Mark 10:2 Some P’rushim came up and tried to trap him by asking him, “Does the Torah permit a man to divorce his wife?” 3 He replied, “What did Moshe command you?” 4 They said, “Moshe allowed a man to hand his wife a get and divorce her.”[Mark 10:4 Deuteronomy 24:1, 3] 5 But Yeshua said to them, “He wrote this commandment for you because of your hardheartedness. 6 However, at the beginning of creation, God made them male and female.[Mark 10:6 Genesis 1:27, 5:2] 7 For this reason, a man should leave his father and mother and be united with his wife, 8 and the two are to become one flesh.[Mark 10:8 Genesis 2:24] Thus they are no longer two, but one. 9 So then, no one should break apart what God has joined together.” 10 When they were indoors once more, the talmidimasked him about this. 11 He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against his wife; 12 and if a wife divorces her husband and marries another man, she too commits adultery.”
13 People were bringing children to him so that he might touch them, but the talmidim rebuked those people. 14 However, when Yeshua saw it, he became indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me, don’t stop them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Yes! I tell you, whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child will not enter it!” 16 And he took them in his arms, laid his hands on them, and made a b’rakhah over them. (Complete Jewish Bible).
The gospel promise unites God's intention for creation and the steady, transforming imprint of Jesus' serving, blessing and calling together. From Genesis we learn that God intends for us to live in harmony, peace and love. From Jesus we learn God's faithfulness in gathering us as children.
How do we picture the scene? Are these quiet, compliant, beautifully groomed children in clean, perfectly pressed garments? Or are they real children--active, inquisitive, rambunctious, with skinned knees and runny noses and protests about who is getting the biggest cookie? It does not help us to be idealistic or romantic about our children or ourselves. Life is messy and unfair. Self-righteousness is neither helpful nor true. Jesus keeps alive the imagination that Genesis began: God will call God's creation together again. And again. And again.
The theologian Krister Stendahl said he awoke each morning to wonder where God is mending the world today. Where do you see God mending the world? How does God call you to serve this mending?
God, help us see you calling us together and calling us to help you mend your world. Amen.
Paul Rohde, '82
Campus Pastor, Augustana University, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Mark 10:2 Some Pharisees came, and to test him they asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?"Campus Pastor, Augustana University, Sioux Falls, S.D.
3 He answered them, "What did Moses command you?"
4 They said, "Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her."
5 But Jesus said to them, "Because of your hardness of heart he wrote this commandment for you.
6 But from the beginning of creation, "God made them male and female.'
7 "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife,
8 and the two shall become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one flesh.
9 Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate."
10 Then in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter.
11 He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her;
12 and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."
13 People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them.
14 But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, "Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.
15 Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it."
16 And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them. (New Revised Standard Version).
Luther Seminary
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