Happy Saturday, all.
I thought that as a way to process some of the thoughts and new learning I am encountering while reading through the gospels again, that I would do it here in this space more regularly. First let me start off with an explanation of my plan as of late.
Inspired by the sermon series I shared about in a recent post called The Practices of Jesus, I have decided to re-read the gospels with a new lens. The gospels are just the first four books in the New Testament: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John that recount the details of Jesus' life and ministry. I chose to start with Mark because it is the most simple version of the gospel story. The lens I am reading with this go around is simple: What did Jesus say? What did Jesus do?
I have been reading with my pen and journal in hand and making a t-chart of sorts to simply record the words that Jesus said, and his actions. As I have been doing this, I have had new revelations of who Jesus was and how I might better conform my own thoughts, words, and actions to be more like him.
Today's thoughts come from Mark chapter 3: 1-6.
"Another time, he went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, 'Stand up in front of everyone.' Then Jesus asked them, 'Which is lawful on the Sabbath, to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?' But they remained silent.
He looked around at them in anger and deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, 'Stretch out your hand.' He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus."
Now forgive me, I am no Bible scholar and only understand things with the limited amount of learning I have done. But let me flesh out why after reading this story many times before, it had very new meaning to me this go around.
What does this story tell me about who Jesus was?
Jesus was BOLD! He is not the meek, gentle figure depicted in so much of the art or Sunday school story versions of Jesus I saw growing up. He is, in poor judgement and lack of any other terms that come to mind right now, a TOTAL BADASS.
Here's why: I tried to imagine this scene as if I was in it. I would imagine a synagogue to be a quiet place. (I have no reference for that historically) but I am picturing a sacred place, where scripture is read and all come to hear it on the quiet day of Sabbath (rest) together. I imagine that when the controversial Jesus walked into the synagogue that day, you could cut the tension with a knife. Jesus, knows the thoughts of every single person in the room with him. He knows how persecuted he is and the evil that exists all around him. Can you imagine, walking into a space where many of the people there want to kill you?
And here in this heated space of tension and evil thoughts directed at him, he's faced with a decision. There is a man there with a shriveled hand. I don't know if he specifically called out to Jesus for healing, or if Jesus just saw him there and noticed his ailment, but regardless, he's faced with the decision. To heal or not to heal?
He knows what the spiritual law says. Heck, he's the one that imparted it to the ancestors of the people that are there in the room. The Sabbath is a very touchy subject and many rules have been placed upon it over the course of generations. One thing is certain here, the people in the synagogue believe that if Jesus were to heal this man on the spiritual day of rest, he surely was not a good Jew and something needed to be done to put him in the place where they felt he belonged.
But our Jesus is stronger that their thoughts, pressure, and the fear he may have felt in that moment. His convictions were without question and he did what was right. He healed the man.
Did you notice how he did it? He could have quietly walked by him and healed him in passing. He could have sat next to him and silently healed him with a gentle touch. He could have done just about anything... but instead, he called the man to the front of the synagogue.
"Stand up in front of everyone... Stretch out your hand."
Can you imagine the gasps? Can you imagine the anger boiling within those that believed Jesus was defaming their longstanding religious practices and traditions?
He was BOLD. He did what was right. He wasn't afraid to do the right thing in the most awkward of situations.
And what does that mean for me?
That means that when I am at work and a group of people start talking about another colleague negatively, it's not enough to remain quiet and not contribute to the negativity. If I were BOLD, I would call it out and stop it immediately. That would be so awkward, wouldn't it? But that's who Jesus was.
It's when Dustin and I are flipping through channels trying to find a movie on a weekend night and we start to watch one with overly sexualized content. I can't just sit there and think, what movie isn't like that these days? I have to turn it off and find something else and call it out for what it is.
It's a million different small scenarios in the mix of busy days where I am faced with decision upon decision. Will I just do the best I can, what feels like the most comfortable version of ethical in an awkward social situation... or will I be more BOLD despite how hard it is?
And what does that mean for my parenting and imparting this wisdom on our children?
When all of their friends find it funny excluding someone that's on the outs of the friendship circle... will they go along with the crowd? Or will they be bold enough in their convictions to stop following the crowd and instead do the right thing?
When they (Lord help me) have their own devices someday and are caught in the fast paced stream of social media. Will they see someone's hateful comments and laugh or will they be BOLD enough to write a comment in response calling out someone for their hurtful thoughts displayed in such a public way?
The list goes on and on.
Phew, that was way longer than I anticipated. But I will end here, with a simple prayer that I've been praying this week shaped on my thoughts about our BOLD Heavenly Father.
Lord, thank you for helping me glean new wisdom from reading your word. Thank you for revealing who you want me to be by better understanding the things that you did and said. Today, would you help convict me of the things that I know are wrong? Would you stir in me a greater desire to do what's right, even when it's uncomfortable? Holy Spirit will you help me to act on these convictions when my human-ness keeps me from being obedient to what I know I should or shouldn't do?
Father, help me to guide my children in this wisdom, too. I pray that they will know you well enough to also understand what is right and wrong in your eyes and that they will be bold enough to act on these convictions.
I pray that we would all continue to grow in our understanding of who you are and how we might bless others by being more and more like you.
Amen.
