Mark 10

Posted on Feb 22, 2017 in Bible (NT) in a Year |

Wednesday

Have you noticed how closely the Pharisees seem to be keeping to Jesus? You’d think that some of his message would sink in!

I wonder if for some it did? I just have always had a hard time imagining being that close to Jesus and being so hard-hearted as to not realize who He is. But then again, there were many who did believe. Anyway, our Pharisees are up to their old tricks trying to cause controversy over the issue of divorce. Even to this day, we debate over the issue of divorce. If we lived in a perfect world, there would be no such thing, but we live in a fallen world and in Moses’ day and Jesus’ time, people could not get along. One important thing to realize here, is that Jesus doesn’t like divorce, but he is not saying that divorce is unforgivable. As husbands and wives, we should work together at our marriage and when a couple gets married, divorce should never be an option. I’ve been married for 41 almost 42 years and I can honestly say, divorce was never once considered. The sadness today, is that too many people think they can’t make it work. Their eyes are pointed on themselves and not the other person. When we think of our spouse first, (both sides) what a difference it makes.

So Jesus tells the Pharisees, it is just their selfishness that has created this notion that a man can divorce his wife with no thought of what might happen to her.

What Jesus really wants is for us to consider marriage a sacred bond, between man, woman and God. When God is part of the marriage, it truly is a bond that is hard to break. A just a brief note here… marriage is between a man and a woman… Jesus says so.

I love this next passage. This picture of Jesus with his arms full of children.  Laughing and playing with them. Taking the children in his embrace and blessing them. Telling the disciples to leave them alone. The parents smiling because Jesus is interested in their children. Oh that we could all treat children with such love.

Do you see how much importance Jesus puts on the family and each person in it, father… mother… child? We should view the family in the same way by realizing just how sacred and valuable each household is.

Jesus encounters a wealthy man and tells him to sell all his possession. This is not a declaration that all wealthy people are going to hell any more than He is saying all poor people will go to heaven. What we need to take note here is that Jesus is telling us to give up those things that take first place in our lives –that take our focus off of Him. Look around at your life and ask yourself, “what do I need to get rid of in my life?” Let go of it… unburden yourself and live first and foremost for Jesus.

The last part of our reading today centers around James and John wondering if they can sit at the right and left of Jesus. Don’t be too harsh on the sons of thunder, they are just struggling to understand but at the same time, I do have to shake my head at them for not hearing what Jesus has been teaching. We should not look for places or positions of honor… we should be willing to sit the end of the table…(so to speak) live in humility. James and John will “get it”….. eventually.

Faithfully following Jesus

Pastor Kathy