In Mark 7, Jesus and his disciples were rebuked by Pharisees and Scribes for eating without proper washing of the hands. Washing of the hands before eating had nothing to do with germs as we understand it today, but had to do with laws of purity and holiness which according to tradition were handed down from Moses.
The Pharisees in Jerusalem believed that Moses received 2 sets of laws; the oral traditions which were memorized and passed down from generation to generation, until they were finally written down 200 years after Jesus, and the second set of laws which were written down and formed into what we call the Bible.
Pharisees from Galilee were not as sold on the oral laws as the Jerusalem Pharisees, and this may explain why Jesus, who was Galilean, had little interest or respect for the oral tradition.
There was a lot of discussion about both forms of Law among the rabbis. Without ceasing, they discussed certain subjects relating to ritual purity. The Mishnah was written down around A.D. 220 in order to remember what the rabbis in Jesus' day were discussing. Here is a small portion of what was said about the washing of hands:
Mishna - Mas. Yadayim Chapter 2
MISHNAH 3. HANDS BECOME UNCLEAN AND ARE MADE CLEAN AS FAR AS THE WRIST. HOW SO? IF HE POURED THE FIRST WATER OVER THE HANDS AS FAR AS THE WRIST AND POURED THE SECOND WATER OVER THE HANDS BEYOND THE WRIST
AND THE LATTER FLOWED BACK TO THE HANDS, THE HANDS NEVERTHELESS BECOME CLEAN.13 IF HE POURED THE FIRST AND THE SECOND WATER OVER THE HANDS BEYOND THE WRIST AND THEY FLOWED BACK TO THE HANDS, THE HANDS REMAIN UNCLEAN.14 IF HE POURED THE FIRST WATER OVER ONE OF HIS HANDS AND THEN CHANGED HIS MIND AND POURED THE SECOND WATER OVER BOTH HIS HANDS, THEY REMAIN UNCLEAN.15 IF HE POURED THE FIRST WATER OVER BOTH HIS HANDS AND THEN CHANGED HIS MIND AND POURED THE SECOND WATER OVER ONE OF HIS HANDS, HIS ONE HAND BECOMES CLEAN. IF HE POURED WATER OVER ONE OF HIS HANDS AND RUBBED IT ON THE OTHER HAND IT REMAINS UNCLEAN. 16IF HE RUBBED IT ON HIS HEAD OR ON THE WALL 17 IT BECOMES CLEAN. WATER MAY BE POURED OVER THE HANDS OF FOUR OR FIVE PERSONS, EACH HAND BEING BY THE SIDE OF THE OTHER, OR BEING ONE ABOVE THE OTHER, PROVIDED THAT THE HANDS ARE HELD LOOSELY SO THAT THE WATER FLOWS BETWEEN THEM.
As you can see, details were very important to the Pharisees of Jerusalem, so when they saw that Jesus and his disciples were eating without any hand washing, they were shocked that Jesus would do that. They looked for anything to fault Jesus, just like we do today to those we don't like; and Jesus made sure they had something to fault him with, using his offence as a stepping stone for discussion about the Oral Law.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
The Political Power of the Crowds in the Time of Jesus
Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things (Mark 6:34).
Crowds are like sheep, following whatever or whoever. Both Jesus and the pharisees knew this. Crowds are not always the brightest. In the last 60+ years, social scientists and psychologists have studied crowd behavior in order learn and manipulate buying behavior. Political scientists have likewise studied crowd behavior in order to manipulate voter response. All of them conclude that crowds can be manipulated. Using the right buttons (usually related to emotions such as anger, fear, insecurity, etc., people generally (but not always) respond in predictable ways. As Jesus believed, people are like sheep.
THE PHARISEES
The Pharisees sent officers to take Jesus and bring him back as a prisoner, however, after hearing Jesus, the officers were impressed by what he said and did not take him. When they told the Pharisees that they didn't bring Jesus and why they didn't, the Pharisees got angry and said, "This foolish crowd follows him, but they are ignorant of the law. God's curse is on them" (John 7:49)!
The Pharisees looked down on the crowds for 2 reasons:
1. They did not know the Law.
2. They followed Jesus. They believed that the reason they didn't like Jesus was because they knew the Law better than the crowds, but in reality there were other reasons they didn't like Jesus, such as:
a. Jesus posed a threat to their preeminence.
b. Jesus did't believe right; he disagreed with them in several areas of the Law.
c. Jesus didn't do it right; he became good friends with bad people and helped them out.
d. The Pharisees were jealous of Jesus' popularity.
Over the years, the Pharisees developed a faith better suited for professionals. It took time and energy to be able to reach the goals and demands for individual piety that they strove to reach. It took time and energy that only certain people could accomplish, people who spent their days studying small details about the Law, pouring over words, striving to understand details about the Sabbath, about what is or what is not unclean, and the proper amount to tithe.
JESUS
Jesus read the same Law, but he took it from the professionals and gave it to the common and poverty bound people. Jesus' focus was more on community, forgiveness and mercy. Like the religious leaders, Jesus viewed the crowds as sheep; but whereas the Pharisees despised the crowds for their lack of knowledge in the Law and following Jesus, Jesus had compassion on the people, knowing that with proper guidance they were awesome.
Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things (Mark 6:34).
Crowds are like sheep, following whatever or whoever. Both Jesus and the pharisees knew this. Crowds are not always the brightest. In the last 60+ years, social scientists and psychologists have studied crowd behavior in order learn and manipulate buying behavior. Political scientists have likewise studied crowd behavior in order to manipulate voter response. All of them conclude that crowds can be manipulated. Using the right buttons (usually related to emotions such as anger, fear, insecurity, etc., people generally (but not always) respond in predictable ways. As Jesus believed, people are like sheep.
THE PHARISEES
The Pharisees sent officers to take Jesus and bring him back as a prisoner, however, after hearing Jesus, the officers were impressed by what he said and did not take him. When they told the Pharisees that they didn't bring Jesus and why they didn't, the Pharisees got angry and said, "This foolish crowd follows him, but they are ignorant of the law. God's curse is on them" (John 7:49)!
The Pharisees looked down on the crowds for 2 reasons:
1. They did not know the Law.
2. They followed Jesus. They believed that the reason they didn't like Jesus was because they knew the Law better than the crowds, but in reality there were other reasons they didn't like Jesus, such as:
a. Jesus posed a threat to their preeminence.
b. Jesus did't believe right; he disagreed with them in several areas of the Law.
c. Jesus didn't do it right; he became good friends with bad people and helped them out.
d. The Pharisees were jealous of Jesus' popularity.
Over the years, the Pharisees developed a faith better suited for professionals. It took time and energy to be able to reach the goals and demands for individual piety that they strove to reach. It took time and energy that only certain people could accomplish, people who spent their days studying small details about the Law, pouring over words, striving to understand details about the Sabbath, about what is or what is not unclean, and the proper amount to tithe.
JESUS
Jesus read the same Law, but he took it from the professionals and gave it to the common and poverty bound people. Jesus' focus was more on community, forgiveness and mercy. Like the religious leaders, Jesus viewed the crowds as sheep; but whereas the Pharisees despised the crowds for their lack of knowledge in the Law and following Jesus, Jesus had compassion on the people, knowing that with proper guidance they were awesome.
Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things (Mark 6:34).
Thursday, July 7, 2011
When Rulers Came to Jesus
When a friend of mine found out that he had pancreatic cancer, he went to the health store and bought up all kinds of vitamins and herbal cures he would never have touched before. He knew that traditional medicine had nothing to offer him, so he was willing to try anything that promised healing or a better life; including medicines he beforehand deemed to be wacky.
People in Bible days were no different. They knew when traditional cures and medicines could do nothing for their sickness or disease; and when they had no where else to go, some went to Jesus, who was a man who identified with the lower classes more than the upper classes.
Upper classes would not feel comfortable mingling with Jesus and the types of people that he hung with, because they believed they were superior. They dressed differently; they had a different set of values; and they probably talked differently. We do know that Galileans were despised by and had a different accent than the Judeans. How much more would prejudice and pride affect the classes.
So for a man who hung out with more noble classes to go to Jesus and ask Jesus for a favor, it was quite humiliating... Jesus was not a messiah to the rich and the noble. Nevertheless, desperate times demanded desperate measures, so when rulers or wealthy came to Jesus for help, they were putting aside their own feelings of superiority.
There were several people who came to Jesus from the upper classes who were genuinely seeking for some favor. And even if they may or may not have been wealthy, they did hold respectable offices. At least four different people from the upper classes came to Jesus: a ruler of a synagogue, a centurian, Nicodemus (a Pharisee) and a rich young ruler.
The first 2 came to Jesus on behalf of others, while the rich young ruler and Nicodemus came to Jesus with questions about the kingdom Jesus was preaching. The first 2 went away satisfied; their needs were met. But the last 2 left Jesus very troubled.
They were troubled because their lives' status was placed under the microscope and challenged by Jesus. The rich young ruler learned that his money was a barrier, hindering his walk with God; and Nicodemus walked away knowing that his reputation would be at stake if he openly confessed Jesus.
Other people of stature came to Jesus, but most of them were trying to trap him in his words. They were not troubled by Jesus' teachings, and they did not look to Jesus for help. Instead, they went to Jesus in hopes of destroying Jesus' ministry.
People in Bible days were no different. They knew when traditional cures and medicines could do nothing for their sickness or disease; and when they had no where else to go, some went to Jesus, who was a man who identified with the lower classes more than the upper classes.
Upper classes would not feel comfortable mingling with Jesus and the types of people that he hung with, because they believed they were superior. They dressed differently; they had a different set of values; and they probably talked differently. We do know that Galileans were despised by and had a different accent than the Judeans. How much more would prejudice and pride affect the classes.
So for a man who hung out with more noble classes to go to Jesus and ask Jesus for a favor, it was quite humiliating... Jesus was not a messiah to the rich and the noble. Nevertheless, desperate times demanded desperate measures, so when rulers or wealthy came to Jesus for help, they were putting aside their own feelings of superiority.
There were several people who came to Jesus from the upper classes who were genuinely seeking for some favor. And even if they may or may not have been wealthy, they did hold respectable offices. At least four different people from the upper classes came to Jesus: a ruler of a synagogue, a centurian, Nicodemus (a Pharisee) and a rich young ruler.
The first 2 came to Jesus on behalf of others, while the rich young ruler and Nicodemus came to Jesus with questions about the kingdom Jesus was preaching. The first 2 went away satisfied; their needs were met. But the last 2 left Jesus very troubled.
They were troubled because their lives' status was placed under the microscope and challenged by Jesus. The rich young ruler learned that his money was a barrier, hindering his walk with God; and Nicodemus walked away knowing that his reputation would be at stake if he openly confessed Jesus.
Other people of stature came to Jesus, but most of them were trying to trap him in his words. They were not troubled by Jesus' teachings, and they did not look to Jesus for help. Instead, they went to Jesus in hopes of destroying Jesus' ministry.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
The Parable of the Seed
In 3 of the gospels, a farmer sowed seed that fell on different kinds of ground. How the seed grew depended on the ground. What Jesus said about his group applies to any and every group.
There are some who will newcomers who will not get what it is about the group and walk away, never to return.
There will be some who enter the group, thinking that it will be great; but when the newness wears off, or when times get tough, those people will leave.
There are some people who will join a group, but eventually get lured into another.
And finally, there are those who become strong followers, then leaders within the group.
There are some who will newcomers who will not get what it is about the group and walk away, never to return.
There will be some who enter the group, thinking that it will be great; but when the newness wears off, or when times get tough, those people will leave.
There are some people who will join a group, but eventually get lured into another.
And finally, there are those who become strong followers, then leaders within the group.
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