Mark 10:1-16
Be Still: What, O Lord, would you have me see and hear today? Amen
Read: Mark 10:1-16
And Pharisees came up and to test him asked, ‘Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?' He answered them, 'What did Moses command you?' They said, 'Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away.' And Jesus said to them, 'Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female, therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh so they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.' ……
But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, ‘Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. (v 2-9 & 14)
Encounter: This passage is about two areas of relationship - marriage and caring for children. In both cases Jesus rebuked others for not handling things well - the Pharisees for being hard-hearted in relation to divorce, and the disciples for trying to prevent children from coming to him. It illustrates how strongly Jesus felt about people and how much he wants relationships to reflect his love and compassion.
Jesus wanted to meet children and gave it high priority. He commended them for their simple faith and trust and suggested that we should be more like them. Focusing on our children in church is so important.
Divorce and remarriage are contentious subjects and have been much debated in churches and denominations over the years. What can we learn from this passage?
Compassion, not applying ‘the law’, should be the guiding principle. Jesus talks about ‘your hardness of heart’ and calls for care, support, and tenderness for those caught in marriage problems and breakdown.
It was no longer for the man to decide, unilaterally, when the marriage is over. (It had been relatively easy for a man to declare a divorce, but women did not have the same right). Jesus’ discussion of remarriage puts men and women on the same footing.
God’s desire is that a man and a woman should become one flesh and that marriage should be sustained and not broken. As in other areas of life, we may experience difficulties, but are called to work through them and be committed, before God, to maintain our marriage relationship - with separation and divorce being very much a last resort.
Apply: Let us show compassion and give support to those separated or divorced. When it comes to question of divorce and remarriage let us not be the first to 'throw stones.' (John 8:7).
Let us support, encourage, and commend all those involved in kids’ work. (And volunteer!)
Devote: Help us, Lord, to put serving you and seeking your help at the very centre of our children’s work, parenting and marriage relationships.