Take Two: Mark 10, Proverbs 20

Did I mention that Mark goes fast? I had to read the chapter a couple of times this morning. It is like trying to take a "sip" from a fire hydrant!

In Mark 10:1-12 Jesus answers the Pharisees on the subject of divorce. If you read this and thought His answer was a bit ambiguous, consider the context. We miss it without a little background. The Pharisees were typically divided into two "camps" on the subject. One group believed that a man could divorce his wife for displeasing him. They were very subjective. It could be that she "let herself go" in appearance, stopped cleaning the house, watched too much "Oprah" or that she wrecked the car. Any reason...if it was important to the man...it was good enough. The second camp held to a more rigid understanding of the text. They held that divorce was only "legal"/valid when she had committed sexual immorality. (The Greek word- Porneia, where we get the English-pornography). This may include any sexual infidelity...whether homosexuality, adultery, etc.

The goal of the Pharisees was to get Jesus to commit to one side or the other-- thus alienating the other camp. {The best way to destroy a guy...is to divide his "support base" until he is in the minority...then take him out. }

Jesus hit them in the stomach though. He changed the question. He stated that they were asking when it was legal, when the real question was why they would even pursue it when God made marriage an indissoluable union (i.e. a one way ticket, a forever promise, etc.). Jesus pointed out that the Mosaic provision for a Certificate was only given when the hearts of the people were so hardened (a product of sin) that they would not yield to God. The Certificate of divorce was a protection measure to insure that the woman would not be abandoned. (She had little standing in community and was dependent for livelihood on her husband. If he did not provide, without the Certificate...she could not even remarry...thus she was doomed.)

Sometimes, we as Christians ask the wrong questions too. Do I tithe on the gross or the net? How much drinking is allowed as "social" before it becomes drunkenness? How many times do I have to forgive? At what point is enough, enough...in my marriage?

Mark 10:17-31 is an interesting exchange with the rich young ruler (Pharisee). (One of my friends thinks this is the Apostle Paul early on. Interesting thought...but I don't know.) The ruler wanted to know what he had to do to be righteous with God. When Jesus gave him the commandments, the ruler claimed that he had kept them perfectly. Jesus pressed the issue to the "heart" of the matter. The man placed great trust in his own possessions. Jesus told him to forsake those things and trust God alone to provide. The man went away sorrowful.

We as Christians often do the same thing in our journey. We are confronted with sin and consider forsaking it; but, we decide that we cannot live without the comfort that the sin provides. So, we go away sorrowful. As believer though...rest assured...God will not let you get away with that. (Speaking both biblically and experientially!) He will not allow you and I to become content with a second rate salvation. He will chip away at our defenses and give incentive...until we are willing to yield that area of our lives. At that point, we are ready to move forward and experience the "abundant life" of John 10:10.

Mark 10:32-45 speaks of the coming crucifixion. Jesus tells His disciples exactly what is coming and how. This will serve to strengthen their faith and affirm that things did not "get out of hand" at Calvary...but were the expressed and intended will of God. Beginning in Mark 10:35-45, Jesus speaks of the model of servant leadership. Non-believers DEMAND authority. Believers YIELD authority.

(As a sidenote...this is why I "shake my head" many times when people refuse to follow the direction that a church's leadership takes. To refuse to submit is to act as non-believers. Non-believers demand their rights, while believers yield under lawful authority and depend on God to defend them. So when someone says, "I am leaving because I don't like so-and-so, or I can't submit to the direction the pastor is going" They are saying that they are demanding their rights. My rights...and the rights of every believer...were nailed to the cross at Calvary. I gave all that I had there...both my sin and my right to make demands. When Jesus said, Take up your cross and follow Me, He did not give me a vote. This was His way...and I either yielded or rebelled. There was no middle ground.)

The chapter closes with "blind Bart" receiving his sight. (Mark 10:46-52) He "pitched a fit" (as my Grandmother was fond of saying) when he heard that Jesus was coming into town. Even though people tried to quiet him, he pressed on until Jesus called him forward. He knew what he wanted (sight) and he asked for it. Jesus granted it according to his faith.

There is no "receiving from Jesus" until we know what we want (i.e. we are convicted of our sin and broken fellowship with God resulting from it), and ask Him for it (i.e. ask for forgiveness and yield to His Lordship in our lives) in faith.

Proverbs 20:18 is the takeaway today. There is wisdom in planning. We are called to live disciplined lives. As people who have emotions, we must be all too aware that, at times, we can become "driven" by our emotions. This is why it is important to seek guidance and accountability (assistance) when making big decisions in our lives. We don't need to seek counsel on whether or not to lie, to confront evil...or to tithe, go to church, or read the Bible. The Scripture is clear. We do need (often times) to seek counsel before running out and doing something that is less than clear (when to get married, job changes, major purchases, educational pursuits, etc.). Is that a "legal" requirement? NO! But it has proven to be a step wisely taken for me. Sometimes I miss my own blindspots...and God has placed people around me to help me see them...and avoid the pitfalls hidden from my sight by those blindspots.

Grace,