Read Mark 2:21-22
Your Way Stinks.
The Pharisees confronted Jesus because his disciples weren’t fasting like their disciples were fasting. Jesus said that because he is in their midst it’s a time of rejoicing not fasting and mourning. But Jesus said a day is coming when he will be taken and then his disciples will fast. The Pharisees had their fasting rituals and routines and acted as if their way was the elite way of doing things. They expected others to follow suit. They felt their ways were the best and any way that opposed it, stunk! But what they didn’t realize is, Jesus, the Son of God and Savior of the world, was in their midst. I think of it as “A New Sheriff Is In Town” because the old way of doing things is no longer going to be the norm. Jesus came and he brought a new way of living.
To expect Jesus and his followers to follow the old traditions of the Pharisees would be like putting a new patch on an old garment which would only result in a new tear. Or it would be like putting new wine in old wine skin. The old wineskin would eventually burst and you would lose all the wine.
The Pharisees were living under the old covenant with its old way of doing things, mostly man-made traditions. Jesus is the new covenant, the new presence for Hope and Redemption with a new way of living.
Had the Pharisees known who Jesus really was, they wouldn’t have been fasting but instead celebrating his presence. They would have rejected their old teachings and humbly sat before the Lord to hear his teachings. They would have followed his ways and given up the old man-made traditions.
What traditions have we found ourselves locked into? Do we expect others to live their Faith exactly like we do? Do we find ourselves looking down upon people rather than showing love and compassion for the sinner? Have we lost the desire to reach lost souls?
Jesus loved people. He showed compassion for the lost and hurting. He invested into their lives. He had a message of forgiveness and redemption.
CHALLENGE: Put yourself to a test. When you see a person not living like you are, see where your thoughts go. Do you directly go to condemning thoughts towards the person or do you find yourself wanting to pray for the person out of love and compassion?
Lord help us all to pursue you and your teachings over what the world has to offer.
