Mark 10:2-16 NIV
2 Some Pharisees came
and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”
3 “What did Moses command
you?” he replied.
4 They said, “Moses
permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.”
5 “It was because your hearts
were hard that Moses wrote you this law,” Jesus
replied. 6 “But at
the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’ 7 ‘For this
reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, 8 and the
two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore
what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
10 When they were in the
house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. 11 He
answered, “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman
commits adultery against her. 12 And if she
divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.”
13 People were bringing
little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples
rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was
indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children
come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as
these. 15 Truly I
tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child
will never enter it.” 16 And he
took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.
Back to Paradise
Here, Jesus takes us back to Paradise. Jesus takes us back to Paradise in
the Garden of Eden, on a wonderful, teaching, event of love. Yes, a time, like
it was always intended to be, a time of union with one another and in union as
children of God.
Yea, I know, at first glance this looks like strict instructions from
Jesus on how to handle divorce. But, as my week’s study progressed, I began to
change my thoughts on this idea. Why? I realized that Jesus didn’t come into
this world, or rather God didn’t come down in flesh, to make new rules and
regulations for all of us to follow. Jesus didn’t come here to make Law. No, God
came to us in the flesh of Jesus to fulfill the Law, not make more Law.
The religious leaders of the day are trying to trick Jesus into laying
down the Law as something different of what Man had made the law on marriage or
divorce to be. The questions from the religious authorities are really about tricking
Jesus on the law on debates about marriage and divorce in that day and time.
But rather than falling for this, Jesus takes us back to Paradise. Jesus takes
us back to where the answer is not more law.
Think about it, look to the purposes of God giving us marriage. In some
ways marriage is a manmade thing of sorts. But the real marriage is with God.
God wants us to be in total union with Him. So, our marriage with God is
intended to be perfect and permanent. Think back to what God tells us through
His Word about Paradise in the Garden of Eden. A time before we were deceived by
the devil to an idea that we may become like God if we DO, this or that.
God created man and woman equal in His sight. But the marriage we people
sought from God is different from the marriage that God seeks for you and me.
God’s marriage is NOT for convenience or pleasure. Rather, God’s marriage
purpose is both physical and spiritual, with Him. This is like all union with
God our Creator. We belong to God as His children in perfect union.
So, you see, this isn’t about Jesus making Law’s for us to live by in
marriage and divorce. This passage is
about God’s love for those He created to be ONE with Him and live with Him in
His Kingdom.
Marriage is about depending on each other. Marriage is NOT about
dominating one another. Marriage is designed to be an ideal situation by God
with the sexes and each of us as His Children. Yes, we depend on God and we
depend on each other as equals with man, woman, brother, sister, or neighbor.
And Jesus teaches us to be His Children, in His Kingdom. Adults need to
turn or reverse ourselves and become, or realize that, yes, we are Children in
the company of God.
As the adults tried to prevent the children from coming to Jesus, He got
mad! Really mad! Jesus was mad only at a few things. One was preventing people
to come to Him, especially children. Jesus doesn’t get mad much. Even on the cross
after persecution, mockery and all of that: Jesus wasn’t really mad at the
people. In fact, Jesus forgave them because they didn’t know what they were
doing. Really! I think they knew exactly what they were doing, in the flesh. But
Jesus knew that in respect to the Paradise of God and His Kingdom, these people
had no clue what they were doing. They had no idea that they were killing The
Creator!
Yet, in contrast, me and you? I get mad all the time! I get mad
especially when I’m offended. I get mad when I feel persecuted. I get mad when
my ego is hurt. I get mad when I’m mocked or made fun of. I get mad at the leaking
plumbing under the sink. I get mad at all kinds of goofy stuff, that really
doesn’t matter one bit.
In this case regarding the children, Jesus WAS mad! Jesus, wanted to
bless these children for the evening. So, Jesus commands, let the children come
to Him! Don’t hinder the children from coming to Jesus.
But do we? Do we hinder children from coming to Jesus in our day and time
and life?
Do we make Jesus unattractive by the way we act as examples? Do we hinder
the children from coming to Jesus when we put Jesus behind our selfish
interests? Do we hinder the children from coming to Jesus when we neglect
taking a child’s religious life seriously. On some level, we have intentionally
or unintentionally been guilty of hindering little children from coming to
Jesus. Look deep inside of yourself and see this sin.
A child depends on the parent or the guardian and even the neighbor. A
child cannot receive the kingdom if our own pride and self-righteousness gets
in the way. A child stumbles on the parent when the parent claims the “Look
what I did” stuff going on today. And then think about this… we ALL are really
Children of God! So don’t let yourself get in the way or “hinder” any Child
from Jesus, small or large, young or old. This stuff makes Jesus mad! Cut it
out!
Rather, look at the children. Children teach adults so much. As the
children come to Jesus, they receive Jesus with humility, trust and total dependency.
The children love the evening blessing of Jesus. Why? Because a child knows how
to receive the Kingdom of God as a gift.
And here we are, once again, Back to Paradise and Pointing to Jesus.
Yes, even in the Garden of Eden, God was Pointing to Jesus.
Enter the Kingdom of God as a child. See, how God, is in Jesus, and open
the door to see Jesus’ presence and invitation in life for you and I, to answer
that eternal question that Jesus asks and invites me and you to follow.
“Can Billy come out to play?”
Of course, I can, and I ask you, Jesus to lead and guide me Back to
Paradise… today… tomorrow… and forever.
For you created the children to be like God to live with God, to be blessed
by God, to live with God, to be happy with God. So, pay attention and don’t
drift away from God’s presence and Jesus eternal blessing. It’s all there for
you to receive and receive freely.
Thanks be to God!
I leave you with this intriguing YouTube music video - I especially appreciate how he "Points to Jesus" and how it reminds me of the God of Paradise...
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