8.15.25 ~ Clarifying the Accusations
Good morning!
We live in a time where personal opinion is fact. We live in a time where we forget that we only know in part. We cast blame at others when we are guilty of the very thing we are stating. In self-righteous positions we are actually creating division more so than unity. We are self-focused rather than body-focused. We are hungry for power and position rather than yielding to His glory. Yes, my friend, in our modern day religious systems of over thousands of different denominations, our church is the one that holds to the truth. We live in a land that is divided from its political system, geographical locations, and support of our athletic teams all the way down to individual families.
This morning, on this beautiful preparation day, let's take a look at a statement that Yeshua made in Mark 3:25 and examine it a little more closely.
“And if a house is divided/merizo against itself, that house will not be able to stand.” (Mark 3:25)
This passage is often quoted when someone is pressing for unity, which is a major focus of our Torah portion this week, Eikev/because.
In this passage Yeshua is not talking about the areas of division I mentioned above, He was talking about the cosmic consequences of disrupting the house of Satan. Get the context right and you will find something far more consequential – and far more frightening (Mark 3:22-27).
In Mark’s account, Yeshua is pressed by the crowds. They want healing. They want wisdom. They want relief. This time a group of scribes are present. Yeshua is exercising a power they cannot condone, so they ascribe His authority to Satan. Yeshua must have a demon in order to do all these things.
Do we see ourselves saying this? Yeshua does what we cannot endorse. He heals those who are unworthy. He forgives those who are unrighteous. He does not pay any attention to our rules for proper religious behavior. His very presence challenges our interpretation of God’s will. All those proof texts go out the window if we can’t reign Him in. Since we think we already have God in our box, the only explanation left is that Yeshua must be from the other side. We are right, therefore He must be wrong. If you have never heard the voice of the scribe echoing in your head, then you probably haven’t understood just how radical Yeshua's claims are. Yeshua will not, and does not, accommodate Himself to our version of proper religion. We might ask ourself just how much of what you say and do really reflects what He says and does – and how much is simply acceptable church behavior...remember our study this week on "imitate me"?.
Yeshua defends the honor of the Father exhibited through His actions with the metaphor of a disrupted household. How can Satan be responsible for doing what is good? Satan does not work against himself. The scribes are stunned; shocked into silence. Agreeing with Yeshua's metaphor can mean only one thing. Their version of what God can and cannot do is wrong. They must eat humble pie and confess their arrogance. Of course, they will do no such thing. It is easier to insult Yeshua as demonic.
In this era, we think that we can distinguish the hand of the Master from the work of the devil. We think that we have it all wrapped up. Then we come across a group of believers who are doing what God would do but don’t accept our theological views. They might even attend a church we think is outside the pale. Help! Our neatly packaged theology is being shattered. Have you ever wondered if our denominational distinctions are not symptoms of an unhealthy house? Maybe Yeshua's response to the scribes is one that we need to hear more often. “Look at the works that I do and give glory to God.” Is that how you see the other side of the aisle?
Happy preparation day and Shabbat Shalom,
Alan
This morning, on this beautiful preparation day, let's take a look at a statement that Yeshua made in Mark 3:25 and examine it a little more closely.
“And if a house is divided/merizo against itself, that house will not be able to stand.” (Mark 3:25)
This passage is often quoted when someone is pressing for unity, which is a major focus of our Torah portion this week, Eikev/because.
In this passage Yeshua is not talking about the areas of division I mentioned above, He was talking about the cosmic consequences of disrupting the house of Satan. Get the context right and you will find something far more consequential – and far more frightening (Mark 3:22-27).
In Mark’s account, Yeshua is pressed by the crowds. They want healing. They want wisdom. They want relief. This time a group of scribes are present. Yeshua is exercising a power they cannot condone, so they ascribe His authority to Satan. Yeshua must have a demon in order to do all these things.
Do we see ourselves saying this? Yeshua does what we cannot endorse. He heals those who are unworthy. He forgives those who are unrighteous. He does not pay any attention to our rules for proper religious behavior. His very presence challenges our interpretation of God’s will. All those proof texts go out the window if we can’t reign Him in. Since we think we already have God in our box, the only explanation left is that Yeshua must be from the other side. We are right, therefore He must be wrong. If you have never heard the voice of the scribe echoing in your head, then you probably haven’t understood just how radical Yeshua's claims are. Yeshua will not, and does not, accommodate Himself to our version of proper religion. We might ask ourself just how much of what you say and do really reflects what He says and does – and how much is simply acceptable church behavior...remember our study this week on "imitate me"?.
Yeshua defends the honor of the Father exhibited through His actions with the metaphor of a disrupted household. How can Satan be responsible for doing what is good? Satan does not work against himself. The scribes are stunned; shocked into silence. Agreeing with Yeshua's metaphor can mean only one thing. Their version of what God can and cannot do is wrong. They must eat humble pie and confess their arrogance. Of course, they will do no such thing. It is easier to insult Yeshua as demonic.
In this era, we think that we can distinguish the hand of the Master from the work of the devil. We think that we have it all wrapped up. Then we come across a group of believers who are doing what God would do but don’t accept our theological views. They might even attend a church we think is outside the pale. Help! Our neatly packaged theology is being shattered. Have you ever wondered if our denominational distinctions are not symptoms of an unhealthy house? Maybe Yeshua's response to the scribes is one that we need to hear more often. “Look at the works that I do and give glory to God.” Is that how you see the other side of the aisle?
Happy preparation day and Shabbat Shalom,
Alan
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