Breaking religious laws
Religious laws require more laws: laws for adapting them to changing circumstances, laws for policing the population, laws for punishing law-breakers. Eventually the whole system collapses under its own weight. A legal system is only as strong as the people who obey it.
There would seem to be value in religious laws. People believe that keeping them ensures God’s pleasure. If that were true, how willingly we would endeavor to obey religious laws. How willingly we would endure harsh correction if only we could please God. Jesus told his very religious, very law-abiding community that they weren’t succeeding at keeping the laws.
Instead of blindly letting the law judge you, judge your laws, said Jesus. Deciding how to do the will of God requires wisdom. He pointed to the fact that keeping the law which said a baby should be circumcised on the eighth day of its life, compelled breaking the law of Sabbath-rest if the baby became eight days old on the Sabbath. Instead of following rules think about what it is that God wills us to do. In Jesus’ community this had already been spelled out as justice (equality) mercy and humility.
Something will happen to the person who comes to me, said Jesus. A force for good will spring up inside him, and be so strong that it flows out into his actions. By this power the person will be both want to do what pleases God and be able to. The power of this man, Jesus, who completely did the will of God, is available to all who put confidence in him. He has promised his Spirit for this purpose, not just his influence or example but his living Spirit.
The Gospel of John, chapter 7 verses 17 – 24
Gospel of John, chapter 7 verses 37-39
Micah chapter 6 verse 8
There would seem to be value in religious laws. People believe that keeping them ensures God’s pleasure. If that were true, how willingly we would endeavor to obey religious laws. How willingly we would endure harsh correction if only we could please God. Jesus told his very religious, very law-abiding community that they weren’t succeeding at keeping the laws.
Instead of blindly letting the law judge you, judge your laws, said Jesus. Deciding how to do the will of God requires wisdom. He pointed to the fact that keeping the law which said a baby should be circumcised on the eighth day of its life, compelled breaking the law of Sabbath-rest if the baby became eight days old on the Sabbath. Instead of following rules think about what it is that God wills us to do. In Jesus’ community this had already been spelled out as justice (equality) mercy and humility.
Something will happen to the person who comes to me, said Jesus. A force for good will spring up inside him, and be so strong that it flows out into his actions. By this power the person will be both want to do what pleases God and be able to. The power of this man, Jesus, who completely did the will of God, is available to all who put confidence in him. He has promised his Spirit for this purpose, not just his influence or example but his living Spirit.
The Gospel of John, chapter 7 verses 17 – 24
Gospel of John, chapter 7 verses 37-39
Micah chapter 6 verse 8
posted by Jessie Coates at 8:49 AM
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