Feb 5: Not a Popularity Contest.

Mark 7:5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?”

RADICAL:

1.     extreme, especially as regards change from accepted or traditional forms

2.    (related to medical) aimed at removing all diseased tissue

Jesus broke a lot of traditions. Whether it was the tradition of washing of hands in a certain manner before eating food, or the commandment to not work on the Sabbath. On surface level, it would appear that Jesus was a rebel of sorts, a heretic who deviated from centuries of Jewish teachings. It would also appear that Jesus almost took pleasure in breaking those traditions by doing the exact opposite of what the norm was, and ticking people off. It was no wonder that the religious folks could not handle him, and ended up handing Him over to be crucified. They saw Him as a virus that risked contaminating the people through new teachings and breaking of old customs.

But Jesus did not break traditions just for the sake of it. Neither did He take pleasure in doing so. In fact many times, we see that his heart was grieved due to the hypocrisy of the people. They gave prominence to the outward act of washing themselves while compromising the inward cleanliness of their heart. Jesus says to them “You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.” (Mark 7:8) And so Jesus wanted to teach them what honoring God truly looked like. He went on to teach them that it was the thoughts that came out of the heart that had the chance to defile them (read verses 20-23), not what they did to their outward bodies.

You will still find a lot of tradition among Christians today. Some emphasize on the style of clothing, others focus on the style of worship, and still others hold on to various teachings that appear to be doctrines but in reality are man-made. I love what Paul the apostle exhorts with regards to man-made traditions:

“Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules:“Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence. (Col 2:20-23)

Read that verse a few times. There’s quite a bit packed in it. The conclusion is this: a disciple of Jesus will be radical just like Christ was when He was in this world. Jesus was not here to win a popularity contest. He was here to save the world. And He had to help them break out of their unhelpful traditions and make them see what truly mattered to God.

Reflection:

Do you find yourself stuck in a routine or spiritual practice that you know is not helpful? What is stopping you from coming out of it? Ask this question to the Holy Spirit: What Would Jesus Do? Then go and do the same.