“Now some of the teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves…” (Mark 2:6 NIV)
The Pharisees spent all their time in Jesus’ presence in dissection and accusation. Jesus’ ministry looked so wildly different than their own, they could wrap their minds around it. They refused to consider His effectiveness. Instead they just tore apart each encounter with Him piece by piece.
Consider the whole scope of chapter 2:
It begins with a miraculous healing of a lane man, but the Pharisees turned a blind eye to the power of God. They alleged that Jesus was blaspheming the Almighty. They missed the fact that Jesus was the Son of God and God does not blaspheme Himself.
The text moves on to questions about fasting. The Pharisees fasted twice a week (Luke 18:12) yet by their judgement, Jesus’s disciples ate and drank as they please. I say ‘by their judgement’ because we know the disciples lived on the road with Jesus and it is apparent throughout the gospels that often times they did not know when or where their next meal would come from. Yet by the Pharisee’s perception, the Jesus entourage was ever feasting. Even John the Baptist’s followers fasted, they argued. By the way, the Pharisees didn’t believe in John’s ministry either, but that was not the purpose of this discussion. Jesus’ disciples did not appear to publicly fast, and that was near to heresy in the Pharisee eyes.
The last big offense in chapter two has to do with Sabbath. Jesus’ disciples had apparently chewed on grains as they followed Him through a field on the day of rest. Obviously, this wasn’t work. These men weren’t breaking a sweat or pulling a plow. They were absentmindedly enjoying the scenery as they stayed close to the Savior. Shouldn’t we all be so fortunate as to spend the Sabbath with Him?
Keep in mind, most of the rules about Sabbath had been through addition of man, not God’s instruction. Over generations the teachers of the law had buried Sabbath in so many regulations, it had become a burden to God’s people not a blessing as originally intended.
So what is our take away today?
The Pharisees were so hung up on church politics and procedures that they had missed the Son of God in their midst. They could have asked Jesus anything about heaven and earth or the past or the future, but they frittered their opportunity in polity and perceived offenses. They missed the blessing of being with Him altogether.
The Pharisees were consumed with details and they failed to see the big picture. They awarded a once in lifetime chance to sit with the Savior and they spent themselves on human legislation instead.
My friends, we tend to suffer similarly. We get lost in the man-made additives to our faith. Jesus invites us into His presence. He hopes that we’ll be content to just be with Him. He reminds us that we have only two objectives; loving God and loving others. Everything else is extrapolation and interferes with divine agenda.
“But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge, I will tell of all Your deeds.” (Psalm 73:28 NIV)
Lord, please forgive us for getting lost in the details. Help us to see You amidst the business and chaos of daily life. May we spend the bulk of ourselves in Your presence, not dissecting what You are doing, but enjoying Your nearness. Amen.