One of the realities of this life is opposition. No matter what you try to do, there will always be opposition. Today I want to read with that idea in mind.
Jesus was doing something wonderful, healing a man with a deformed hand. How could there possibly be any opposition to that? Of course, that’s not what the Pharisees were protesting. They might have been pleased that the man gained use of his hand had they done it themselves. No, this was opposed because Jesus was a threat to their way of life, and their understanding of Scripture. Had Jesus agreed to include the Pharisees as friends, or had He paid them some diplomatic courtesy they would have cheered Him on. But instead Jesus is suggesting that what the Pharisees are teaching is misguided, and they themselves are incorrect in their understanding. They aren’t having it.
To say it another way, they aren’t opposed to healing really. They are opposed to what Jesus stands for, a failing grade on their leadership.
Ironically, if they had simply admitted it, joined Him and learned from Him they would become a powerful force for change. But they weren’t interested in that, they wanted things to stay the way they were.
I wonder how much resistance to new ideas in the Church are based on fear and insecurity? Fear of what people will think when they find out you’ve done something wrong. Fear of appearing weak or imperfect. Insecure in our own identity as imperfect yet growing disciples. Why is it that every new idea is met with hesitation or opposition (by some, not all)? I guess we don’t all grow in faith at the same pace, so there should be some who adopt to new ideas more quickly than others. And, to be fair, those who are older have seen many “new ideas” launched with cheers and loud speeches, only to see them fall from the sky like a dead bird a short time later, demoralizing everyone involved.
Let’s be honest: agreeing to follow the teachings of Jesus is a big “ask”. When you view it from the perspective of the person who hasn’t adopted the faith, there is some risk involved. You’re asking someone to believe that one guy, and only one guy, out of all the people who have ever lived was actually God in human form. You’re asking someone to believe that this guy, whom they have never met, whose life and work were hotly contested during his life and still today, was correct in everything He said and everyone else was wrong. You’re asking them to accept what this single man claimed, that there was only one way into heaven and that was through Him. All other religions were false, including the one He himself was born into, if they didn’t accept Him as the completion of their faith. Of course there was opposition. I think most of us would be set back on our heels if the Gospel was presented to us in that way.
So here’s my conclusion: When something new is presented, examine it carefully using Scripture as a guide. Use experience, tradition and reason, but always back up your conclusion with solid scriptural support. And be humble, none of us are the complete answer and we know that. Accept that God may provide the next step forward through someone you didn’t expect, maybe even someone you see as a threat.
Jesus was angry with the Pharisees, but the passage also says He was deeply saddened by their hard hearts. This tells me Jesus would have treated them differently had they only approached Him with humility. Even if they didn’t understand who He was, or accept who He was, had they just been humble, they might have been accepted instead of rejected.
Note to myself: approach all new ideas and teaching with humility, I don’t know everything, and I haven’t experienced everything. There’s more to Christ and the Christian life than I am currently aware of. Be humble, but also be wise.
Loving Jesus,
PR