IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION (10 OF 70)
by Jerry Watts
Scripture: Mark 2:18-22
This content is part of a series.
In The Right Direction (10 of 70)
Series: Mark - God's Message for Today
Jerry Watts
Mark 2:18-22
"They rubbed me in the wrong direction!" How many have ever heard this phrase. It was very popular at my high school, particularly in the aftermath of a fight. "Why did you fight?" "He rubbed me in the wrong direction." This phrase seems to describe Jesus' relationship with the religious people of His day. He had problems with that whole bunch. In fact we are in a section of Mark which highlights 5 skirmishes with the religious traditionalist of His day.
Follow along: In 2:1-12 Jesus forgave sins. In 2:15-17 He was eating with the wrong people. Today (18-22) He's not doing what the REAL RELIGIOUS people think He ought to do. In 23-28 - He violates their rules about eating and working on the Sabbath, and follows up with in 3:1-6 a healing on the Sabbath. Jesus' ministry continually irritated the church going people. It would seem that He was always rubbing them in the wrong direction.
Before we are too hard on them I would suggest that quite likely, if He was on planet earth today, He would have difficulty with the religious bunch of today. Jesus' focus was and is different than those people who are religious.
Think about the differences between the church of the 1st and 21st century. If the apostles were to step into our time frame they would be surprised at such things as 'buildings,' 'pulpits,' 'Sunday School', "Lord's table," 'denominations', and more. There was no 'song of invitation' in that day. They would be amazed at what we think we cannot do without.
Jesus' focus always seemed to be on the pleasing the Father. His focus was laser like. In rubbing them the wrong way, He was truly trying to move them in the right direction.
1) A HIDDEN AGENDA - V18 - This is how way too many stories begin. All too often people have a personal agenda which moves them away from the heart, goal, and will of God.
a) Surprising Collaborat ...
Series: Mark - God's Message for Today
Jerry Watts
Mark 2:18-22
"They rubbed me in the wrong direction!" How many have ever heard this phrase. It was very popular at my high school, particularly in the aftermath of a fight. "Why did you fight?" "He rubbed me in the wrong direction." This phrase seems to describe Jesus' relationship with the religious people of His day. He had problems with that whole bunch. In fact we are in a section of Mark which highlights 5 skirmishes with the religious traditionalist of His day.
Follow along: In 2:1-12 Jesus forgave sins. In 2:15-17 He was eating with the wrong people. Today (18-22) He's not doing what the REAL RELIGIOUS people think He ought to do. In 23-28 - He violates their rules about eating and working on the Sabbath, and follows up with in 3:1-6 a healing on the Sabbath. Jesus' ministry continually irritated the church going people. It would seem that He was always rubbing them in the wrong direction.
Before we are too hard on them I would suggest that quite likely, if He was on planet earth today, He would have difficulty with the religious bunch of today. Jesus' focus was and is different than those people who are religious.
Think about the differences between the church of the 1st and 21st century. If the apostles were to step into our time frame they would be surprised at such things as 'buildings,' 'pulpits,' 'Sunday School', "Lord's table," 'denominations', and more. There was no 'song of invitation' in that day. They would be amazed at what we think we cannot do without.
Jesus' focus always seemed to be on the pleasing the Father. His focus was laser like. In rubbing them the wrong way, He was truly trying to move them in the right direction.
1) A HIDDEN AGENDA - V18 - This is how way too many stories begin. All too often people have a personal agenda which moves them away from the heart, goal, and will of God.
a) Surprising Collaborat ...
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