Sunday 6 October 2024

Psalm 8

Background
Jesus was a rabbi, a teacher of the Torah. This may seem simple enough to state, but it has implications. For a start it means he is teaching from the perspective that the law is a given, but needs interpreting. That was the job of rabbis. You will notice how often Jesus says, “You have heard it said, but I say to you…” This typical rabbinical phrase is not about undermining a law, but effectively saying: “Your previous understanding is insufficient.”

As a rabbi, Jesus he had much to say about some of the interpretations made by his contemporaries of the laws of Moses. One of his repeated ways of interpreting the law is to emphasise how much more profound it is than one might imagine. We can recall in Matthew 5 his teaching on murder (v. 21), adultery (v. 27), divorce (v. 31), vows (v. 33), revenge (v. 38) and loving your neighbour (v. 43). Jesus repeatedly makes the point that the law is not only about outward signs or behaviours, but about the inner person, their intention and character.

In our reading today from Mark's Gospel, Jesus is underlining the teaching about divorce in a similar way. He seems to be making it harder and more rigid. His concern, however, is not to add a more severe level of rules and behaviours. His concern is about the character of the person, their very being. The kingdom of God is not for those who simply obey the rules. Entry into the kingdom is not be made easier by modifying the rules and making them a little bit easier; nor is it made harder by interpreting laws more strictly. You don’t get into the kingdom that way at all. In fact, you only get into the kingdom of heaven if you are a wholly new creation. In John 3:1-21 Jesus explains the criteria for entering the kingdom of heaven.

In the story from Mark’s Gospel today, children are taken as an example not because of their innocence, but because our discipleship begins when we are born again. It is only when we are born of the Spirit that we can behave as new creatures, bearing the fruits of the Spirit, “for which there is no law” (Galatians 5:23). In this new dispensation the way we are treated is about God’s grace. Our behaviour is not what we do to earn God’s love, but what we do because we find we are loved. To be in born again, like children, is to be in Christ and thus free from condemnation (Romans 8:1)

To Ponder:

• In your view, what, if anything, constitutes legitimate grounds for divorce?
• The law is not just difficult to live by, it is impossible. How does that challenge you, encourage you or disturb you?
• Why do you imagine the disciples tried to stop parents bringing small children to Jesus for his blessing (v. 13)? Why do you think Jesus took a different view? How, in your experience, does the Church today learn from this simple story?

Prayer
Today is Homelessness Sunday. Lord, you knew what it was to be hungry and tired, to have no place of your own to lay your head. We lift up to you those who have no safe place to stay.The men and women seeking shelter in doorways; the families fleeing war and persecution; the teenagers sleeping on yet another sofa. Draw near to them Lord, today and every day. Amen.

First published in 2018.