April 14 - Clean

April 14 - Clean - Mark 7:1-23

I remember long mealtimes when I was a child as mom tried to impress upon us the use of proper table manners. Being the rebellious daughter that I am, I still take just a small bit of glee in sucking the last few drops of a milkshake through a straw. If she were alive, I'm certain that Mom would scold me yet today for that.

I do believe that these poor Pharisees had to really work at catching Jesus and his disciples eating without the ceremonial washing that was traditional. Jesus was the consummate politician. He made absolutely no reference to His disciples and whether or not what they did was wrong. Instead He addressed the underlying issues surrounding the accusation.

He began by quoting Isaiah 29:13 and applying to the people gathered around who were now listening to the altercation. Ceremonial washing was a tradition of men, not a command of God. He continued to press them and I'm certain that He knew exactly who He was speaking to.

The men who were accusing the disciples of wrongdoing had refused to care for their parents by declaring their own wealth a gift to God. Their parents had no legal right to the money, whether or not they were in need. Jesus told them that they had nullified God's word! How in the world do you set man's tradition over God's word?

Jesus went on to explain true cleanliness to the crowd that had gathered. He begins by saying, "Listen everyone, and understand this." Jesus clearly wanted them to understand what He was about to say.

Yet, even His disciples didn't get it and pressed Him for more information. I guess He was getting weary of their deaf ears and blind eyes. "Are you so dull?" he asked.

He explained the difference between food entering the stomach and things that enter a man's heart. Food that is eaten and then expelled from the body can not make a man clean or unclean. With those words, Jesus declared all foods clean, Mark explains. Remember, this Gospel was written for Gentiles.

What makes a man clean or unclean is that which comes from his heart. Evil comes from inside a man, not from the food that he eats.

Jesus was taking on tradition and manmade authority. He was establishing Himself as the authority of God sent to earth. Can you see the tension building as we approach the cross? Mark is writing the play, putting the scenes in place. We haven't arrived there, but we are building toward the finale.