Mark 10:2-16 is the Gospel lectionary text for Sunday, October 3.
Jesus addressed divorce. For the record, Jesus said NOTHING about homosexuality or abortion, or practically ANYTHING that have become hot-button issues today for those who profess to follow Jesus, but who use HIS Gospel to divide, take control over others and gain the appearance of faithfulness for themselves while not living the LOVE that Jesus DID COMMAND.
Jesus was tested by the religious leaders, as always. It was a trap. They wanted to catch the "libtard" in some awkward sound byte to discredit Him. Jesus instead schooled them on the intention of God's Law through Moses, and its context because of THEIR hardness of heart. Jesus gave the Law context and thus discredited the hypocrites. It seems to me that "libtards" may need to learn that lesson from Jesus for our interactions today. We must reclaim the Gospel from those who have been twisting and weaponizing it for over 41 years.
Yes, for their hardness of heart, God did allow for divorce - a certificate to be drawn up by the men against their wives. They were looking for reasons to ditch wives who did not do everything they wanted - to abandon their wives so they could run off with someone else. Sound familiar? There are sub-cultures among corporate executives who do this very thing and have been for years - "trading her in on a younger/newer model," like a car. The trouble is, it left these women without means because of other rules designed to hold them down, back and out in their society.
So, Jesus clarified - if there is infidelity, then divorce may be justified for the man, but God created us male and female (note there is no hierarchy of importance attached to this statement by Jesus), and put us together as ONE flesh. Would a man rip off his arms because he saw some bigger guns on someone else? No. You work with what you have been given. Women were vulnerable - among the most vulnerable in that society, and under empire. Jesus provided protection for the most vulnerable against those who would exploit them and throw them away in the society - men.
And children - Jesus was blessing them. They are always the most vulnerable. They have no means of their own and are subject to whatever great or horrible things their parents or guardians dish out. They have no status in a society based on merit, because they have not earned any yet. They are of great value in the Kingdom because of their loving, trusting innocence. The world victimizes them. Our nation victimizes them. Christian folk who claim to be "pro-life" victimize them once they are born. They are the most vulnerable among us, yet it is to them that the Kingdom belongs. And if we do not learn from them the receptivity to accept the Kingdom of God in trust and love, we will not enter it, according to Jesus.
Not much has changed in the world since Jesus walked among us. Empire values still corrupt, especially in our nation. Women and children are still exploited, abused and thrown away. And the Gospel of Jesus still addresses the inequities and injustices to the most vulnerable, and counters that with Agape Love and Grace.
Jesus values women and children. Do you? Do we?
Pastor Jamie
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