfortunately, that barber shut down and so I couldn’t continue the conversation. However, I think his view of God and a lot of western society’s view is that he is an angry god waiting to smite us at any moment if we step out of line (okay I may be exaggerating slightly, but I don’t think I’m too far off!).
Now this view of God is completely and utterly wrong but this may be an accurate view of the Pharisees in Jesus day! In today’s encounter, we see them watching Jesus like a hawk to see if he was going to slip up by healing a man on the Sabbath. What does Jesus do? He doesn’t try to hide or heal this man in the back corner but he calls this man out in front of everyone! Here is a man who has a crippled hand standing before Jesus who has the ability to heal it on the Sabbath when healing was only allowed in life and death circumstances. Jesus asks the room what is better - to heal this man, to do good or to leave him unhealed, to do bad? The leaders were silent and Jesus was angry at how hard their hearts were. Jesus heals the man and the Pharisees begin scheming as to how to put him to death. The conflict here is very real! The Pharisees have a choice and so do we. Are they going to submit to Jesus and make him king over their lives, or are they going to reject Jesus and put him to death? MC
Questions
Prayer
Lord God, thank you for Jesus who gives life, who radically transforms expectations, and who has the authority and willingness to serve and heal. Please transform our hearts and our lives to make Jesus our number one priority above all things. In his name we pray, Amen.