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MARK: Jesus #Unfiltered - Day 52
If you’ve ever had someone trying to ‘trip you up’, then you’ve got some sense of what it was like for Jesus with the Pharisees. The Pharisees have been constantly and consistently testing Jesus, not to earnestly discern who he is, but in order to entrap him. Previously, John the Baptist’s denouncement of Herod Antipas and Herodias’ unlawful marriage had ultimately cost John his life. It’s possible here that the Pharisees are trying to force Jesus into a similar corner in order for him to be in hot water with the authorities. But Jesus won’t be trapped! And so in response to their question, Jesus simply asks them what Moses commanded, to which they respond that Moses had permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce. Such a system was incredibly open to abuse and often left the female extraordinarily vulnerable. Therefore, with this in mind, Jesus reminds the Pharisees that such a provision was not God’s ideal for marriage (as per that described originally in Genesis), but an accommodation for the brokenness of humanity for which the effects spill into our relationships.
But Jesus’ concern for the family is now further extended by his blessing of children in verses 13-16. It’s important to note that in Roman society there was a general disregard for children, abortion was legal, and infanticide was an accepted practice. Whilst the disciples rebuke the children for coming to Jesus, Jesus rebukes the disciples for daring to keep them away! Not only does Jesus welcome the children, but he tells the disciples that they should come to God in the same way that children are utterly dependent on their parents. That perhaps instead of arguing about their greatness, the disciples need to recognise that they can bring nothing before God and instead need to utterly depend on him in their powerlessness. Without depending on Jesus, we have no place in his kingdom. AL
Questions
Prayer
Gracious God, please help us to be utterly dependent on you. May we come to you in great humility, trusting in your goodness and mercy. May we grow in our trust and may that be evident in our lives. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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By St Bart's ToowoombaIf you’ve ever had someone trying to ‘trip you up’, then you’ve got some sense of what it was like for Jesus with the Pharisees. The Pharisees have been constantly and consistently testing Jesus, not to earnestly discern who he is, but in order to entrap him. Previously, John the Baptist’s denouncement of Herod Antipas and Herodias’ unlawful marriage had ultimately cost John his life. It’s possible here that the Pharisees are trying to force Jesus into a similar corner in order for him to be in hot water with the authorities. But Jesus won’t be trapped! And so in response to their question, Jesus simply asks them what Moses commanded, to which they respond that Moses had permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce. Such a system was incredibly open to abuse and often left the female extraordinarily vulnerable. Therefore, with this in mind, Jesus reminds the Pharisees that such a provision was not God’s ideal for marriage (as per that described originally in Genesis), but an accommodation for the brokenness of humanity for which the effects spill into our relationships.
But Jesus’ concern for the family is now further extended by his blessing of children in verses 13-16. It’s important to note that in Roman society there was a general disregard for children, abortion was legal, and infanticide was an accepted practice. Whilst the disciples rebuke the children for coming to Jesus, Jesus rebukes the disciples for daring to keep them away! Not only does Jesus welcome the children, but he tells the disciples that they should come to God in the same way that children are utterly dependent on their parents. That perhaps instead of arguing about their greatness, the disciples need to recognise that they can bring nothing before God and instead need to utterly depend on him in their powerlessness. Without depending on Jesus, we have no place in his kingdom. AL
Questions
Prayer
Gracious God, please help us to be utterly dependent on you. May we come to you in great humility, trusting in your goodness and mercy. May we grow in our trust and may that be evident in our lives. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.