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Who Was Jesus?
Author: Stephanie Stewart
Do you ever remember a certain bully in school who believed he could set the rules and let everyone know that he (or maybe she) was in charge? I remember one particular student in middle school who just loved to terrorize the smaller (and less threatening) kids. This bully wanted to make sure everyone in the seventh grade new he decided the rules. The Pharisees, in a way, are a lot like the schoolyard bully. They were the ones who were authorized to interpret the Mosaic law and “set a hedge” about it. They were the ones who decided what was legal on the Sabbath and what was not. And they were the ones who quickly pointed out any violations.
The Pharisees did not like the fact that Jesus was trying to destroy what they tried to keep and expected the Jewish people to keep (traditions, regulations, and rules). When Jesus said that he was Lord of the Sabbath he was basically telling the schoolyard bullies they were no longer in charge. Jesus boldly affirmed “that as Lord the Son of Man is the one who decrees what is lawful and unlawful, permissible and impermissible, and any customs ordained by the Pharisees or their traditions are thereby rendered null and void” (Garland 107).
But Jesus goes even farther. In Mark 3:1-5 he deliberately provokes the Pharisees (the “bullies”). He heals a man with a withered hand in a deliberately public way. Even more interesting is his manner of doing so. He does not touch the man or even pray for him. He simply tells him, “Stretch out your hand.” As soon as the man complies he is healed. Hence, Jesus demonstrates two things: he is the one in charge (not the Pharisees) and he has the power to heal.
What is scary is the fact that we can be “bullies” ourselves. If we do not yield ourselves to Jesus, it is because we want to be in charge. We want to set the rules. This is true for all areas of life: finances, diet, friendships, entertainment, etc. Have you let him have authority in all areas of your life or do try to set the rules?
Lord, help me to surrender to you in all areas of my life. Help me to see that you are in fact Lord.
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