The Lord versus religious leaders - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Matthew 12:13-14,

"Then he [Jesus] said to the man, 'Stretch out your hand.' So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus."

Here is a shocking scenario holding a comparison that could not be more black and white, or should I say black versus white? Jesus is busy healing the infirm, but the religious leaders of the day, the Pharisees, are busy trying to find a way to kill him - because he healed a man when they thought he shouldn't. The Son of God healing, the religious leaders killing.

Leave it up to religious leaders to assume the position and the notion that they are the authoritative ones that should be consulted... on just about anything.

God is seeking to heal, to restore. The religious often seek to destroy. Why is that? Religious leaders have always enjoyed a standing in the community. They have usually assumed respectability and power, and have often profited financially from the perch they assume. Nothing could be more of a threat than to have someone come along and challenge all that - even when it might be the Son of God.

Today we have "religious leaders" who covet the success of other churches in drawing in the community. Monstrous edifices (stadiums, etc.) have been procured or built to establish the kind of one-up-man-ship that brings a supposed mark of success "in ministry". Woe to the young believer in a congregation who might suggest hearts are not in the right place as many are exploited and used to maintain the status and influence these religious leaders might seek to retain - their trophies of massive congregations, massive programs, massive facilities, doing massive things "for the Lord."

It was the very same thing back in Jesus' day. The religious leaders felt threatened by his displays of love, mercy and kindness. They felt threatened by his authoritative teaching that conflicted with their own personal lives and jeopardized their positions in the community. Jesus' acts and his teaching made them look small. It placed them in a position where their sinful natures began to betray them as they felt threatened.

How wonderful God invites us to his family, not through religious leaders, but through none other than his one and only Son, Jesus Christ. I have little use of religious leaders (not that there are not many wonderful ones, because I do feel there are many), but I do have a whole lot of use for Jesus Christ. He is the One I want. He is the One I need. He is the One that died for me. He is the One who has made a way for me into God's family. He is the One I worship and I love.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com