Mark 2:13-22
Jesus does not make it about
religion or sin or cultural expectations. The religious leaders do that. Jesus
makes it about healing, about being the medicine/doctor who the sick need.
Jesus is not about religion but rather about living. Religion says, “fast now,
observe this rite, attend that meeting.” Jesus says, “celebrate now, have life
and have it abundantly.”
And here we have a wonderful parable that sums up
Jesus and his teachings. He will always be at odds with the Old Faith for he is
new wine, which does not go into old wine skins. Jesus is new and only a new
understanding of faith will contain Jesus. He does not fit onto an old cloth or
teaching, it would be a bad fit and ultimately destructive. Not that the
newness of Jesus supersedes the Old, only that it is different and requires a new
perspective. The Old Faith cannot understand nor accept this newness. The new
that is Jesus is not because he is novel, but rather because he is fresh,
spirit inspired. When the spirit infuses faith old norms, understandings and
traditions tend to fall away. Look for the spirit and faith to see the newness
of Jesus. Is Jesus still new today or have we turned his life and teachings
into an Old Faith?
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