We were able to watch Tim's two soccer games this weekend. The intensity and competitiveness at the university level is . . . well . . . interesting. Players willingly break the rules in order to make a save, blocking and stopping a shot. Rules are rules. Though the players are dramatically surprised, they are penalized for breaking the rules.
Humanity uses rules to keep order and peace. Rules are tools; however, if we are not careful, rules will become a way of life rather than a tool . . . and we will become irritated when someone messes with the way we do things.
The Jewish leaders wanted to kill Jesus for messing with their rules:
So the Jewish leaders tried all the more to kill him. In addition to disobeying the Sabbath rules, he had spoken of God as his Father, thereby making himself equal with God. Jesus replied, "I assure you, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. (John 5:18-19, NLT)
The rules were broken. The Jewish leaders were not necessarily the "bad guys." Gradually, throughout the generations, the rules had become an important component of their faith. The Jewish leaders had taken on the task of making sure the people followed the rules. Jesus had gone too far . . . they thought they were God's defenders.
What did they know about Jesus?
Jesus had grown up in a Jewish home learning the Jewish faith . . . when he was 12 . . . the Jewish leaders were amazed at what he knew:
When Jesus was twelve years old, they attended the festival as usual. After the celebration was over, they started home to Nazareth, but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn't miss him at first, because they assumed he was with friends among the other travelers. But when he didn't show up that evening, they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. When they couldn't find him, they went back to Jerusalem to search for him there. Three days later they finally discovered him. He was in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, discussing deep questions with them. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. (Luke 2:42-47, NLT)
All were amazed. The scene was not routine. Religious leaders were set apart . . . known for their wisdom . . . and did not spend their time discussing deep questions with twelve year old boys. It was not something that could have been kept quiet. Most likely the leaders had discussed Jesus . . . looking forward to Jesus participating in leadership as he grew into a man; however, when all was said and done, Jesus was seen as a man not as God.
We can look backwards and wonder at their inability to see and believe . . . but we need to remember that to believe that Jesus was more than a man messed with everything they knew to be true.
To think that God would take on the task of being part of humanity to reveal love . . . to give grace . . . to invite humanity into an active participating relationship makes no sense . . . and . . . changes the way we think, behave, and what we do.
Let Jesus mess with you today.
Break out of your routine and the way you do things this week.
Participate in the work of Christ.
Mess with someone else . . . through the love and grace of God.
Learning with you to break out of the daily routine and mess around,
Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2008 All Rights Reserved)
