Mark 7:14-23 (NIV)
Throughout the Gospel of Mark, Jesus is being presented as the New Human who is both modeling the way to be truly human and working to make a way for us to become those kinds of humans... Restored, in his image. In the last passage, Jesus points out the Pharisees’ lack of integrity after they try to call out the disciples for eating with unclean hands.
In today’s passage, once again the disciples are a little confused. In their day, the Pharisees are THE people who are living as righteously as anyone could. But Jesus corrects them as he explains that there is more to becoming a new human than just following a set of rules. The Pharisees think it’s about external regulation, but Jesus is calling his disciples, and he’s calling us, to an internal transformation.
You will know a tree by its fruit. And if a tree produces hollow, rotten or bitter fruit, it’s because there is something wrong inside the tree. Jesus cares about righteousness and holy living…. That’s clear in the words you’ll hear today, but no amount of rule following will get us there… we must be made new.
----------REFLECT----------
1. What word or phrase stood out to you in this passage?
2. Are there ways that you try to be the right kind of human through regulation versus transformation?
3. How would you need Jesus to show up if you were to make yourself available to him to be transformed? Ask that of him now.
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