Waiting For The Wonder

REFLECTIONS
May 31, 2009

Jesus was frequently placed in the position of doing what was accepted and legal, or doing what He was called to do. He lived within a religious culture which had laws and rules. Mosaic Law forbade work of any kind on the Sabbath, yet Mark 1:23-28 and 3:1-6 record Jesus breaking the law. When questioned about His behavior, He answers with the question of whether the law was made for people or people for the law? What may seem a capricious reply was a valid retort then and still merits consideration today.

His point was simple, people are more important than rules. The law of love takes precedent over Mosaic Law. There is no place for legalism among a body of believers. Jesus modeled as much in His ministry to those outcast and marginalized by His religious community. Mark and the other Gospels record religious leaders questioning Him as to why He would break the rules and at some level we identify with Jesus and see His need expand the measure and meaning of law within His tradition. In truth more often than we care to admit, we more closely resemble His detractors.

How often do we in the faith community say to someone with a new or different idea, we’ve never done it that way before. Worse yet, if something new is implemented, we are quick to ask the question; who gave approval? Worse still, we take our most sacred document, the Bible, and make it a legal document. Those who accused Jesus of violating the Sabbath cited the Levitical codes. For them, the Word of God was law.

Life is not a game and the Bible is not a rule book which determines who is in or out of the game. Jesus lived in real time and showed that ultimately all time belongs to God. Jesus was certainly aware of rules, law and judgments both secular and holy. However, the reign of Jesus was and remains a state of grace.

Dr. Joey K. McDonald
First United Methodist Church
4832 Tujunga Avenue, North Hollywood, CA 91601