“Yup yup, gotta follow the directions”, so many times I hear this echo in my mind. Particularly because I am a man and most times we don’t even take the directions out of the box. So many do I meet that want to “follow the directions”. It can be very helpful indeed but it doesn’t always work with humans. We are not entertainment centers that will be all good if we just follow the directions. Jesus came at a time when the Jewish people were lost. Many didn’t know the meaning of the word and some took it so strictly that they took the humanity out of it. Its like my step-son, who everyday is to come home and to his homework. I was taught by my father that its important to work hard and do the job right and from that I have reaped many benefits. I in turn try to teach that to my children. However, sometimes after a particularly bad day at school I should set the work aside and help him mend before moving forward.
Jesus came at a crucial time to “reset” the law. It became about rules and commands rather than about love and ways to keep God’s people safe. Jesus came among us and loved us and tried to teach us to love. Many thought that the Son of God would bring a military victory over the romans and when the Jesus came acting like a “hippie” preaching peace and love many were confused, distraught and angry. Those in power in the Jewish temple were upset because Jesus was threatening to remove them or make them unimportant. So arrested him, had him beat, spit on, mocked. They made him carry his own cross across town, laid him down on it, nailed him to it hung him to hang and then stabbed him in the side for good measure. This to a man that preached peace and love and forgiveness. Some of his final words were even, “Forgive them father for they know not what they do.” With even his dying breaths Jesus loved. He loved to death rather. So, does God have rules? Yes, and they should be followed, but take time to understand them. God is no bully. He is full of love for all.
Luke 6:1-5
1On a sabbath, while he was going through the grainfields, his disciples plucked and ate some heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands. 2But some of the Pharisees said, "Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the sabbath?" 3And Jesus answered, "Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: 4how he entered the house of God, and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those with him?" 5And he said to them, "The Son of man is lord of the sabbath."
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