In response to those who are unable to attend my weekly Bible study on the Gospel According to MARK (Sunday’s at 10 am at Hollywood United Methodist Church), I share my thoughts and notes from previous sessions. While I’m not a scholar, I am an enthusiast. Enjoy!
Mark 2:18-22
Rumor had it... the
disciples of John the Baptist weren't backing Jesus of Nazareth -- even though
the man who they followed (before he ended up in prison) stated, "After me
will come one more powerful than I,... I baptize you with water, but he will
baptize you with the Holy Spirit." [i] Maybe Jesus heard the
voice come from heaven once he was baptized in the river Jordan; nevertheless,
that heavenly voice was not heard by the disciples of the Baptist's.
Rumor became reality when
it was confirmed in verse 18. Yet why would anyone be surprised by this -- the
mixing of the followers of John with Pharisees? As previously mentioned in the
first blog post on MARK, John the Baptist was a life-long Nazirite (Numbers 6:2-13).
He was dedicated by separation. Makes sense his followers would be as well. And
another name for the Pharisees was... "separated ones." The two
parties definitely had some things in common, and that included fasting.
Why weren't the disciples
of Jesus fasting, too? Bad disciples!
Let's hold back on the
judgment though. While some certainly took up this discipline, "Fasting
was not a general practice for Jews except at Yom Kippur [the Day of
Atonement when the nation confessed and was forgiven its sin], during mourning,
and as a preparation for urgent supplications to God." [ii] Fasting often was not
standard practice or protocol.
Was there an issue with
the Pharisees fasting often? Carlton (at the Sunday study) spoke up regarding
the problem of showing off, calling attention to one's self. The problem? If
you're only fasting to impress others, if you're fasting strictly as a ritual,
then it has no honest value. The true purpose of fasting is being twisted. That
was happening with the Pharisees who would whiten their faces and wear
disheveled garments on their fast days so no one could miss them. [iii] "See how good we
are?!?"
Jesus replies to the
question of fasting by using the image of a bridegroom with his guests. Why
though? How would this relate?
Of the numerous rabbinic
rulings, there was one which stated, "All in attendance of the bridegroom
are relieved of all religious observances which would lessen their joy." [iv] So in regard to the
religious observance of fasting, the wedding guests were exempt. Because it
would lessen their joy, joy, joy!
Jesus could informatively
use this rabbinic ruling (and for the purpose of clarity) in his telling of the
bridegroom and his guests. At the same time, as Gene shared with the study
group, "Jesus was calling himself
the bridegroom, and while he was here, it was a time of celebration." That
is, until the bridegroom will be taken away, which alludes to Jesus' own death.
Then there is mourning; there is fasting.
Then Jesus talks about
garments and wineskins -- like he's whipping out the Old Farmer's Almanac.
What's up with that?!
If "new" is
forced upon "old", problems will arise. How many times have we
witnessed that? In this instance, beyond the good advice which might have been
lost on the listener, "the Pharisees had become rigid like old wineskins.
They couldn't accept faith in Jesus that wouldn't be contained or limited by
man-made ideas of rules." [v]
If one forced the new wine
of Messianic faith into old wineskins of traditional Judaism, the faith would
be lost. Judaism would be ruined. But if the old forms became freshly prepared
and reconditioned, accommodating trust in Jesus,.... [vi] As Norma said to the
study group, "Jesus wasn't telling them to get rid of the old. But he was
telling them to savor the new."
For consideration,...
* What happens when we
become fixed and set in our ways? Are we "alive"? Truly alive?
* In what ways have each
of us been approached with something "new" and we've dismissed it
without hesitation and without thought regardless of its intrinsic value in our
lives?
* If new truth is
presented, what's the worst that would happen if it is sincerely contemplated?
What's the best?
In its simplest form, I
believe what Jesus was saying was this... "With everything you've learned
up to this point, keep your heart open to the possibilities of something new
and exciting, drawing you closer to God in ways you can't imagine." Scary,
beautiful words to consider, yet truly life-changing.
No comments:
Post a Comment