Comments on: Sunday, May 11th; Mark 12:13-34

By: ubahleeob

ubahleeob — Fri, 09 May 2008 13:25:33 +0000

Always with the questions. “Who do we serve, who’s her daddy (husband), why on the Sabbath…..” and so it is with religion. These teachers of the law, the perfect purveyors of religion, were always fluttering around Jesus trying to catch him in some sort of trap.

Religion is like that mosquito trapped in your car, always buzzing in your ear, never letting you rest. It takes your focus off the road. Now instead of steering, your swatting, and swerving, yelling and cursing. Fixated on the devilish intruder, you fail to see on-coming traffic and the only thing that gets squashed today is you.

And isn’t that the goal of religion, getting your focus off the way? That’s what they were trying to do to Jesus. The same is true of us. There is religion, always questioning, “if God loved you…., maybe if you gave more…, a real Christian wouldn’t have done that….blah, blah, blah.” But here is Jesus, our Savior, cutting through the noise, clearing the air of these bugs, bringing the picture back into focus. “Why are you playing these games … you don’t get the point at all…”

Like you said Rob, it is all about relationships. Not listening to the buzz, but Jesus. Always remembering that it’s not the questions asked by the gnats that define us, instead we are defined by the answers from our Master.

By: soulsurfer

soulsurfer — Thu, 08 May 2008 13:59:23 +0000

Right on Golda! I think it’s really interesting that in each trap (well, especially the first two) of this section, Jesus points out that their very question misses the POINT entirely. That’s the problem of relgious systems, they more often than not are focusing on the wrong things as priorities and values. Everything about Jesus’ responses points towards relationship!
Great observations, Golda!

By: Golda

Golda — Thu, 08 May 2008 13:43:59 +0000

Just to clarify, its all about relationships with Jesus and others, not about religion. This should be our priority!

By: Golda

Golda — Wed, 07 May 2008 17:04:04 +0000

The “religious leaders” were ignoring the scriptures, “Loving God with all you heart and soul and strength” (if you Love God, automatically you will love what He Loves, his children). I also believe they were making their own rules and ignoring the most important issue “Loving God and Loving Others”.

If we make God our priority, not man, everything else will fall into place. Rob, thanks for the reminder!!!