Mark 7:9-23 ~ a Fine Way

Mark 7:9-23

9 And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ 11 But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban”’ (that is, given to God)— 12 then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, 13 thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. 

And many such things you do.”


14 And he called the people to him again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand: 

15 There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.”

17 And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable. 18 And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, 19 since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) 

20 And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. 21 For from within, out of the heart of man, 
come evil thoughts, 
sexual immorality, 
theft, 
murder, 
adultery, 
22 coveting, 
wickedness, 
deceit, 
sensuality, 
envy, 
slander, 
pride, 
foolishness.;
23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”


What is the Law of God?

Usually we don't start with foolishness. Or sensuality. Or Pride. Although we all suffer from pride in various aspects. The Law of God - is - Every Word of God.

John 4

Jesus decides to declare His Majesty. The Light of the World surveys humanity and He picks - Samaria. And a notorious sinner. And a women. Why would Jesus the Christ of God do this? Jesus tells her His Reason. We read the Word of God and should know. Jesus says He is looking for a Spirit of Truth.

God has odd ideas where He will dwell. Like arriving in a stable born from a pregnant Virgin - only Betrothed.

Or choosing to reach out to an aging and disgruntled Priest who forgets to grab hold of the Horns of the Altar for Mercy. C'mon. You aren't supposed to give 'attitude' to an Archangel in the Middle of The Temple of God... in Jerusalem, no less. Not just any Synagogue.

Jesus chooses Luke. Luke would be the narrow gate to the very end with Peter and Paul. Luke writes 1 Chapter about Jesus deciding to be Life on Earth? Luke writes 3 Chapters on the Infant Jesus choosing this Life. Life. Life. A Father would dwell on the birth and not the end. You know this. God would want to speak of Life.

The people of God are always upset with God.
Why does He look mean in the Old Testament? The Answer is - He does NOT. We are using the standards of fleeting flesh to look at the Almighty. Does He owe us to write down - that Baal asks infant blood spilled for - ease of life - for easier circumstance - prosperity. Maybe God was worried Israel would say, "Hmmm recipe for Bone Meal and Crops hmmm." Poor God. You have to wonder why Proverbs 8 says Jesus delights in mankind. We are easily offended ... by God.


God is about - PEOPLE. You. Me. God says before you tithe - you better - you better - you better see if your aging parents are Fine.

God is concerned about Aging Parents. Remember with me, one of the Names of Father God is : Ancient of Days.

Did you suddenly remember the establishment condemned Jesus as being a hippie? He Loves too much. Jesus eats and drinks and loves too much. That Jesus - He even heals on the Sabbath. We aren't even sure if Jesus washes His Hands.

Humans: How can Jesus say we have to take care of our aging parents if He left Nazareth and moved off to Capernaum? Well, we know for sure, Jesus was on with His Father. Jesus has siblings, James, Jude, Joses. And we know Jesus took the Disciples to stay with Mary for a few days after the Wedding in Cana. Jesus made sure to bring Mary a Hope and a Future with safety before He died. Mary had tried to save Jesus' life in the beginning of His Ministry. God is not going to place Mary in harm's way. Jesus is God and tells us of God priorities.

Jesus does unusual things. And this list will tell us we all fall down. Requiring a Savior.

Thank God, Jesus has Promised, as surely as Jesus ate fish He prepared for His Disciples after Victory over Death. As surely as Jesus had a physical body, Jesus has promised He will Never Leave or Forsake - those who really seek Him. A Rock Solid Foundation Promise from God with a Living Surviving Body.


What does the Body of Christ show for Jesus? Mercy triumphs over Judgement. The Shepherd does not let go of the Sheep. The Father will not let go of his children. We Believe God is - what John records as an eyewitness - God of Love. Forgiving. Asking us to grow up in our journey, we all are on, Journey Home to present our souls to Jesus. Dear Jesus ... this is who I really am underneath all the things, words, attitudes and time. Jesus sees the real us.

The fishing boat found dating to the time of Christ Sea of Galilee 

Father God,

You are the Way, Truth, Life. In You we want to live, move and have our being. Dwell in us, Please God.

We open the doors to our soul and ask Your loving, forgiving Light to dwell within us all our days. Flood with Love and Light - our loved ones. Let the Light of Christ shine beautifully in the people You have given us. 

Let our prayers for Paul and for Steve, for Edward, for my ears - reach to the open Gates, the shining water to The Emerald Throne of Your's. And with Jesus and confidence, we come to You to give your our prayers, thanksgiving for Your Goodness, the wonder of Your Glory, where John suddenly was with Jesus again. 

Knowing our prayers for our communities, Churches, work places, towns, states, our nations, This prayer covers the earth and the fullness thereof. We want this day to be filled with Living Bread, bringing more Heaven to earth. For Your Glory we want to live and give to those we love. Knowing that You are Love and You Will. Thank Jesus, we have seen the Father. Radical Jesus makes the Way. This is where we will put our Eyes and Hearts. Jesus is our Amen.

  

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †