Man was not made for the Sabbath

I am going to dedicate the blogspot for one last week to meanderings about the characteristics of the followers of Jesus that I found to be outstanding in the account from Mark. I found 9 characteristics. Today's discussion is on characteristic # 8.

Characteristic 8: (S)He treats the strict adherents to religious traditions as those who need to be guided further, redirected, or challenged to give up their traditions.

Jesus did not mince words. He did not politely treat those who wanted to use the law as if it were a straight jacket. He would tell them hard sayings to follow such as it is harder for a camel to thread the needle's eye than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. He showed them his authority over nature, with his divine attributes of forgiving sins. He would drive out Jews from the temple area where they sold merchandise because they had turned the house of prayer into a den of theives. He would command waves on a sea to convince his followers that he was in charge of nature and could do what he wanted if he so chose. He would tell those who listened that he was Lord of the Sabbath and that they also were not made for the Sabbath, but vice versa.

If we take that to heart, then it seems that we have much in our religious world that we need not heed. We simply need to follow Jesus' teachings. We are not bound to follow people's traditions. And just what falls in the category of tradition? All kinds of practices. The church has made attendance a high priority. But, maybe just being with other Christians at work, at play, in leisure, on trips, etc. is a more effective arrangement for being with other Christians. The church has made worship "acts" a definition of worship. Paul's application was the living sacrifice. Our daily habits might be a better definition of our recognition of God than our "acts." Religious people don't let religion get in the way of their business. Followers of Jesus operate business through their integrity, honesty, decency. Who is worshiping at what place has a higher importance than exhibiting kindness and compassion to the people around us. At the very least the arrangement should be vice versa. Perhaps the second part of the statment is the only action that counts. Religious people place a priority on which church, and by extension, which doctrine is correct. What should be more important, perhaps, is the knowledge of the tenets of Jesus' teachings, that is, he fed hungry people, he relieved the pain of the afflicted, he cast out limiting demons of the flesh, he assured the insecure, he forgave sins. Our religion should not be rules but forgiving responses, healing touches, encouraging words.

It's refreshing to be around people who don't act religiously. Jesus encountered the religious people, and we do too. Our response should be the same as the teacher's response. We follow the Lord of the Sabbath.