SCRIPTURE:
But Jesus told them, “Moses wrote this command for you because of the hardness of your hearts…. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” - Mark 10:5,9
OBSERVATION:
Anyone who thinks there is no editorial work or redaction in the Bible, you’ll need to quickly overlook these words of Jesus and turn the page!
Being challenged by some Pharisees about the writing of Moses on the topic of divorce, Jesus comes back with an amazing revelation. There are things written in the Bible because the one writing – the penman at that moment, in that time and place – knew the people, knew they fall short of the Glory of God and knew they needed lesser answers to the greatest of questions.
Clearing things up, Jesus says, “Go back to Creation. One man. One woman. One marriage. One flesh. Not two. One. Get it? Got it. Good!” Then He adds a final punch, “Don’t mess with what God blessed.”
Yes, I’ve been loose in translation. Very. But, what I’m trying to show you is that God allowed his leaders to speak and write for their day and time – based on the nature and needs of the people. Their sinful nature. Their broken needs. God is big on reaching us - even if that means He needs to say less than He means, and require less than He really wants because we are sinful, broken and desperately disconnected from Him. Close is close enough. And step by step He moves closer to us.
When Jesus shows up on the scene, He explains some things. And, like His Father, He leaves some stuff for later. Much later. Like, 2nd coming later.
To the disciples, in small group, Jesus explained divorce in even harsher terms. “Once two flesh-beings become one spirit-being, they can’t un-one. They’ve merged. One.” Sure, you can tear parents in two and stitch them up with another chopped-up couple, but what about the…
Just then, in his telling of the story, Mark, masterful Mark, does something subtle but special. He calls the kids into the room.
Jesus sees the disciples carving off the people with kids and sending them away because “Jesus is busy.” Jesus calls the kids over. “Let the kids come to me! Don’t mess with them. The Kingdom of God belongs to… well, to people who receive it like a little child.” Then he hugs them and blesses them. Then HE hugs the kids. “After taking them in his arms, he laid his hands on them and blessed them.”
APPLICATION:
Jesus gets really fired up when people mess with His Children. They may be actual children being done wrong by. Or, they may be His grown children, being messed around by sin, selfishness, society and suffering.
While Jesus wouldn’t wish this treatment on His worst enemy, when He sees His children being mistreated or misguided, He calls them to Himself and hugs them. Jesus hugs you when this world messes with you. Hugs you and blesses you.
The greatest realisation we will ever have as Children of God is that He is not the one bringing calamity upon us. God is not angry with us. God is not punishing us. God is the one comforting us. Hugging us. Blessing us. Saving us. Even in the midst of the darkness.
PRAYER:
Dear Lord,
There are so many things I misunderstand about you. So many ways I misrepresent you. Please correct me where you can. I know I’m stubborn and ignorant at times. Help me desire your edits and redactions. Create in me a clean heart. But, when this world attacks me, remind me that you are not ok with that. You are not a part of that. You are the one calling me to yourself, hugging me and blessing me. Thank you, Jesus. Amen.
