“…some Pharisees came, and to test Him, they asked…” (Mark 10:2)

Around 77 times in the Bible, it mentions something about the leaders of the day questioning the validity and authority of Jesus of Nazareth.  This is according to www.Bible.knowing-Jesus.com

Jesus had to be on His best behavior at all times.  This is why I call the Pharisees, (and all their other cohorts known as Saduccees, Scribes, Herodians, etc.) Jesus’ “shadows.” It is because they seem to be lurking in the behind the scenes of everywhere the Lord goes.  They are waiting for every moment in Jesus’ life to pounce on Him at a moment’s notice.  It reminds me of the modern day paparazzi who badger celebrities for photographs.

This Sunday is no exception.  Someone in the core of the Pharisees has thought up another scheme to trick Jesus into saying something about the ever present “theological sore thumb” of divorce.  There were very strict rules about it.  Since Jesus appears so liberal to these “shadows,” they think this might be the time to catch Jesus in His words and discredit Him once and for all.

Sometimes I wonder this about political debates.  Are these debates about hearing each candidate’s opinions on the issues, or, are they simply there so that each candidate can show the weaknesses of the others?

That’s really what is going on here in Mark 10.  They don’t really want to hear His opinion on a vital issue in society.  They only want to point out some flaw in His stance on this age-old concern of the human family so that they might tear Him down.

So, the subject is divorce, a hot topic even to this day.  But, the scripture is really not about divorce.  It really isn’t.

Jesus plays along.  He asks, “What does Moses say about this?”  Of course, they know what Moses said on this issue.  Jesus has turned the tables.  “God gave this ruling because of the hardness of hearts like your own.” (verse 5)  It’s not that Jesus agrees with their feelings about divorce but rather He wants them to know that the people they serve are just as important as they are.  The poor, widowed, orphaned, and yes, the divorced.

The Church is always in danger of doing the same thing.  Every hot topic (capital punishment, war, human sexuality, economy, ecology) needs debate, but not to the point that all that happens is ends up dividing us.

Jesus goes on to say in this chapter that every child in this world deserves respect and justice, love and compassion.  In fact, He ends the conversation of the Gospel this weekend by saying:  “…for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.” (vs. 14)

76 other times in this Book Jesus is challenged not for good purposes other than to scandalize Him.  Every time we debate an issue and the result is division and not some form of workable agreement, then, we need to work harder for an answer to the truth.

Our call as Christians is to look beyond the issues and find union in God’s Spirit that dwells here.  It’s time we stop testing Jesus and begin to test our own hearts and minds.  It’s time for a reforming spirit to rekindle the love of Christ for one another and for the world.
Amid all the criticisms and scathing articles on Pope Francis’ recent visit here, we need to look at the good that was accomplished through those few days and work from there.

God loves you and so do we!