The Way In

Mark 10:1-31

I think if people spent as much time attempting to find a way in as they do to find a way out in this world life would be very different.

The greatest blessing for us is that God is about providing a way in rather than a way out.

Obviously, the Pharisees have come to Jesus to test Him in front of people. They interrupt His teaching rather than listening to it, because they are trying to find a way out of His teaching rather than a way into it.

They question Jesus about marriage, because then as now certain aspects of marriage are controversial. They knew they could divide the crowd following Jesus by asking Him to take a stand, and share His opinion about divorce.

The very root of the word we employ for divorce implies divisiveness. It divides people in ways they were not designed to be divided. What do YOU think about divorce?

This is a common question, because we choose to act as if what people think about divorce makes some kind of difference. Without knowing it, or believing it, these Pharisees have indeed asked the only One Whose opinion matters – and that is God.

So we see here what God thinks about divorce. Do we listen? Do we pay attention to His answer? (Jesus, by the way, answers the Pharisees’ question. He does not shy away from it for fear of dividing His crowd. His answer goes directly to God’s design – indeed His design - of marriage.)

If we have a “good marriage,” then we agree with Jesus’ answer. If we are in a “bad marriage,” we keep looking for a way out because it is about what we want rather than what God wants. That’s really the difference that divides men isn’t it? Some do what is necessary to be under God’s authority, and to have eternal life in God’s kingdom where He is in authority, and some will not.

This is why children are the stuff the kingdom of heaven is made of. They recognize they are under authority, and they do what they are told. The rich young ruler? You?

-Pastor Bill